James McKellar look up please

[MonicaL]

Hi Jim

Just wanted to say...that is an impressive timeline  Huge amount of detail and material you have obviously gathered letting you put that together.

Monica

[jonn]

Could not help myself from posting a section from one of above posts ie.

6/10/1863. Robert Bruce engineer lost his balance, fell into machinery and was mangled, the 18 year old from Newry, left a wife and five children.

Regards,
Jonn.

[Speersline]

Hi Jim - What a lot of material to go through.  You have found a considerable amount more than I have in my efforts to go through indices etc.  And some of your entries provide additional information.  Many thanks for sharing. I am able to identify several individuals in this list, but will need some time to go through. I will keep you posted on what I determine. I see that the Jupiter and Venus were common names in the shipping industry.   My John McKellar - the one washed overboard from the American Lass - is supposed to have captained  several so-called "green boats" - the Venus and the Jupiter being two of them. 
Alexandra

[JimMcL]

Hi Alexandra

Naturally I have only put a title for the newspaper articles as to put the full item for each would be almost a book, but I'm glad that you found it useful.
My research concentrated on James McKellar and the events he was involved in. I don't know whether he may fit in your tree at some time, but here are some more facts about him.

   James McKellar was born on the twenty fourth of June 1817 in the town of Gourock on the River Clyde. He married Isabella Shearer on 9/4/1839 at Greenock Middle Church, Renfrewshire but Isabella must have died shortly after as he married again to Isaaca Robert on 19/1/1848 at Greenock Old or West. Before 1855 deaths were seldom recorded so Isabella’s can’t be found. Unfortunately I can’t find the 1817 birth record for James either.

His seafaring career began in 1929 and apart from one, all of his ships were paddle steam tugs. He first served on the James McInroy for thirty one months. This was followed by the Samson in 1831 which was the first steam tug in Europe. Then followed by the Hercules in 1833, Agnes, a brigantine, and back on the Samson in 1835. He then returned to the Hercules for seven years.

   By now he was quite experienced and so from 1845 he was Master on board, starting with the Champion then Defiance and Jenny Lind. Four years on the Helen Faucit and Helen McGregor takes us to 1853 when he took charge of the Robert Bruce. James had not taken his Masters examinations but he did apply however on 12th August 1857, and passed on 17th August. Address at the time was 14, Hamilton Street, Greenock. From 1859 he was mostly at Queenstown, Co. Cork. His tugboat Robert Bruce sank in 1866 in Liverpool and with Isaaca passing away in 1867, his father in 1868, and daughter Helen married, he probably decided to return to Greenock where the work was. 1871 found him on the tug Rover at Greenock.


James McKellar born Renfrewshire 1817. United Kingdom Merchant Navy Service Records 1835-1941 film 1482523, digital folder number 004584977.
James McKellar born Renfrewshire 1817. United Kingdom Merchant Navy Service Records 1845-1854 film 1482523, digital folder number 004584977.
James McKellar born Renfrewshire. United Kingdom Merchant Navy Service Records 1835-1836, digital folder number 004620390.

Not to be confused with:
James McKellar born Argyllshire 1817. United Kingdom Merchant Navy Service Records 1835-1941 film 1482563, digital folder number 004585017.


Ship         Years sailed   Place Built   Year   Tonnage


James McInroy      1829-31      Greenock   1825   262   Hulked 1846
Samson         1831-33      Greenock   1819   54   Launched as Sampson.
Hercules         1833-34      Greenock   1822   72   Scrapped 1856
Agnes   (brig)   1834-35      Greenock   1824   157
Samson         1835-37      Greenock   1819   110   Engines changed 1831
Hercules         1837-45      Greenock   1822   112   Scrapped 1856
Champion      1845-48      Glasgow      1835   148   Scrapped 1855      
Defiance      1848      Glasgow      1841   51
Jenny Lind      1848      Dumbarton   1842          
Helen Faucit      1848-52                  Requisitioned to RN in 1855
Helen McGregor      1852-53      Greenock   1835   50   Scrapped   
Robert Bruce      1853-66      Greenock   1819   66      Sank at Liverpool in 1866   
Rover         1871      Tyne      1861   91   Wrecked 1874


Jim   

[JimMcL]

News items concerning James’ ships:

7/10/1844   Passenger fell overboard from steam tug Hercules. Only hat found.
18/12/1847   Captain McKellar on Defiance saves stricken steamer Lochfine and 100 passengers. Lochfine lashed to Defiance and taken to Greenock where it sank on arrival. All passengers saved.
30/9/1850    Helen Faucit was towing the Buena Vista when the Victoria came out of the docks. The river was congested and the Helen Faucit rammed into the Victoria causing much alarm amongst the passengers and considerable damage above the waterline. Ruled an accident.
17/1/1853   Helen Macgregor took Tamerlane in tow at Rothesay Bay..
7/8/1854   Robert Bruce in Thames towed Walmer Castle, Baltic troop ship.
19/9/1855    Whilst towing a schooner across Ashton Bay in a squall, Capt James McKellar of the Robert Bruce saw an upturned boat with two people clinging to it. He cast off the schooner and went to their rescue before returning to pick up the schooner and proceeding to Greenock.
2/2/1856   Robert Bruce in Stornaway getting coal and anchors to salvage the Malaber at Heisker.
18/7/1856    Robert Bruce collided with harbour wall. Captain James McKellar found guilty and fined one guinea.
1/10/1856   Shipbuilding on the Clyde and Robert Bruce.
8/10/1856    Robert Bruce.  A boiler plate cracked on a flue sending scalding water over a stoker injuring him badly. He was transferred to the Helen MacGregor which took him back to Greenock and hospital.
11/3/1857   Robert Bruce salvaged the cargo from the City of Madras at South Cairn, Dumfries.
3/2/1858    Ship Antigua stricken in storms, brought into Greenock by Robert Bruce, Eagle, and Defiance.
4/3/1958   Race between three tugs on the Clyde. Robert Bruce came third.
10/5/1858   Kilcraggan steamer burst a boiler just after leaving port. The Robert Bruce took off her passengers, took them to Kilcraggan and then returned to tow the steamer back to Greenock.
17/11/1858   Robert Bruce towed Gaulois from Deal to Ramsgate.
19/11/1858    Robert Bruce arrives at Valencia to assist in laying the Atlantic cable.
1/1/1859   Robert Bruce towed Paramatta from Blackwall to Southampton.
14/12/1859    Head on collision between Osprey and American Union off Kinsale. Osprey towed into Queenstown by Robert Bruce.
13/12/1860     Boiler exploded on the Robert Bruce in Alloa. Two men badly scalded, one face and shoulders, and the other abdomen and legs.
9/3/1861    Robert Bruce owners and crew claiming salvage regarding Pioneer of Richmond. Ireland.
19/9/1861    Great Eastern bound Liverpool to New York suffered severe damage in a storm and was towed into Queenstown harbour by Robert Bruce.
6/10/1861   Robert Bruce towed Agincourt from East India docks in London.
26/5/1862   Maryborough towed out of Queenstown harbour by Robert Bruce.
24/9/1862    £150 salvage awarded to Robert Bruce for saving barque Flamingo in Queenstown harbour. Severe gales had pushed the Flamingo against another ship and both were sustaining considerable damage until the Robert Bruce separated them.
31/1/1863   Robert Bruce dispatched to help brig Anne at Dublin.
6/10/1863   Robert Bruce engineer lost balance, fell into machinery and was mangled. The 18 year old from Newry left a wife and five children.
17/2/1864    Robert Bruce assisted in aiding the Frederick Bruning,  Later towed into Queenstown by the Palermo and Robert Bruce..
30/3/1864    City of New York ran aground on rocks outside Cork Harbour. Ship stripped to lessen weight but to no avail and remained stuck fast. Robert Bruce assisted.
26/3/1866   Robert Bruce abandoned in sinking state in storm at Crosby, Liverpool.

   I suspect that the Robert Bruce sank at Liverpool in 1866 and being a very old boat it probably wasn’t worth salvaging. A towing steam tug was built by Westwood Baillie at Poplar, London in 1865 for Caledonian Steam Towing Co. This was also named Robert Bruce and operated from London. Later news items referring to the Robert Bruce are about the second vessel.

Jim

[JimMcL]

As James senior was described as late captain of a tugboat, I would imagine both he and James junior were working on the Robert Bruce.


   On Daughter Margaret’s birth entry in 1825 he was Master of the steamboat Hercules so I suppose it’s only natural for his son to follow father’s footsteps. As he never applied for a Masters Certificate in the 1950s we do not have a service record for him. He would have been approaching 60 and would probably be due for retirement anyway. There were four James McKellars working on the Clyde and one at Liverpool. That one was born Glasgow on 3/3/1839, sailed out of Liverpool from 1857 and passed his Masters Certificate there in 1866. He died on 7/2/1871 at Birkenhead aged 31. Of the ones on the Clyde, James (b1800 Argyleshire) sailed Belfast, London, Liverpool and some Mediterranean. James (b1829 Port Glasgow) sailed worldwide. James (b1817 Gourock) was on the tugs. The 1800 James cannot be our 1794 James as he would have been 12 at the marriage in 1813. On this seaman’s record he was still ranked as a boy in 1820 and didn’t make Master until 1832. 1794 James was a Steamboat Master in 1825.


The following are taken from advertisements of ship sailings with Captain James McKellar as Master that do not appear on the seaman’s records of the above.


Ship         Year sailed   Routing         

Hero         1834      Glasgow-Largs-Millport
Belfast         1837      Glasgow-Greenock-Donegal
Vesta         1848      Glasgow-Belfast
Royal Consort      1850      Glasgow-Fleetwood
Royal Consort      1851      Glasgow-Fleetwood
Eclipse         1852      Glasgow-Gourock-Greenock-Dunoon



Ship         Number      Place Built   Year   Tonnage


Hercules               Greenock   1822   72   Scrapped 1856
Hero         16175      Dumbarton   1832   69   Scrapped 1861
Belfast               Port Glasgow   1829   123   
Vesta         3176      Glasgow      1846      Burnt at Ardnadam in 1888
Royal Consort      17252      Glasgow      1844   522
Eclipse               Port Glasgow   1850   104   Wrecked Dunoon 5/9/1854

There was also a Captain James McKellar on the steamer Samson in 1838 which again does not appear in any other seaman’s records so could be 1794 James. This Samson was built 1830 and carried passengers and cargo between Greenock and Glasgow, not to be confused with the tug Samson.

News item concerning above:

23/7/1852   Captain McKellar fined half guinea for late departure of Eclipse.


Jim

[JimMcL]

   Going back further on the tree is a problem as no birth record for either of the James have been found. There was a James McKellar born in Greenock on 28/6/1794, parents Alexander McKellar and Jean Rankin. With so many Captain McKellars I’m sure many must be related and it’s quite likely earlier McKellars were boatmen. Captain Alexander McKellar and Captain John McKellar sailed on the Largs, Millport, Arran, and Ardrossan run, Captain Archibald McKellar and Captain Duncan McKellar sailed to India, Far East, Carribean, etc.. John was in Invincible and Alex in Mars. There is also a Captain Donald McKellar of the Matilda McColl. Captain James McKellar of Glasgow was sailing long routes out of Liverpool. He died in Birkenhead.

Prior to 1850 more or less anybody with a boat could call themselves Captain. The Mercantile Marine Act of 1850 introduced examinations and Certificates of Competency, but to make it a requirement in 1850 would have stopped nearly all sea traffic until examinations were passed. Most carried on as before but many owners needed a certified Master for insurance of the vessels and over time jobs were given to those with Master Mariner qualifications. From 1850 any Mate that wanted to become a Master Mariner had to pass the examination.


The seaman’s certificates found so far with births up to 1840 are (Master unless stated):

Name         Cert. Date      Previous service    Born      Place      

Duncan McKellar      13/10/1851                  23/1/1789      Argyle
Alexander McKellar   11/5/1855      39yrs            20/8/1797      Greenock
John McKellar      26/2/1851            1798      Gourock
James McKellar      29/5/1852      35yrs            31/10/1800               Dunoon, Argyle
Duncan MacKellar   1/4/1855                     18/12/1806      Inverary, Argyle
Archibald P. MacKellar   28/6/1851      19yrs             1/12/1811      Greenock
Duncan McKellar      27/1/1851      20yrs             14/7/1814      Cowll, Argyle
Duncan McKellar      19/7/1857      24yrs             20/9/1815      Greenock
Duncan McKellar      19/7/1856      18yrs             13/2/1816      Greenock
Peter McKellar      11/3/1851                    6/3/1816      Kilmun, Argyle
James McKellar      17/8/1858                   24/6/1817      Gourock
William McKellar   5/5/1851         15yrs              3/6/1820      Greenock
John MacKellar      11/7/1851            1822      Glasgow
Duncan McKellar      18/3/1852(mate)      8yrs             25/9/1823      Greenock
Andrew McKellar   17/3/1851(mate)                    7/6/1827      Port Glasgow
John McKellar      14/4/1851(mate)                   17/3/1827      Greenock
John McKellar      2/12/1865                   22/2/1828      Kilmun, Argyle
Archibald McKellar   11/4/1855                   27/6/1829      Greenock
James McKellar      7/4/1858(mate)                   29/8/1829      Port Glasgow
William McKellar   1/12/1863(mate)                    7/1/1833      Lochgilphead Argyle
Niel McKellar      1/1/1866(mate)                   23/3/1833      Glasgow
Archibald McKellar   27/11/1872                    6/5/1834      Toward, Argyle
James McKellar      15/10/1866      8yrs              3/3/1839      Glasgow
Alexander McKellar   23/8/1865                    1/5/1840      Greenock



Possible: John McKellar b. 14/9/1797  bap. 24/9/1797 Greenock. Parents Archibald McKellar and Jean Bryce.
Archibald Paterson McKellar b. 1/12/1811, bap. 22/12/1811, Greenock, Duncan McKellar and Agnes Taylor.
William McKellar b. 3/6/1821 bap. 22/6/1821. Parents James McKellar and Isabella Gillies.
Duncan McKellar b. 25/9/1822 Greenock. Parents Duncan McKellar and Catherine Angus.
John McKellar b. 19/6/1822 bap -/7/1822 Gorbals. Parents John McKellar and Margaret Robertson.
Andrew McFarlane McKellar b. 1/6/1827 Port Glasgow. Parents Peter McKellar and Ann McFarlane.
John McKellar b. 22/2/1828 bap 9/3/1828 Inverkip. Parents Archibald McKellar and Mary Crawford
Archibald McKellar b. 31/5/1829 Port Glasgow, Parents Peter McKellar and Ann McFarlane.
Archibald (1829) took his Masters exam in Liverpool and had a Liverpool address.
James McKellar b. 29/8/1830 Gorbals. Parents John McKellar and Margaret Robertson.
Neil McKellar b. 23/3/1832 Gorbals. Parents Archibald McKellar and Rebecca Kay.
Archibald McKellar b. 6/5/1834 Inverchaolain, Argyle. Parents Hugh McKellar and Mary Brown.
Alexander McKellar b. 2/5/1840 Bap. 14/4/1840 Greenock, Parents Peter McKellar and Jane Henry.

James (29/8/1830 and 29/8/1829), Neil (23/3/1832 and 23/3/1830), Duncan (25/9/1822 and 25/9/1823), and William (3/6/1821 and 3/6/1820) all gave their birth years incorrectly when enlisting. Seems it was a common occurrence at that time for the applicant to be untruthful about their age.


Jim

[JimMcL]

Other children of James McKellar and Isabella Gillies:
   
William, lawful son of James McKellar mariner in Gourock and Isabella Gillies his spouse, born 3rd June 1821 at Inverkip, baptised 22nd June.
Peter, lawful son of James McKellar seaman of Gourock and Isabel Gillies his spouse, was born 28th April 1823 at Inverkip and baptised 22nd May.
Margaret, daughter of James McKellar, Master of steamboat Hercules, and Isabella Gillies, born 19th June 1825 at Greenock Old or West, baptised 10th July.
Janet, daughter to James McKellar Shipmaster, and Isabella Gillies born 21st March 1827 at Greenock Old or West, baptised 15th April.

There are likely to be other births for James McKellar and Isabella Gillies between marriage in 1813 and 1820 but these records appear to be missing. On 4/2/1838 and 8/2/1838 there are marriage entries for Isabella, second daughter of Captain James McKellar of the steamer Samson who married to Duncan Clark Jnr, butcher. Possible daughter, probably born in the 1813-1820 gap.


William McKellar applied for his Masters Certificate on 31/5/1851 and the certificate was issued on 10/6/1851. The parish entry has him born 3/6/1821 but his seaman’s records have him born 3/6/1820 and 3/7/1820. He probably needed to be fourteen to get an apprenticeship so he may have lied about his age. He was living in Dellingburn St., Greenock.


   Ship          Rank         From           To        Built      Year   Tonnage

Acadian      Apprentice   20/3/1835   17/9/1835   Greenock   1832   385t
Arethusa   Apprentice   5/10/1835   11/10/1838   Greenock   1828   322t
Louisa      Apprentice   3/11/1838         Reg. Liverpool      320t
Louisa      Seaman            7/11/1841   Reg. Liverpool      320t
Calypso      2nd Mate      14/11/1841   4/6/1842      Greenock   1825   379t
Copia      Mate      9/6/1842      1/12/1843   Greenock   1842   301t
Christian   Mate      30/1/1844         Dumbarton   1841   193t
Christian   Master      3 years      17/9/1847   Dumbarton   1841   193t
Clydesdale   Master      11/12/1847   27/6/1848   Greenock   1835   250t
Kalibokka   Mate      21/7/1848   13/9/1849   Reg. Liverpool      355t
Arethusa   Mate      24/10/1849   11/4/1850   Greenock   1828   322t
Calypso      Mate      1/6/1850      25/4/1851   Greenock   1825   379t

Total 15 years and 1 month service on Masters Certificate application.
The Acadian was on the Halifax route and the others to the West Indies.

Atalanta    51724   Master      8/7/1868      -/9/1869      New Brunswick   1865   341t
Ringdove   Master      30/9/1870   23/7/1871   St Johns
Abraham Lincoln Master      9/1/1872      -/3/1873      Reg. Monrovia
Tern   58549   Master      1/7/1873      12/9/1873   Newcastle   1868   557t

Atalanta      Barque      Liverpool to Buenos Ayres
Ringdove   Brig      Cardiff to Montevideo to Buenos Ayres to Antwerp
Abraham Lincoln Schooner   Liverpool to Monrovia to Cape Palmas and West Coast of Africa.
Tern      Screw steamer   Glasgow to Rotterdam

William moved to Liverpool and in 1861 he was married and at 61, Louis St.  His wife Elizabeth (37) and child William J. ( were born in Scotland. In 1871 William J. was staying with uncle James Stewart, master mariner.  William Snr was at 29, Collingwood St., Liverpool in 1881, Master Mariner, widower. Possibly Elizabeth died 1873 West Derby aged 53. 1891 William (J.) McKellar aged 37, born Greenock was AB crew member on steam schooner Chantrey (97757) at Liverpool. Previous ship Falernian of Liverpool. He was buried in West Derby on 18/9/1929.

17/8/1846   Capt McKellar on barque Christian of Glasgow
2//9/1847   Marriage of Captain William McKellar to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Dow, coal merchant, at 13, Charles Street, Greenock Old Parish.
1/12/1873   Captain William McKellar of 61, Mitylene Street Liverpool, reported to police that on 27/11/1873 in Limekiln Lane, he had his Masters certificate and pocketbook stolen. Lost notices were put in newspapers but to no avail. Consequently he had to apply for a replacement which had to give evidence of his examination and ships he had sailed on. A new Masters Certificate was drawn up on 22/12/1873 and issued on 20/2/1874.
18/5/1888   Captain William McKellar died at Wood’s Mariners Asylum, Greenock, aged 68. (Greenock Telegraph 21/5/1888). The Sir Gabriel Woods Mariners Asylum was for ‘aged and decayed Master Mariners of good character’. Opened in 1850 and still operating. The death certificate has retired shipmaster, aged 66, widower of Elizabeth Dow, son of James McKellar steamboat Master deceased, and Annabella McKellar nee Gillies deceased.  Interesting his mother was entered as Annabella and not Isabella.


Peter McKellar (1823) married Sarah Usher at South Shields, Durham, on 3/2/1847, and in 1851 they were in 8, North Street, Tynemouth, North Shields, Northumberland. Peter was a nail maker.
They had five children all born in Tynemouth:
Jane 1848-buried 1/4/1848
John Thomas 13/5/1849 (bap 11/7/1849) –Dec Q 1931 Tynemouth
Flora Preston 7/2/1854 (bap 29/3/1854)-1904. 1891: servant at Chirton, unmarried.
Jane Usher 19/6/1856 (bap 24/9/1856)-1909
Mary Ann 2/7/1859 (bap 17/8/1859)

Peter died in 1888 and Sarah in 1879, both at Tynemouth.

Margaret McKellar daughter of James McKellar shipmaster of Greenock married James Wallace shipmaster, son of Samuel Wallace, carpenter of Greenock, in Greenock Old or West parish on 30/12/1850. James Wallace was born 3/5/1822 in Port Glasgow, parents Samuel Wallace and Margaret Paton. 1841: James with parents at King St., Port Glasgow.

Nothing found on Janet.
Possibly 1841: Hole, Greenock West, servant aged 15.

Jim

[Speersline]

Hello - I went through the first batch of information and now I see there is more! In the first batch articles of interest in re my "known" Mckellars are: 1) 13/11/1822 John McKellar, Gourock, ferryman, his son Peter and both passengers died in gale on 1/11/1822.   (I have an article that simply indicated all hands lost one passenger found standing upright in the water with his hat on. ) 2) 4/8/1838 Daughter of John McKellar, steamboat officer, took children to bathe. Two drowned. -- I am wondering if this might be Carrie McKellar who in my grt grt Uncles "memoirs" is referred to as having drowned while saving life at Port Glasgow.  She would have been relatively young - a child by our standards today. 3) 27/6/1851 Captain John McKellar of American Lass in hurricane.  -- This would be my 3rd great grandfather. Supposedly retired early and became Harbour master at Port Glasgow before returning to the sea. He supposedly married his wife Margaret Robinson at Dundee.  They had at least7: John(b. ca. 1822) not married & killed by sunstroke while at the wheel; Jane (Jeanie) b. ca, 1826 married James Walton as 2nd wife was a teacher; became the mistress at the poor house and according to my grt grt uncle (not verified) a governess to a Josiah Wedgewood, Archibald born ca. 1828 Port Glasgow died 1912 Philadelphia PA; m. 1860 Glasgow by James Paterson, minister of Hope St Baptist Church, Lillias Wood McIntyre (1832-1884) according to Archibald's obituary he served in the British navy at Crimea, later served in the US during American Civil War and the Brazillian Navy - none of which I have been able to verify.  In the US he worked at the Mint as an engraver after spending a period of time in Ontario Canada, James b. ca. 1830 never married was pressed into service in a foreign navy and was missing for 7 yrs died from Yellow Fever while at sea, Carrie as noted above, Charles - my grt grt grandfather -was forbidden to go to sea b ca. 1838, Port Glasgow d. 26 Mar 1901 Glasgow was a printer by trade m. 1) Alice Holford in London 1867 -  b 1845 Framfield, Sussex died 1876 Phila PA.  After her death Charles took the two eldest surviving children Arthur and Frank and returned to Glasgow leaving my grt grandfather and an infant in the care of Archibald, Charles m 2nd  1877 in Glasgow Margaret M'Geachie - and had additional children, and Elizabeth 1841 Port Glasgow- d. between 1913-27 married Charles Stewart McArthur as his second wife.  4) 1/7/1869 At Westfield Cottage, Dundas St, Kingston, residence of Captain James Mckellar (uncle of the bride) Marriage of James Walton to Jane McKellar daughter of the late Captian John Mckellar. -- This is my 3rd grt Aunt as noted above and Captain James the younger brother of her father John.  I have James born ca. 1801 in Gourock d. 13 May 1878  married to Jane Anderson.  I have a copy of a trust settlement for one of his sons William Anderson McKellar and it lists most of James' children/grandchildren. The only son of James to be involved with the sea appears to have been Hugh - the others were MD's or Solicitors. James left an estate valued at 15,140 pounds 1 pence.
Arthur indicated that his aunts - that would be Jane and Elizabeth were the last to speak Gaelic - they were not permitted to.  There is a book by a Captain Barr about the early Clyde steamers that the "Aunts" mentioned above supplied information for. It is  my understanding because various family members emigrated to Canada, Australia, Africa and the US - that the John McKellar family papers went out of the direct family line and into one of the step families.  The John McKellars were  Methodists.
More anon.