Master Mariners in South Shields

[Bvc]

I am researching the Names of Fairless, Dickinson and Weakner in South Shields between 1750 and 1840. The families all come from South Shields and there were a lot of master mariners amongst them. My difficulty is in finding mariners records for the period, most come later. I was wondering if there was any particular reason, other than its being a port, why so many of my families chose to be mariners, and if there are any resources in South Shields itself that might help. I am assuming that to become masters, the boys would have to go to sea at a young age, but was there any land based training or other training available in the area. I believe one of them was lost at sea when the ship, of which he was master,the South Stockton was lost in 1849. I can find no records of this ship apart from one reference in the Newspaper Archives. Any guidance would be welcome.

[River Tyne Lass]

North Shields Local Studies in North Shields library has some volumes on  shipping, as I recall.  Information in these is quite detailed.
I will have a look when I can next go and see if there is an entry about this vessel.

[Jomot]

Should that 1840 date be 1849?  There are reports in various newspapers in 1849 and into 1850 about the loss of this vessel, but the captain is named as Wickers.  One detailed report is here, under the headline "Horrible Shipwreck and a Crew Eating Human Flesh": https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4347004/4347006/7/

The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette of 19 Nov 1849 carries a further article in which the mate of the ship - having arrived back at Shields - denies the story of eating flesh/drinking blood and says they ate a fat fish, and gives further details of what happened.   As South Stockton is (was) also a place, it may be easier to search for the name Helen Thompson, which is the ship that rescued them. 

ADDED: The Newcastle Journal of 17 Nov 1849 names the captain/master as Weakner rather than Wickers, so it looks like there was some incorrect reporting in some papers.

[phil57]

I have recently been researching a similar situation re one of my ancestors, also a mariner, but in Kent. This text, from a document published by the Kent Archaeological Field School, helps explain the number of mariners in 18th century England. Although the document itself is primarily about the development of Faversham, this paragraph refers to the use of waterways and coastal traffic around England due to the general lack of passable roads for freight traffic. I assume that, besides the fishing trade, many mariners would have been engaged in general goods transport akin to the jobs of train and lorry drivers today. So it was likely to have been a fairly common job amongst people living near the coast and waterway networks.

“Throughout the 18th century the principle highway of England was the sea. Before canals or railways, and while roads remained impassable, coastal shipping remained the cheapest, safest and speediest means of conveying freight. Hence ports were vital, not just for trade, but also as nurseries of the Royal Navy, the fisheries, and the whaling fleets. All of the front-rank towns of the kingdom were either ports or had easy river access to the sea (Selley 1962: 199). Besides the ships of the Royal Navy and merchantmen trading overseas, there were large numbers of small craft trafficking in the waters about Britain. “There are supposed to be about eighteen hundred ships and vessels in the coal trade and about nine hundred more in what they call the Northern trade”, wrote a naval officer in 1774 (Ashton, 1924: 200). North Kent was endowed with one passable road (Watling Street) and numerous waterways. It possessed an extensive coastline along the Thames south shore and to the east, a navigable river from Sandwich to Fordwich (and thence to Canterbury), and to the west the Medway River from Rochester to Maidstone. Fortuitously “the water transport was available where it was most needed” (Thirsk 1967: 199). Contemporaries were aware of this favourable circumstance, and noted particularly “the benefits of water carriage (from Kent) to and from the Metropolitical City, or Chief Mart” (Harris, 1719: 357). Throughout the year coastal hoys operated a weekly schedule from these North Kent ports.”

[River Tyne Lass]

Just quick .. there is a thick reference only volume at North Shields local studies titled 'Dictionary of Tyne Sailing Ships'.  There is quite a bit of information about the 'South Stockton' entry 4070 on page 650. It was built 1839 and weighed 308 tons, 89.7 x 23.8 x17.2 feet.

'George Weakner' is recorded as the Master 24.4.1849.
Also on pages 14-15 is a full account titled 'Cannabilism on the South Stockton'.

Earlier Masters were Robert Ramsey 13.8.1839; John Cockran 7.11.1840; William Hitchins 22 June 1842.

Apparently your ancestor George Weakner decided to heave-to under close reefed main topsail during a gale.  It records Capt Weakner and a boy were washed overboard with the deck cargo, deckhouse and stores.
Cannabilism resulted!😱  rescue came from the rigged ship Helen Thompson of Troon.The account is quite long but it does sound like an incredibly dramatic story!  I think it might be worth your contacting the local studies.

[Bvc]

Thank you to all who have responded so quickly. Yes, Joseph Weakner died in 1849 not 1840. The information from River Tyne Lass confirms the bits and pieces that I had already discovered. I will certainly try to get access to the book.
Just for interest, Joseph's father Jacob, also died at sea when the vessel, The Mary, that he was master of was sunk in the battle of False Duck Island in Ontario in the 1812 American War. It is not quite clear from the reports I have seen whether the USS Lady of the Lake was responsible for the sinking or whether the ship was scuttled by the British to prevent her from being taken as a prize.
The Master I am having most trouble with is John Dickinson who died before the 1841 census. He was married in 1825 to Isabella, and his wife produced children in 1827, 1831 and 1834, but by the time the 1841 census was taken, he was dead. The family all lived in South Shields. Dickinson is quite a common name but I have been unable to find any record of his death despite a careful troll through the newspaper archives and The National Archives. Without knowing which ship he was master of at the time I am a bit hampered. In case he died at home I have looked at the South Shields parish records but found nothng that ties in.
Thank you also for the article about mariners. I have been surprised at how widely the Weakners especially roamed. They seem to go to Italy, Smyrna, Alexandria and both Canada and America amongst others. The ship on which George Weakner lost his life was sailing from Quebec with a cargo of timber. It seems a strange thing to be carrying to Britain in a relatively small boat. Presumably a type of wood that did not grow here. Thank you all for the information and advice. Much appreciated.

[Elwyn Soutter]

The ship on which George Weakner lost his life was sailing from Quebec with a cargo of timber. It seems a strange thing to be carrying to Britain in a relatively small boat. Presumably a type of wood that did not grow here. Thank you all for the information and advice. Much appreciated.

Bell’s weekly Messenger of 23rd March 1861 reported that Canada exported 30 million cubic feet of timber in a rough state each year. Article states:

“For furniture and ornamental purposes the luxuriant beauties of our crotched, wavy and mottled black walnut are well known, both here and in Europe; also the beauties of our bird’s-eye and curly maples, as well of our curly birch, crotched white oak, and red wild cherry. The superior qualities of our white, red and yellow pine are fully acknowledged in the markets of Europe.”

[River Tyne Lass]

There are quite a few entries for  J or John Dickinson or Dickenson.  However, he appears to have been an Owner rather than a Master from what I have seen so far.
I haven't had time to check through all unfortunately.  He was also described as a 'butcher' in addition to owner entry 0727 re Ship 'Canada'.  Although this was built in Montreal it had Tyneside owners.  Do you think he might be your ancestor?  This book is incredibly detailed and fascinating.

This volume is:
'Dictionary of Tyne Sailing Ships
A record of merchant sailing ships owned, registered and built in Port of Tyne from 1830-1930
By Richard E. Keys

Re the South Stockton the owners were mahogany merchants in Newcastle.  It is recorded it had sailed from St John's, New Brunswick on 8 Sept and was timber laden.

I must say this book is very impressive in the amount of detail contained.

[River Tyne Lass]

Just found this
re John Dickinson - Master 4.10.1852 Ship 'Gem'.
It sank on 28 Feb 1854 at 3.30 in the morning.  Crew saved by the Sheraton.