Which Steamship Company?

Post by **MaryA** » 25 Oct 2009 18:59

Any advice on how to narrow down which Steamship Company somebody worked for would be welcome and if anybody has any knowledge of whether there would still be any records available?

We are talking about 1911 when Dennis Scully, an Engine Fitters Labourer and his son-in-law, both of who lived in Cranmer Street and another of his sons, living Atholl Street, worked for "Steamship Co."

These roads are in the Kirkdale area, near Vauxhall Road and fairly close to the Salisbury, Collingwood, Stanley, Nelson, Bramley, Wellington, and Sandon Half Tide Docks (as they are now).

Thanks for reading and for any help.

Post by **PJLong** » 25 Oct 2009 19:28

Don't know anything at all about shipping (awful - considering I worked for the Dock Company MANY years ago!) but "steamship company" rang a bell.....Isle of Man Steamship Company? Just a thought.
Pauline.

Post by **MaryA** » 25 Oct 2009 20:15

That is one, but there are so many, I don't know if the location of where they live will give any clues. Was the Isle of Man company nearer the Pier Head?

Thanks for the thought anyway.

Post by **Hilary** » 25 Oct 2009 21:28

Generally seamen weren't employed by one company. They signed on for a voyage and were often signed off at the end or just signed up straight away again for the same ship. Many seamen worked for the same company most of their lives but for others it wasjust a question of getting a birth.

I think it's very unlikely that their would be any paybooks of any company left. The most useful document is it exists is their seaman's book which lists allt he ships they sailed on.

My mother's cousin was at sea from 1920 to 1965 and I was lucky enough to find his seaman's book at the National Archives. He was a Captain with the Bibby Line for many years. All the Bibby Line could find on him was a mention in their inhouse magazine that he'd retired! He'd been with them over 30 years as a captain and received an OBE whilst employed by them. I believe the OBE was for services to trooping but I could be remembering this wrongly I was only young at the time.

Ed Officer

PS On the National Archives website go to Research and Learning then to Research guides then to Military and then Merchant Navy - that gives lots of information on what may or may not be available.

Post by **northmeols** » 26 Oct 2009 02:00

have you checked for him on passenger lists for that period. it will give the ship he was on and from that you can look up who owned it.

Post by **MaryA** » 26 Oct 2009 09:49

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, but I get the feeling these may not have been seamen, rather dock workers. The words "Steamship Co." were under the heading on the census page about "This question should generally be answered by stating the business carried on by the employer. If this is clearly shown in Column 10 the question need not be answered here". So I get the feeling they were referring to a specific company that they worked for.

The grand-daughter has this information about them.

As far as I know Dennis didn't go to sea again after he married in 1880 but was a dock worker or labourer. He left St Helier Jersey some time after 1861 when his occ was Butcher. I can't find him 1871 so I'm guessing that was when he joined the MN & he ended up in Liverpool before 1880.

William Scully (Dennis's son) never went to sea, he also was a dock worker & labourer & I don't know an awful lot about Anthony Carney who married Dennis' daughter Ellen in 1911, Ellen died in 1916.
In 1911 Dennis was 67 yrs old. It looks to me like they were all employed by a Steamship Co to work by (on the docks)

Post by **daggers** » 26 Oct 2009 22:07

The IOM company was Steam Packet, not Steamship; in fact they have dropped the IOM and left the rest as their name which is very sad. I fear that there were so many companies operating out of Liverpool that we are talking needles and a very big haystack.
I go with the idea that Mr Scully was employed ashore on repairs, overhauls etc, and not a seagoing man. This may be instinct...

Post by **Tina** » 27 Oct 2009 10:53

Hi everyone, what an interesting post..
Mary, with regard to Anthony Carney who married Ellen Scully.
There's a birth in for Mary E Carney maiden Scully in 1912 3rd qtr Lpol rego.

Tina

Post by **MaryA** » 27 Oct 2009 12:35

Thanks for that Tina.

and also to you D. I fear you are right about needles and haystacks but appreciate your thoughts.

It was worth a try! Thanks everyone

Post by **HOLLY** » 27 Oct 2009 14:51

Hi Marya, wish I'd seen this before I rushed to Ford Cem this am.

Probably nothing but, in section 'R' there is a small monument of some description, caught my eye because it looks like a ships capstain and is red in colour, only read the inscription as I was passing so didnt notice any names other than it was supplied by colleagues of 'Leyland Steam Ship Company' - there was something else but I can't remember now and it's too late for me to go back!

Hopefully someone more local may read this and pop in, if not I'll try to get back on Friday - I have visitors until then.

It's probably nothing but in this game - you never know !!

Post by **MaryA** » 27 Oct 2009 15:24

Thanks Holly, I'll see if one of the family is able to get there, don't go specially for this look up as at this stage we don't know if we'll ever know the company.