Our Welsh Mariners Website has just been updated.
New inclusions are details of over 800 Trinity House Petitions made by poor mariners
and/or their families. The surviving documents are from the period 1789-1852. These
petitions can be of great value to the family historian as the mariners and/or their
families would try to prove their ages and relationships. They often did this with
certified records from parish registers, Family Bibles etc.
For some of the petitions a précis is included on the website; this is an on going task.
If the reader wishes to brows the petitions just carry out a search by using the word
Trinity on the "Details contains" section coupled with a birthplace or county of
interest.
Numbers of Petitions on a county basis are: PEM, 301; CAE, 147; CGN, 124; GLA, 64; MER,
53; AGY 47; CMN, 43. Sadly only 6 petitions came from MON, which is surprising given the
importance of Newport and Chepstow as ports.
The original documents are held at the Society of Genealogist, London, who published a
calendar to the whole UK collection.
An example from our website:
[Trinity House Petition of Eleanor Hughes, aged 62, widow of Thomas Hughes, of
Aberystwith, CGN, 1844]. Precis: Thomas Hughes went to sea at 15 in 1799. Served as
ap/Industry for 3 yrs; m/Industry for 1 yr; m/Anne for 2 yrs; m/New ??? for 9 yrs;
C/Eleanor/Aberystwyth for 6 yrs. Voyage from Carnarvon to Aberdovey in 1820 certified by
the owner, Mr David Meredith. Thomas was drowned when master in 1820?. Eleanor daur of
Evan Hugh by his wife was baptised at Llanfihangelgenaurglyn parish, CGN on 15 Sept 1782.
Thomas Hughes married Eleanor Hughes on 26 July 1814 at Llanfihangelgenaurglyn parish. In
a letter from Aberystwyth dated 5 Dec 1844 Eleanor says that she lost her husband when her
three children were very young which she brought up by her own industry without any parish
aid. The petition states that her means of support are from daily labour in carrying turf
on her back to Aberystwyth being the distance of 7 miles and to walk back the same day.
But on 31 July 1847 William Evans, a surgeon, certified that she was unable to do anything
to gain a livelyhood. She sent another letter on 26 Feb 1848 stating that she is aged 65.
Her petition was supported by Enoch James, C/Mary & Ellen/sloop/Aberystwyth; Richard
Davies, C/Hope/sloop/Aberystwyth; Hugh Davies, C/Elizabeth Anne/smack/Aberystwyth; John
Hughes, C/Virtue/schooner/Newport. Petition received 7 Dec 1844. [The details clearly
indicate that Eleanor resides at or near Borth].
The outcome of this or any petition is not known as such records are said to have been
destroyed by enemy action in World War 2. However there may be locally held records which
may give clues. Naturally we welcome any input about any petition or mariner on the
website.
Reg Davies and Nigel Callaghan
Website of Welsh mariners at
www.welshmariners.org.uk