I am researching Patrick Richard Ross Kerr, born Liverpool in 1823, son of David Kerr and his wife Janet Ross who were married in Burntisland, Fife in 1817. Patrick Richard Ross Kerr married Annie Meldrum, born 3 May 1830 in Kirkcaldy, daughter of John Meldrum, merchant in Kirkcaldy, and his wife Jean Sang. He died on 24 October 1882 in Broughty Ferry. I have him in the 1871 and 1881 censuses, in Aberdour, Fife and Monifieth, Angus respectively, but have failed to find him in any earlier census, or his wife in 1861 (she was staying with her widowed mother in 1851).
He seems likely to be the Patrick Richard Kerr whose register ticket no 413873 was issued at Liverpool on 2 June 1848, though the following columns with details of his voyages are all blank..
The marriage announcements in the newspapers describe him as Commander of the ship 'Wanderer' of Leith.
In October 1850, 'Wanderer', Kerr, was reported at lat 43, long 62, on her way to St John, New Brunswick.
In 1856 the 'Wanderer', Kerr, reported passing an immense amount of ice on her way to Quebec.
So far, so good.
However Captain Patrick Richard Kerr of the 'Prince Charlie' (or 'Prince Charley') was a witness in the trial in February 1853 of Alexander Paton for desertion in San Francisco in March 1852.
Is it credible that these are one and the same? And if not, which is the one who passed a Board of Trade examination early in 1850, described as 'second, 'Urania''.
I have tried the National Archives, the Crew List Index Project and Maritime Heritage Archives. Can anyone suggest another source where I might find something relevant?
Was it usual for a captain's wife to accompany her husband on voyages in the 1850s and 1860s?