Ship's name and port

[Bookbox]

Ecuador, as a country, seems unlikely to be a Port of Registry. I wonder if it is a mis-spelling of Exeter, bearing in mind that crew lists were written up all over the world, perhaps by people unfamiliar with the names of some of the smaller ports in other countries.

[davidgp]

Exeter was one of my likely candidates as this seaman was previously with the 'Gertrude' registered in Exeter - the handwriting does seem to contain a letter 'x' in the middle but seemed too long and elaborate to be a six letter word!

I could look for ships beginning 'C' registered in Exeter and see what can be found.
David

[Gadget]

When enlarged it looks like Excader and, when spoken (with a soft c), it sounds very like a West Country person might pronounce Exeter


Gadget

[davidgp]

Hi Gadget

There's a very clearly written Exeter on the preceding page as this is the half-yearly agreement for 'Gertrude' registered in Exeter. So many hands contribute to this one document it's hard to find a sample for comparison though the line above 'Condor' is written by the same person.

The seaman in question was of German origin but know to speak English and probably some Welsh - it's probable he spoke with a Devonian burr as his wife was from Tiverton!
David

PS. I've had enough trouble with his town of origin as this is recorded either as Benz, Beng or Binz Germany which covers a whole host of possibilities. 

[Karen McDonald]

Good work everybody!

With "Exeter" in my head, I think I can see Exader in the snippet... It looks more like an open "a" than a "c". Fits with Gadget's West Country-accent comment, too! 

Doesn't help with the ship's name, though, I'm afraid...

[davidgp]

Having trawled (pun intended) through the ship's lists the only one I can come up with is
Carmel of Exeter
any chance?
Or am I making the handwriting fit the facts as Carmel was schooner of similar weight to the Gertrude (also registered in Exeter) to which this half-yearly agreement relates.
David

[josey]

Could it be a ship called the 'Commodore' with unique  phonetic spelling as in 'Exeter' 

[davidgp]

Hi
There's a COMMERCE of Exeter but no Comodor - see where you are coming from with that!
David

[josey]

I found this
http://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/vesselsnum/20945

COMMODORE   Exeter, 1836, Sail    Appropriation Books, RSS   
Exeter    MNL, 1857
Exeter, Sail, 89 tons    MNL, 1860   
[No port shown], Casualty: foundered, 5/11/1861    RCUS, 1874, pp 648-649, row 1841   

What year is your crew's list?