Edward Byrne b1823 Liverpool D KOBE Japan

[Alders]

Hello wonder if you can help, i'm trying to trace Edward Byrne, i know he was born appx 1823 in liverpool conflicting dates between his mates & masters cert & his Kobe obituary.
He was a merchant captain who eventually settled in & died in Kobe, where he was amongst other things a bill & bullion broker & a marine surveyor,  he had one son called Aden Byrne b1878 in Kobe who claimed to be a British subject but naturalized in 1907 on the paperwork he listed his mother as Tonyama Tetsu. Aden was (orphaned?) back in the UK by 1891 & never worked living off his inheritance.

I have found some newspaper articles re Edward
The Hiogo Neva records the death, on the 20th November, at the age of sixty-seven, of Captain Edward Byrne, the " Father of the Settlement "of Kobe, who left Shanghai for that port in 18CS and has made it his home . ever since, with the exception of a short visit to England in ISG'J. As captain of the clipper ship Lightning he made the fastest passage on record from London to Calcutta with troops for the Indian Mutiny, and he was presented on that occasion with a silver service by the officers of the regiment.

”Kobe Yushin Nippo” (Japanese newspaper) of November 22, 1889.

“The English Gentleman Mr. Edward Byrne who had lived in 6cho-me, Shimoyamate-dori, Kobe, died on November 20 at the age of 77.
He came to Kobe 21 years ago and he was a captain. He worked for the public good of foreigners in the settlement,
so that he was respected and called ‘the father of the settlement’ by them.
They flew their flags at half-mast in honor of him.”

I'm trying to trace any records of his UK life, what happened to his wife & i have been unable to find a record of Aden's birth abroad.

If anyone could help or point me in the right direction i would be very grateful.

Thank you. ;-)

[ShaunJ]

There's a merchant seaman record for Edward Byrne born Liverpool 9 February 1823, recording voyages as mate in 1846, 1847 and 1848. First went to sea as an apprentice in 1839. Ticket number 259897. Tallies with an 1851 master's ticket application.

[ShaunJ]

The address he quotes in the master's ticket application is 18 Islington. In the 1851 census a James Byrne (57, a warehouseman) and Elizabeth Byrne (56) are lodging there: both from Wexford, Ireland.  Could well be his parents.

[garstonite]

quote
Kobe Yushin Nippo” (Japanese newspaper) of November 22, 1889.

“The English Gentleman Mr. Edward Byrne who had lived in 6cho-me, Shimoyamate-dori, Kobe, died on November 20 at the age of 77.

if that report is correct - aged 77 in 1889 means he was born 1811/1812

I am a little confused - where did you get the year 1823 for his birth?

[Alders]

Thank you for your help ShaunJ i shall look into the Byrne's.

Garstonite, in another newspaper clipping it listed him as being 67 when he died, so i am not entirely sure of his birth date,  i spoke to the Greenwich maritime museum who were able to help me find a Edward Byrne who captained the Lightning clipper ship with the Edward on the Masters & Mates certificate. Do you think it is a different Edward Byrne?

Thanks J

[aghadowey]

Not sure if this is of interest (unfortunately I can't see dates give except for 1859-1892)
"Business letters: Kobe. Letters from Kobe, including some from Hiogo. The correspondents include ... Edward Byrne (Captain of the 'Zingari', 'London' and 'Telegraph')..."
http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0012%2FMS%20JM%2FB10;sib0=14

Here's a link to the scanned image of the death reported in the New York Ledger-
http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DAC18900110.2.73#

[garstonite]

Hiya J ....just read Aghadoweys link - and that says aged 67 as well ....so - Edward was b 1821/22 according to that ...apologies ...that other reference was misleading ...

[Alders]

No worries it's very confusing, considering his standing in the community there is not a lot of information about him! Would you by any chance know if he could be tracked via his money? His son was back in the UK by 1891 aged 13 (no records of travel) & living with a unrelated family, he lived with them for over 10 years & he never worked records show he lived of independent means/ Gentleman. There would of been a will from Edward to fund this??? Do you know how i would find this?

Thank you aghadowey, i will have to see if i can request copies of the letters.

J 

[ShaunJ]

I looked for namesakes for Aden Byrne (where did that name come from?). There is an Aiden Byrne aged 13 in the 1841 Liverpool census at Bostock Street.  Head of household James Byrne 45, a merchant; with an Elizabeth, 46, and other children George, 20, David 20, Margaret 15, James 15, John, 15. George, Margaret and James have all had their ages overwritten and rounded down. All born Ireland.

Could be the same James and Elizabeth who lived at 18 Islington in 1851?