Captain John Stephenson born 1812 died at sea

[jonwicken]

My 2nd great granduncle James Stephenson in recorded in the recollections of his brother-in-law Frederick Binns written in 1909. The account can be found here:

https://benbeck.co.uk/fh/transcripts/frederick_binns_reminiscences.htm

The passage about Captain John Stephenson reads:

The oldest son [John Stephenson] was a Sea-Captain. The last voyage he made—the ship must have gone down with all hands—as he was never heard of any more.

I have never been able to find out anything else about him and would really like to try.

All I know is that he was baptised at Holy Island on 1 February 1812:

John Stephenson Feb: 1st Feb:23d 1st Son of James Stephenson N. of Whitby by his wife Sarah McKey N. South Shields'

If anyone knows more about naval records than me and can help me find out more, that would be absolutely brilliant.

Thank you,
Jon

[philipsearching]

Given the location, it is quite likely that John was not in the Royal Navy, but could have been master (captain) of a commercial vessel - a collier or other trading ship perhaps.

There is a possible candidate for your man on FamilySearch on the 1851 Census:
HO107/2409/422 p19 - Tynemouth Union, Northumberland
STEPHENSON John, m, 42, head, married, seaman, born North Shields
STEPHENSON Elizabeth, f, 38, wife, born North Shields

If this is your man it would narrow down the search for a death to after 1851.  However, North Shields is a fair way south of Holy Island so he might be a red herring.  Ages given on censuses are notoriously vague so I'm not too worried about a discrepancy of a few years.

Philip


ADDED:

This is the same couple in 1861:
RG09/3836/94 p1 - Tynemouth
STEPHENSON John, m, 52, head, married, master mariner, born North Shields
STEPHENSON Elizabeth, f, 41 (??), wife, born North Shields

And perhaps in 1871:
Westoe, Durham
STEPHENSON Elizabeth, wid, 62, head, laundress, born North Shields

IF these tie in, that would give a death date between 1861 and 1871 for John.

[seaweed]

I would concur with philipsearching that it would be more likely he was a master in the Merchant Service.
Given the sparse information you have I would first of all contact London Metropolitan Archive who are the custodians of Lloyd's Captains Register.
https://search.lma.gov.uk/rg_pdf_creator/index.php?research_guide=72

They do have an excellent research service but the cost of research is £80 per hour or part thereof.
You would be best attending LMA and look for yourself, but of course it is your decision.
If he held a Foreign going certificate. The information you are searching for should, if anywhere, be in the following reference
   

 "Captains' register": S
Reference Code
    CLC/B/148/B/019/MS18567/013
Date
    1851 - 1873
If he held a Home trade certificate he will not be recorded. I searched the Mercantile Navy List 1859 for John Stephenson. Four entries for Foreign trade masters Zero in the home trade. So you may get lucky!

 Hopefully rootschatter Westoe who is very knowledgable regarding  North East shipping will make a contribution. Please let us know if you make any progress.
 









 

[ShaunJ]

I don't see him in the Masters certificates on Ancestry.

[JenB]

This is not my area of knowledge at all, but there is a John Stephenson of Holy Island named in the Merchant Seamens register of 1835 - 1857. His ticket number was 235 366.