Offer:Look-up Liverpool (Mersey) Pilots 1734/1990

[ShaunJ]

Could he have died in 1880?  There's a press report of a coroner's inquest on  "Peter Johnson, 59 years of age, a boatman, residing at 89, Ashfield-cottages". Killed in an accident in Sandon Dock (Liverpool Mercury 4 November 1880, page 8 )

[BirchHill]

Wow - thanks very much for finding that - it has been one of my brick walls for several years. 

I took 13 Aug 1883 as the latest date of death as he was shown as deceased on the marriage certificate of another of his sons.  His age and occupation match my records (the tale of an accident at the docks is word-of-mouth within the family).  Johnson is a fairly common surname; I could not find him or his wife in either the 1871 or 1881 census, and had not heard of that address. 

My Ancestry subscription has lapsed, having hit so many brick walls.  Is there any way that I can view the press report?

The other Mersey river boatman death in the family that I'm struggling to find is John Johnson, born 7 Aug 1858, and died sometime between 1927 and 1 Apr 1929.

Ian

[TaraGirl]

Hi
Thanks very much for doing this. I'm wondering if u have any records of my great-great grandfather, Thomas Burchell (1827-91). He was born in Swansea, Wales and from the late 1860's onwards was based at Bootle, Liverpool. He was at sea for most of his working life and I have a no. of records of the ships he was on. He is listed as Mate on some of them and as a Mariner too in a few censuses. A family story is that he was a pilot on the Mersey as well but haven't found any trace of that yet. So I'd be very interested in records you may have of him.
Many thanks

[ShaunJ]

Thomas Burchell (1827-91).

Hi Tara

I don't see any Burchell on the list of pilots.

[PrawnCocktail]

Could someone have a look for a Thomas Ditton?

This is my 5gt-grandfather's marriage license :

1768    26 Nov

Walter Cunningham of Liverpool, mariner & Thomas Ditton of same, pilot

Bond for marriage of Walter Cunningham of Liverpool, mariner aged 25, bach & Elizabeth Ditton of Liverpool, spinster aged 21 and up. At St Peter Liverpool.

We think Thomas Ditton was Elizabeth's father.

Walter was not a pilot (unfortunately!), but described himself as "Captain" on his Admon in 1775. We can't find anything on either man!

[ShaunJ]

Thomas Ditton of same, pilot

Per the list in "Beyond the Bar", T Dutton was licensed as a pilot in 1756.

There may well be more on him in the archive at Liverpool's Maritime Museum.

[PrawnCocktail]

Thanks, Shaun.

Chances of getting to the Martime Museum is pretty well nil these days, unfortunately, but you never know!

[little alison]

Hi, I just discovered this thread.
I'm trying to sort out an Irish family who were my father's first cousins.
The name is MEMERY and there were six of seven brothers who went to sea.

One is James MEMERY, born 1894, third son of James MEMERY, fisherman.
In my uncle's memoirs he wrote that James became a pilot on the Mersey Approaches,
and moved from Dublin to Liverpool.

The other brothers were William, Arthur,Frederick, Robert, John MEMERY. Born 1892 - 1904.
I think they were not pilots, but it may be possible.   
Can you help?

I also have photos of these brothers which I am trying to identify, if anyone knows anything  of them....I may have found a descendant on Ancestry, so will try there for this as well.

A great offer, thank you - Alison

[ozranga]

Hi Alison
Beyond The Bar by Barry Youde has no pilots listed with the name Memery.
there are no pilots of that name listed in Kellys 1938 directory either.
sorry