Family Resaerch

[Jim Russell]

Hello All.

I have read through a some of the messages and found them to be very interesting. My main interest is in Family research and it is with that in mind that I have joined.
I have found that I had several relations that were in the Merchant Navy and that their travels may be of interest to you.
My Great grandfather William Miller was the Chief engineer on the SS Cape Corrientes and was drowned in Pensacola harbour in 1898 and is buried in the local cemetery.
His son also named William was a bosun and he must have went to sea at a young age as I cannot find any record of him after the 1861 census when he was aged 3 until 1901 when I think I have in living in Amble Northumberland unmarried and occupation a seaman. This may tie in with what I know re my Great grandfathers 1st marriage some time between 1866 & 1876 whereabouts unknown which ended with the deaths of his wife and children in a fire. As I cannot find the marriage or deaths in Scotland and the fact that he and his son sailed from the east coast I am looking for a 1st marriage in the Newcastle area.
His 2nd wife and family moved to Hartlepool sometime between late 1886 & late 1888 and then back to Glasgow before 1901.
I have 100 post cards written by William (son) on his travels around the world between 1905 & 1909. Some name the ships & destinations that he was on.

He was on the SS Furnessia October 1905 sailing from Glasgow Arriving New York 10th Oct & returning to Glasgow on the 14th Oct. (2 deaths and 1 Birth on board)

Boatswains mate on the SS Sardinia Montreal to Boston

SS Trafford Hall 18th Dec 1905 to Bombay & Karachi via Suez Canal. Arrived back to Liverpool
20th Feb 06

SS Glen Affrick to Ceylon 18th Sept 1906.

11th May 1908 London to Sydney estimated arrival 6th June.

In Sept 1909 on his way to the Fife Islands from Dunedin he became unwell so “resigned” and returned to Dunedin”.
He eventually went home to Glasgow where I found him in the 1911 census.
He appeared again in Feb1921 on the SS Raranga as Bosun sailing from Newcastle to New Zealand where he remained for the rest of his life (as far as I know). I have a photo of him in Auckland 1947.
The postcards all but 2 or 3 were from him and were sent to a Miss B L Kennedy in Canada. How or why the postcards eventually came into his sisters (my Grandmother) hands I do not know.

I think I may also have found, on my Fathers side, my Great grandfather William Russell in the 1911 census on the SS Irrawaddy as Chief Engineer.

Finally James Russell age 25 Able Seaman on the SS Empire Merlin Torpedoed 25th Aug 1940., position 58.3 N 10.15 W. Part of a convoy of 51 ships it sank within a minute with only one survivor.

My wife had a relation who in 1855 was the Master on the Montmorency and whose daughter was born onboard on the 23rd Dec 1855 position Lat 320 25S long 32 58E.

Jim Russell

[Frank Appleford]

Brilliant, thanks for sharing with us. So it was torpedo alley, the end of his sea career. very sad. I'm sure many of our members here will enjoy your post.