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Thread: Maximum age for merchant sailors in days gone by

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    Default Maximum age for merchant sailors in days gone by

    Hello folks, Newbie here. I am researching a family who travelled widely. They had a son in St Petersburg, Russia in 1857. By 1881 the son had become a "seaman" (aged 24) according to the 1881 census completed by his father when the family had returned to the UK. The son married in New Zealand in 1889 (aged 32). It seems very likely that by 1905 he was working as a "Theatre Usher" in Dunedin, New Zealand. My question is, assuming he was a merchant sailor and that's how he got to New Zealand in the first place, how long would he have been allowed to work on ships at that time? I know that old sailors sometimes lied about their age or identity to get work. Does anyone know what the age restrictions might have been around 1890 - 1900? Sorry if this is the wrong forum for such a question. If so, please point me in the right direction. Thanks for any assistance.

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    Default Re: Maximum age for merchant sailors in days gone by

    The Oldest man I ever sailed with was in 1952,
    He was 84 Years old, and a coal burning Fireman.

    Cheers
    Brian

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    Default Re: Maximum age for merchant sailors in days gone by

    There would have been some shipping companies that would no doubt have, if it suited, turned a blind eye to age back then.
    We know from other members that at times some gave false ages to join up, so possible this man could well have been taken on at any age.
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

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    Default Re: Maximum age for merchant sailors in days gone by

    Doesn't answer your question but I did my first trip deep sea on an Arctic trawler at the age of 13, that age did not allow me to be a crew member but as a supernumery without pay, but got paid at end of trip by other crew members, normal age at that time was 16 years old. During WWII many 14 year olds signed on (and were lost) but during that time authorities turned a blind eye as MN short of men through enemy action. So I would suspect that in the era you are researching it would not be too difficult to get to sea for age 12 to 16 year olds. Didn't Nelson and Cook go to sea aged 12 years

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    Default Re: Maximum age for merchant sailors in days gone by

    My wife's Grand father had done two trips at sea, His 3rd was at the age of 14years he signed on the Lusitania, As a fireman but was put ashore because his Father same name and Son both used the same discharge book number. The oldest Seaman I sailed with was 90 years old they where usually titled Lamp Trimmer and spent most of there time in the Foc,sle mixing and handing out paint ETC... to deck crew members he had a lot of respect he had forgotten most of what us guys new his name I will never forget Joe Dalzell that was in 1971. Terry
    {terry scouse}

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    Default Re: Maximum age for merchant sailors in days gone by

    My great grandfather went to sea at the age of eleven and retired in his seventies according to family, died at 85 years of age. His worst experiences were going aloft around the Horn covered in sea boils I sailed with a grand old chap from Liverpool one Xmas he had been bosun on both of the Queens for many years, the mate said he had never seen a Dis. charge book like his in all his years at sea. He must have been in his late seventies and used to ship out at Xmas. Taught me how to splice wire. Lived in Liverpool sailors home. Bless
    R 800658 Kn

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    Default Re: Maximum age for merchant sailors in days gone by

    Hi Eric.
    I sailed with a bosun out of Auckland who was around 87\8 he had started in sail at around 14 , don't know when he finished up but I saw him a few times on the pickup corner much later , that was in the late fifties and sixties.
    Des

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    Default Re: Maximum age for merchant sailors in days gone by

    My father ran away to sea at 11, his father brought him back from Liverpool, ran away again 12 again brought back and this time put on a training ship. I have his Palm and Needle certificate. I understand that he still went to see at 14 in sail. As I'm almost 91 this was some time ago, as I don't like heights not sure if would if I would have gone to sea in sail.
    Terry Sullivan R340406

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