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Hi Everyone,

I have been researching my own name, Mellanby, for a number of years which has deep roots on Teesside. I have come across a marriage of Hannah Mellanby to William Allen on 6 April 1779 at Hadzor but have no indication of any family connections with Worcestorshire in those times. I am curious to know what the couple were doing there - apart from getting married of course! I am stuck at the vague idea that both areas were involved with the early days of the industrial revolution so there may be a business connection. Hannah's brothers were mariners and the family were well off in those days.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

John

I have an ancestor who was the master of an armed merchant ship which sailed from London in 1782, returning in 1784. According to Lloyds Register the ship "sailed on Transportation". This word Transportation is in my mind closely associated with the transport of convicts and one possibility is that it was going to the West Indies with convicts (too early for Australia, too late for North America). It is also possible that it was contracted to the government to help with the transport of goods to America.

I would be interested in any ideas on the meaning of "transportation" in this context. All merchant ships transport something but did the word particularly refer to the carriage of people in those days I wonder?

Thanks

John