Elder Dempster Line

[cjf]

Hi,
I have had really good results from this site in the past so I am hoping someone can steer me in the right direction with this one.
My Grandad, Robert Lemuel Kelly (born 1882 Liverpool) was a ships cook on the Elder Dempster Line from about 1905 to 1938,
mum said, " They always had bananas", Grandad use to sail to Africa on either Abba or Accra (so my aunt use to say)

I have tried Elder Dempster for information with no luck. I am trying to locate Robert's service record with hopefully a photograph. I never knew him and I am researching my family history.
Hope someone can advise.
Thanks Carol

[Hilary]

Try the sea men's record cards on Find my Past.

[MaryA]

You might find these links of some help. http://forum.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk ... 14&t=12890

[tsumi]

Hi cjf,
Elder Dempster Lines traded all along the west African coast and Accra was one of their main port of call,s.They carried lots commodities including bulk palm oil.
Their ships were mainly called after the ports of call on that coast and the Accra was what was known as a passenger ship.
My Father was a C/Engineer for Elders and I travelled with him down that coast on a number of occasions.They also crossed the Atlantic to the East coast of America.
There is also a website with lots of the shipping lines memorabilia.
Best of luck
Tsumi

[dickiesam]

Hi Carol,
The only Robert Kelly, bn Liverpool abt 1882, popping up in the MN records has a next-of-kin wife Mrs S Kelly of 10 Vickers Street, Liverpool. He's listed as a bosun. No ships' IDs on the card so unable to pin down a vessel or shipping line.

I found that KELLY, Robert Lemuel married LEWIS, Jane [All Saints, Toxteth Park, Liverpool >> from Lancs BMD]
Registration district: Toxteth Park
Year of registration: 1905; Dec qtr
Volume no: 8B; Page no: 310

I think I have the family minus the father in 1910+1:
22 Malwood Street, Toxteth, Liverpool
KELLY, Jane Wife [Md 5 yrs] 30 1881 - Liverpool
KELLY, Jane Dtr 3 1908 - Liverpool
KELLY, Robert Son 1 1910 - Liverpool
LEWIS, Herbert Brother 14 1897 Errand Boy - Liverpool

So it would appear that the MN card isn't for your Robert unless he married twice which I don't think he did.

[Bertieone]

That is the correct family DS,
He joined the Royal Engineers in 1917, Reg Number, 330664, 34 years of age, previous occupation, Ships Cook, address and family match that on enlistment.

[cjf]

What can I say, I knew you lot would come up trumps again.
That is my family DS, My Grandad must have been on ship at 1910/1.
I thought he was a ships cook on Elder, but maybe not, on his marriage cert he is stated as being ships cook. Relatives said it was on Elder.

Thanks for the info on ships names and the ports.
Cheers to you all.
Carol

[cjf]

Bert, Thank you so much for that info, hopefully I can find more about him now.
Cheers Carol

[Karen]

There is an online record of Merchant Navy Seamen has a Robt Lemuel Kelly listed as being born on 10th September 1882 (although it has been mistranscribed as 1832.) He is a ship's cook and there is a photo of him on there.

[dickiesam]

There is an online record of Merchant Navy Seamen has a Robt Lemuel Kelly listed as being born on 10th September 1882 (although it has been mistranscribed as 1832.) He is a ship's cook and there is a photo of him on there.

The record that Karen spotted also has 5 ships that Robert was crew on with his signing on dates. One is the SS Batanga. The other 4 can be identified from the ships' official ID numbers by using this site.. http://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/vesselsnum.php