By registering with our site you will have full instant access to:
268,000 posts on every subject imaginable contributed by 1000's of members worldwide.
25000 photos and videos mainly relating to the British Merchant Navy.
Members experienced in research to help you find out about friends and relatives who served.
The camaraderie of 1000's of ex Merchant Seamen who use the site for recreation & nostalgia.
Here we are all equal whether ex Deck Boy or Commodore of the Fleet.
A wealth of experience and expertise from all departments spanning 70+ years.
It is simple to register and membership is absolutely free.
N.B. If you are going to be requesting help from one of the forums with finding historical details of a relative
please include as much information as possible to help members assist you. We certainly need full names,
date and place of birth / death where possible plus any other details you have such as discharge book numbers etc.
Please post all questions onto the appropriate forum
-
24th January 2020, 06:32 PM
#1
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.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
24th January 2020, 06:54 PM
#2
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
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
25th January 2020, 05:36 AM
#3
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
-
25th January 2020, 09:10 AM
#4
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
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
25th January 2020, 12:34 PM
#5
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}
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
25th January 2020, 06:31 PM
#6
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
26th January 2020, 05:17 AM
#7
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
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
30th January 2020, 06:23 AM
#8
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
-
Post Thanks / Like
Tags for this Thread
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules