Grants given to seamen and their families

These items were extracted by Ingrid Clausen. They may help in the search for your seaman ancestors, if you have any luck, please let me know.

Records of the master, pilots and seamen of the Trinity House of Newcastle, 1580-1900

The LDS film is no. 1545981 from the LDS film catalogue - see www.familysearch.org It is part of a group of films titled:

"In Pursuance of an Act of Parliament pass'd last sessions intitled "An Act for the Relief & Support of maimed & disabled seamen, & the widows and children of such as shall be killed, slain, or drowned in the Merchant's Service".

All seamen & Masters of vessels were to pay a monthly amount (seems to have been 6d to start with) for the purposes set out in the 1747 Act.

3 October 1755

Present Mr Thomas Airy, Mr William Scott, Mr Anthony Pearson.

Gave Gilbert Bates, Robert Smith & Robert Rankin who had the misfortune of being shipwreckd in the York one guinea each. Gave William Stafford half a crown & he was placed as a Pensioner at two shillings and 6d a week. Gave Widow Whinney 5 shillings.

7 November 1755

Ralph Sowerby Esq, Mr Thomas Airey, Mr William Scott, Mr Ralph Clarke, Mr John Hedley, Capn John Blagdon Mr Any Pearson

Mary Driver having apply'd for relief, when it appearing to the Trustees she was intitled at Whitby half a guinea was given her to pay her expenses there. Christopher Luckam a sick Seaman having apply'd for relief one guinea was given him. Gave Richard Buttler one guinea, James Anguish 5 shillings & Widow Whinney 5 shillings, sent Matthew Heaton now sick one guinea.

5 December 1755

Mr Thomas Airey, Mr John Baker, Mr Anthony Pearson, Mr Robt Thorp, Mr William Scott.

Sent a sick Seaman by Mr Pearson two guineas. Gave Robert Beard now sick one guinea, sent William Flatt who had the misfortune of breaking his Thigh Bone by a Fall from the ship Roberts main top into a Keel two guineas. Gave widow Whinney five shillings & Jane Adamson five shillings to bury Johnson's Child who died this morning. Sent George Weatherhead now sick one guinea. Signed an order to Mr Sunderland to pay Thomas Aubone twenty one pounds.

2 December 1757

Present Mr Robert Thorp, Mr Thomas Airey, Mr Jonathan Blagdon, Mr Anthony Pearson, Jno Eo Blackett Esq, William Peareth Esq

Robert Middleyard an old Seaman having applyd for relief he was placed as a pensioner, at two shillings p week & half a guinea was given him. Gave Widdow Whinney 5 shillings, sent Wm Rockwood now sick half a guinea, sent George Thompson a sick seaman who hath a wife & three children one guinea. Sent William Robson now sick one guinea & Charles Potts five shillings. Oliver Chandler a worn out seaman having apply'd for relief he was placed as a pensioner...at one shilling per week & half a crown was given him.

John Walker who receivd a damage by Lightning on board the Ship Enterprize having appld for relief 10 shillings was ordered him. Ordered Widow Millar five shillings.

Signed an order to Mr Sunderland to pay Thomas Aubone fifty pounds.

[P.S. Thomas Aubone was Secretary of the Brethren of Trinity House in this period, as well as being prominent in various commercial shipping interests]

4 August 1758

Present Mr Thomas Airey, Capn Ralph Clarke, Mr Anthony Pearson

Gave Widow Mowman 12 shillings & Widow Whinney 5 shillings. William Shell who was lately taken by the French having appld for relief one guinea was given him on account of losing his cloaths.

Edward Fenkell a worn out Seaman having applyd for relief he was placed as a pensioner at one shilling p week & four shillings was given him. Gave Robert Green an infirm Seaman 10 shillings & James Angus five shillings.

1 September 1758

Present J.E. Blackett Esq. Mr Thomas Airey, Mr Robt Thorp, Mr Any Pearson, Capn Richard Pemberton

Gave Widow Whinney 5 shillings & Widow Mowman 12 shillings. John Swainston who had the misfortune of being taken prisoner by the French & lost his cloaths, having applyd for relief one guinea was given him. Sent Wm Wright & Jacob Finch who are in the same circumstance one guinea each. Gave Robert Green now lamed 10 shillings.

Signed an order to Mr Sunderland to pay Thos Aubone 21 pounds.

6 October 1758

Mr Thomas Airey, Mr Anthony Pearson, Capn Ralph Clarke, J.E. Blackett esq, Mr Robert Thorp.

Sent Jno Elstobb who met with a misfortune on board the Ship Fenwick, Joseph Martin, Master, one guinea. Gave Mary Morrison whose Husband was unfortunately burnt on board the Prince George one guinea. Gave George Walker who hath been ill some time two guineas & 12 shillings to Widow Mowman. Gave Robert Green 10 shillings & sent George Dunn two guineas & Widow Whinney 5 shillings.

Signed an order to Mr Sunderland to pay Thomas Aubone 21 pounds.

2 November 1758

George Colpitts Esq, Mr Any Pearson, Mr Ralph Clarke, J E Blackett & Mr Robert Thorp

Gave Robert Green 10 shillings sent Mary Stephenson whose Husband was lately drowned one guinea. Joannah Mowman was placed as a pensioner at two shillings & 6d a week & 12 shillings was given her. Gave Widow Atkinson one guinea & Matthew Bryan now sick two guineas also John Elstobb? Elslobb? one guinea. Gave Geo Delaval & Thomas Crone who were taken by a French Privateer one guinea each & gave Edward Halliwell one guinea, Jno Archer one guinea, Isabell Green wife of Chr_ Green & Mary Hope wife of Chr r Hope one guinea each. Gave Widow Whinney 5 shillings & Richard Appleby one guinea. Signed an order to Mr Sunderland to pay Thomas Aubone 21 pounds.

1 December 1758

Mr Antony Pearson Capt Robt Hudson Wm Peareth Esq Mr Thomas Airey Mr Robert Thorp

Gave Robert Green an infirm seaman 10 shillings & Mr Whinney 5 shillings. Gave the wives of John Willmore, Stephen Luckey, John Potter & John Greenwell now in a French prison one guinea each, it appearing that the Families are in necessity and require support. Gave Mr Pearson on acct of Barw Dewsberry one guinea, Gave Matthew Bryan half a guinea. Signed an order to Mr Sunderland to pay Thos Aubone 21 pounds, gave James Anguish half a crown. Sent Mary Stephenson one guinea.