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« on: Friday 30 June 17 20:43 BST (UK) »
Are there online sources where I could research whether or not my ancestor Daniel Fraser worked on a merchant vessel in the 19th century?
Daniel Fraser (1773-1869) may have been a captain on a merchant ship. The source of this information is oral family history as well as a family tree prepared in 1950 by professional genealogist who lived in Nairn. The tree does not cite a specific source for calling him "Captain Daniel Fraser".
At about age 66 Daniel married his first and only wife Mary Fraser (1817-1896) in 1839. Fraser was also Mary's maiden name. The couple had 4 children, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary and Daniel. Daniel's parents were probably James Fraser and Margaret Campbell.
According to his obituary, Daniel was a grocer and leather dealer in Nairn. His obit (below) does not mention any maritime experience, which would have been noteworthy. But he was a salt merchant so perhaps that is the source of the family lore that he captained a merchant vessel.
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Daniel Fraser obituary (1773-1869)
Nairn Telegraph, 4 August 1869
Death of a Veteran Town Councilor
On Wednesday last, Bailie Daniel Fraser, the oldest merchant in Nairn if not also the oldest inhabitant, departed this life. He had attained to about the age of 96 years, and had spent the greater proportion of his life in Nairn. He began business in very early life and became a most successful merchant. His shop was a dark and dingy little place on High Street, and his business was of a rather miscellaneous character. There was nothing like leather in those days, and our deceased townsman did an extensive business in that article. He also united to the ordinary business of a grocer or general dealer, that of salt merchant, and carried on a large trade in that commodity.
In early life, he was a man of great physical powers, and was a noted swimmer. It is told of him that one day he swam across the Moray Firth, at a point, however, we presume, near Chancery, where the firth narrows considerably. He entered the Council in 1808, and was long a Bailie in the burgh, and was intimately connected with all its affairs, in which he took a leading part until 1855, when he resigned. He was a shrewd intelligent man and was much respected by his fellow townsmen. He erected the handsome buildings at the corner of Church Street, and occupied them until he retired from business six or eight years ago. He may truly be said to be the last link which connected us with the past generation.
His recollections of Nairn in the olden time were of great interest. He could remember the time when only two fishing boats belonged to the town, and when the fishing population numbered three or four families, instead of present nearly a thousand individuals. The rise of the fishing community has been very extraordinary; early marriages had had a great deal to do with the increase, but it must not be forgotten that with the rise of the fisher-town of Nairn, a fishing village on either side has gone down—viz., Delnies and Mavis town. When retiring from the Council in November 1855, the deceased very appropriately contrasted the Nairn of that day with the Nairn of 1808. We quote his remarks as reported in the Telegraph at that time:--
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