The Scott Family |
Postings in 2025
January 9:
As 2024 rolled over to 2025, I wondered: How did the Scott family celebrate New Year’s? There is no information in the documents in the Scrapbook.
In 1887/88 the family was on the A L Palmer, sailing between Madras and Balasore, and despite some cases of dysentery ‘all quite well’. Since James is writing his account of the voyage ‘after the fact’, while he and Samuel were adjusting to the tragedies and new future plans, it is not surprising that earlier, no doubt happy, celebrations with two young children, were omitted.
In the early 1880’s they were on the Kate Irving, but again, no mention of Christmas nor New Year’s celebrations. In December 1888 they were in detainment in Australia, Scott having sought ‘safe harbour’ after the Enchanter was blown off course on the way to Panama. The Instrument of Protest was filed on December 28th, maybe a result of having to spend celebration time under such circumstances.
The only real clue that Christmas was special is included in Forester’s account of the West Indian voyage. On the east coast of Chili, close to the tip of South America, they celebrated Christmas Eve with ‘turkey and plum pudding’ ‘singing and dancing on the quarter deck’. ‘On the 31st December, the day broke - calm and peaceful’, ’intensely hot’. ’[We] fired one or two shots [at shoals of porpoise]’. ‘The evening was deliciously cool [with moonlight, and the appearance of the water ] . . . caused by the phosphorous, was a sight to be remembered.
How unfortunate that there are no ships’ logs nor a diary from Eva or Emma expressing their thoughts on the voyages.
January 9:
As 2024 rolled over to 2025, I wondered: How did the Scott family celebrate New Year’s? There is no information in the documents in the Scrapbook.
In 1887/88 the family was on the A L Palmer, sailing between Madras and Balasore, and despite some cases of dysentery ‘all quite well’. Since James is writing his account of the voyage ‘after the fact’, while he and Samuel were adjusting to the tragedies and new future plans, it is not surprising that earlier, no doubt happy, celebrations with two young children, were omitted.
In the early 1880’s they were on the Kate Irving, but again, no mention of Christmas nor New Year’s celebrations. In December 1888 they were in detainment in Australia, Scott having sought ‘safe harbour’ after the Enchanter was blown off course on the way to Panama. The Instrument of Protest was filed on December 28th, maybe a result of having to spend celebration time under such circumstances.
The only real clue that Christmas was special is included in Forester’s account of the West Indian voyage. On the east coast of Chili, close to the tip of South America, they celebrated Christmas Eve with ‘turkey and plum pudding’ ‘singing and dancing on the quarter deck’. ‘On the 31st December, the day broke - calm and peaceful’, ’intensely hot’. ’[We] fired one or two shots [at shoals of porpoise]’. ‘The evening was deliciously cool [with moonlight, and the appearance of the water ] . . . caused by the phosphorous, was a sight to be remembered.
How unfortunate that there are no ships’ logs nor a diary from Eva or Emma expressing their thoughts on the voyages.
Postings in 2024
#3. James and the Emma Marr
Following the death of wife Eva and infant daughter baby Eva, Samuel was emotionally broken and could no longer stay in India, on the A L Palmer. James, his brother and the writer of the memorandum that started my search, also left the ship and joined the crew of the Emma Marr bound for Akyat. I searched and searched but could not find a location for Akyat. My searches always ended with a Filipino tagalog word meaning ‘to take something upstairs’ and a reference to a Filipino gang. It did not make sense and was not a link I wanted to pursue.
After publishing Captain Scott’s Scrapbook mutinies, mining and mysteries, I decided to look again for James H. Scott - where did he go? The BAC-LAC Ship Registrations 1787-1966 gave little information on Emma Marr. Once again, I had luck. This time when I googled Emma Marr I had a new hit: the Naval Marine Archive: The Canadian Collection in Picton ON. A treasure trove of information! The Emma Marr was owned by Francis Tufts of Saint John, New Brunswick. Captain Shields, also of Saint John, NB, was the Master from September 20, 1877 to April 20, 1880, then again May - September 1880.
He sailed the ship from Liverpool to India on June 8, 1878, arriving at Bombay (Mumbai) on Nov 24, 1878. Eva had died on the 8th. Captain Shield and his wife took ‘the baby’ on board the Emma Marr for two weeks, but it was ill, getting worse and died December 8th or 9th, the memorandum and death notice differ on the date. James joined the ship in December 1878 and was on the voyage to Akyab, not Akyak, between Feb 1 – March 3, 1879. With the correct spelling of Akyab I was able to locate it in Burma (Sittwe, Myanmar). The ship then returned to Cochin (Kochi), India arriving there June 25, 1879. The ship left India and returned to Liverpool by the end of the year.
I have continued to look for James and his career. While there are still gaps to fill, he was sailing in Europe in 1894. I hope to make another post about James in the future.
#3. James and the Emma Marr
Following the death of wife Eva and infant daughter baby Eva, Samuel was emotionally broken and could no longer stay in India, on the A L Palmer. James, his brother and the writer of the memorandum that started my search, also left the ship and joined the crew of the Emma Marr bound for Akyat. I searched and searched but could not find a location for Akyat. My searches always ended with a Filipino tagalog word meaning ‘to take something upstairs’ and a reference to a Filipino gang. It did not make sense and was not a link I wanted to pursue.
After publishing Captain Scott’s Scrapbook mutinies, mining and mysteries, I decided to look again for James H. Scott - where did he go? The BAC-LAC Ship Registrations 1787-1966 gave little information on Emma Marr. Once again, I had luck. This time when I googled Emma Marr I had a new hit: the Naval Marine Archive: The Canadian Collection in Picton ON. A treasure trove of information! The Emma Marr was owned by Francis Tufts of Saint John, New Brunswick. Captain Shields, also of Saint John, NB, was the Master from September 20, 1877 to April 20, 1880, then again May - September 1880.
He sailed the ship from Liverpool to India on June 8, 1878, arriving at Bombay (Mumbai) on Nov 24, 1878. Eva had died on the 8th. Captain Shield and his wife took ‘the baby’ on board the Emma Marr for two weeks, but it was ill, getting worse and died December 8th or 9th, the memorandum and death notice differ on the date. James joined the ship in December 1878 and was on the voyage to Akyab, not Akyak, between Feb 1 – March 3, 1879. With the correct spelling of Akyab I was able to locate it in Burma (Sittwe, Myanmar). The ship then returned to Cochin (Kochi), India arriving there June 25, 1879. The ship left India and returned to Liverpool by the end of the year.
I have continued to look for James and his career. While there are still gaps to fill, he was sailing in Europe in 1894. I hope to make another post about James in the future.
#4. Eva Darling Scott
misidentified as Eva Darling Locke previously!
Samuel married Emma Darling Locke in Halifax on June 24, 1880. They are on the English census taken April 3, 1881. The family, living at 37 London Street, Fleetwood includes baby Eva as age 0, and she is listed on the England and Wales Civil Registration Birth Index for April, May and June 1881 – but no exact date of birth is given. Eva was baptized by Vicar J Pearson 24 July, 1881 at St. Peter, Fleetwood, Lancaster. The baptism may have been arranged quickly, as the family left for Argentina two days later.
Eva travelled with her parents until 1890 when at the age of 9 she was left behind in England to attend school, Grosvenor Academy in Seacombe, separated from the family for the first time. The 1891 English census lists Eva as boarder with John and Eliza Hopkins at #1 North Mead [Rd?]. John’s occupation is ‘teacher’, maybe at the Academy.
Emma went to Liverpool in 1893 to visit Eva. Eva’s obituary states ‘she was taken ill’ but it is not clear – was Emma ill or Eva? Samuel rushes to join them and ‘on her recovery’ they all head for Canada and Vancouver. Eva died on the train, just past Winnipeg, June 1, 1893, and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery [Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia]
The inscription on the grave stone; from : FindaGrave.com
In Loving memory of Eva Darling dau. of Capt. S.F. & Mrs. E D. Scott. Died June 1, 1893 aged 12 years.
A precious one from us has gone
A voice we loved is stilled
A place is Vacant in our home
Which never can be filled
There will be no post on Sunday August 18, I will be away from my computer, cycling the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure 2024.
https://waterfronttrail.org/great-waterfront-trail-adventure/gwta/
misidentified as Eva Darling Locke previously!
Samuel married Emma Darling Locke in Halifax on June 24, 1880. They are on the English census taken April 3, 1881. The family, living at 37 London Street, Fleetwood includes baby Eva as age 0, and she is listed on the England and Wales Civil Registration Birth Index for April, May and June 1881 – but no exact date of birth is given. Eva was baptized by Vicar J Pearson 24 July, 1881 at St. Peter, Fleetwood, Lancaster. The baptism may have been arranged quickly, as the family left for Argentina two days later.
Eva travelled with her parents until 1890 when at the age of 9 she was left behind in England to attend school, Grosvenor Academy in Seacombe, separated from the family for the first time. The 1891 English census lists Eva as boarder with John and Eliza Hopkins at #1 North Mead [Rd?]. John’s occupation is ‘teacher’, maybe at the Academy.
Emma went to Liverpool in 1893 to visit Eva. Eva’s obituary states ‘she was taken ill’ but it is not clear – was Emma ill or Eva? Samuel rushes to join them and ‘on her recovery’ they all head for Canada and Vancouver. Eva died on the train, just past Winnipeg, June 1, 1893, and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery [Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia]
The inscription on the grave stone; from : FindaGrave.com
In Loving memory of Eva Darling dau. of Capt. S.F. & Mrs. E D. Scott. Died June 1, 1893 aged 12 years.
A precious one from us has gone
A voice we loved is stilled
A place is Vacant in our home
Which never can be filled
There will be no post on Sunday August 18, I will be away from my computer, cycling the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure 2024.
https://waterfronttrail.org/great-waterfront-trail-adventure/gwta/
#5 Eva Janet Scott’s poem
Eva’s poem ‘I am lonely at night’ is grouped at the end of the scrapbook with the other items related to the voyage of the A L Palmer. I interpreted it as being Eva’s reaction to Ebby’s death and her struggle to put her grief into words. The poem is very hard to read, faded, with damaged paper.
While researching Locke family history, I exchanged emails with a cousin researching the Pye family, particularly William Henry Pye. William was the brother of Mary Pye who married Ebenezer Locke, the parents of Leonard, Eva and Emma. Margaret has quite a different take on the poem and suggests that Eva did not sail with Samuel on the Belle Walters in 1875 but remained in New Brunswick with baby Frederick while Samuel took two voyages to England. The poem was written to express her loneliness as a young bride and new mother, separated from the man she loved.
Margaret has a much keener sense of poetry than I and I must admit that her interpretation makes good sense to me. It may even explain why Eva, Frederick and baby Ebby joined Samuel on the A L Palmer: the couple could not bear to be parted. With either interpretation there is one question: why does she use the third person plural ‘they’ in the poem?
Of course nothing is straightforward when it comes to researching ships in the 1870’s!
The Library and Archives Canada, Ships Registrations, lists the Belle Walters as build in Hillsborough, New Brunswick with official number 59190. The Seafarers of the Atlantic Provinces lists the Belle Walters, with number J868069, sailing from Newport, England on 27 Oct 1875 and arriving in Liverpool, England 30 July 1876; Samuel joining the ship on 25 Dec 1875 in Cardenes [Cuba], West Indies. The second voyage was 22 Aug 1876 from Liverpool England to Liverpool England, arriving 17 Dec 1876
The Naval Marine Archive – the Canadian Collection lists two Belle Walters, both built in 1868. One in Hillsborough #59190, and one in Saint John #9001938. There is no additional information on the latter, but the information for #59190 closely matches that given on the Seafarers pages. It seems that Samuel sailed to the West Indies in late 1875, joined the ship in Cuba, and sailed to the UK and was there until at least Dec 1876 – a long separation from Eva and Frederick!
Eva’s poem ‘I am lonely at night’ is grouped at the end of the scrapbook with the other items related to the voyage of the A L Palmer. I interpreted it as being Eva’s reaction to Ebby’s death and her struggle to put her grief into words. The poem is very hard to read, faded, with damaged paper.
While researching Locke family history, I exchanged emails with a cousin researching the Pye family, particularly William Henry Pye. William was the brother of Mary Pye who married Ebenezer Locke, the parents of Leonard, Eva and Emma. Margaret has quite a different take on the poem and suggests that Eva did not sail with Samuel on the Belle Walters in 1875 but remained in New Brunswick with baby Frederick while Samuel took two voyages to England. The poem was written to express her loneliness as a young bride and new mother, separated from the man she loved.
Margaret has a much keener sense of poetry than I and I must admit that her interpretation makes good sense to me. It may even explain why Eva, Frederick and baby Ebby joined Samuel on the A L Palmer: the couple could not bear to be parted. With either interpretation there is one question: why does she use the third person plural ‘they’ in the poem?
Of course nothing is straightforward when it comes to researching ships in the 1870’s!
The Library and Archives Canada, Ships Registrations, lists the Belle Walters as build in Hillsborough, New Brunswick with official number 59190. The Seafarers of the Atlantic Provinces lists the Belle Walters, with number J868069, sailing from Newport, England on 27 Oct 1875 and arriving in Liverpool, England 30 July 1876; Samuel joining the ship on 25 Dec 1875 in Cardenes [Cuba], West Indies. The second voyage was 22 Aug 1876 from Liverpool England to Liverpool England, arriving 17 Dec 1876
The Naval Marine Archive – the Canadian Collection lists two Belle Walters, both built in 1868. One in Hillsborough #59190, and one in Saint John #9001938. There is no additional information on the latter, but the information for #59190 closely matches that given on the Seafarers pages. It seems that Samuel sailed to the West Indies in late 1875, joined the ship in Cuba, and sailed to the UK and was there until at least Dec 1876 – a long separation from Eva and Frederick!
#7: More on James H Scott
Trying to sort out the life of Samuel’s brother, James Henry Scott, from online genealogy sites is challenging. Even narrowing the family information by including a birthdate exact to within five years and specifying father’s name ‘William’, gives thousands of possibilities. Looking for records of ships seemed to be a better place to start.
The BAC-LAC site: Ship’s Registrations 1787-1966 has limited information. The Seafarer’s of the Atlantic Provinces, 1789-1935 usually uses the original registration number, not the ‘official’ number. If you search BAC-LAC with the original number – there will be a ‘no results’ response. Better to just put in the name of the ship, scroll down through all with the same name and find a match as to date and/or place built or registration. The Maritime History Archive, Memorial University of Newfoundland has a wealth of information, some of which is also available in The Naval Marine Archive – The Canadian Collection.
I first knew of James H Scott from the memorandum he wrote about the voyage of the A L Palmer and knew that he had achieved his Mate’s papers in 1878 and following Eva’s death transferred to the Emma Marr. He probably stayed with the Emma Marr until it returned to England in December 1879, then somehow made his way to Germany. On April 8, 1880, he joined Samuel’s ship the Royal Charley and sailed from Bremerhaven, Germany to Cardiff, Wales, discharged there on May 1, 1880. He makes his way to Londonderry, Ireland and joins the Kate Covert as Bosun, a step down from first mate, on June 22. The ship sails to Dunkirk, France arriving there October 6, but somehow James is discharged on August 14th in Baltimore, Maryland, USA with the note ‘deserted’. I could not find an explanation as to how or why the discharge would be in Maryland.
James’ career does not progress smoothly. Several ships, breaks in service, joining and discharged in the middle of voyages. After leaving the Kate Covert in Maryland, a year later, September 10, 1881, he joins. the Souvenir in Antwerp, Belgium again as 1st Mate. The ship sails from Antwerp on September 15 and arrives in Liverpool on March 15, 1882. But again confusion: James was discharged ‘by mutual consent’ in Saint John, New Brunswick on February 7, 1882.
His next ship is the Lennie, again he is Bosun. While the Seafarers list the ship as sailing from Antwerp on September 15, 1882, and arriving in Bordeaux, France February 27, 1883, James joins the ship in Saint John, New Brunswick on January 18, 1883. He is discharged in Bordeaux on February 27th. However, he is back on the ship in November 1883, joining it in Dover, England on the 15th and sailing as Bosun to Pensacola, Florida where he is discharged ‘with mutual consent’ on April 1, 1884.
And then there is a long gap in maritime information. The next, and last, ship where I found James was the Highlands. Again, he was in Antwerp, Belgium and joined the ship as Bosun on June 27, 1894. It sailed from Antwerp on the 29th and arrived in St. John, New Brunswick March 13, 1896. However once again James has not stayed for the full voyage, he was ‘discharged with mutual consent’ in Cardiff on August 3, 1894.
It will take many hours in the files in the Maritime History Archive to find more information about the ships and their crews. Unfortunately, there are not crew lists for the dates that James was on board. One rather surprising, to me, detail did show up in the records ‘Agreement and Account of Crew’. On each ship, with the exception of the Highlands where no crew lists exist, in the box detailing provisions allowed is the note: ‘at the Master’s option No [spirits, alcohol, grog] allowed’. What? A sailor without rum? This will definitely take more research!
All the above-named ships were built in Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. A powerful reminder of the importance of ships in the Atlantic Canada economy.
Trying to sort out the life of Samuel’s brother, James Henry Scott, from online genealogy sites is challenging. Even narrowing the family information by including a birthdate exact to within five years and specifying father’s name ‘William’, gives thousands of possibilities. Looking for records of ships seemed to be a better place to start.
The BAC-LAC site: Ship’s Registrations 1787-1966 has limited information. The Seafarer’s of the Atlantic Provinces, 1789-1935 usually uses the original registration number, not the ‘official’ number. If you search BAC-LAC with the original number – there will be a ‘no results’ response. Better to just put in the name of the ship, scroll down through all with the same name and find a match as to date and/or place built or registration. The Maritime History Archive, Memorial University of Newfoundland has a wealth of information, some of which is also available in The Naval Marine Archive – The Canadian Collection.
I first knew of James H Scott from the memorandum he wrote about the voyage of the A L Palmer and knew that he had achieved his Mate’s papers in 1878 and following Eva’s death transferred to the Emma Marr. He probably stayed with the Emma Marr until it returned to England in December 1879, then somehow made his way to Germany. On April 8, 1880, he joined Samuel’s ship the Royal Charley and sailed from Bremerhaven, Germany to Cardiff, Wales, discharged there on May 1, 1880. He makes his way to Londonderry, Ireland and joins the Kate Covert as Bosun, a step down from first mate, on June 22. The ship sails to Dunkirk, France arriving there October 6, but somehow James is discharged on August 14th in Baltimore, Maryland, USA with the note ‘deserted’. I could not find an explanation as to how or why the discharge would be in Maryland.
James’ career does not progress smoothly. Several ships, breaks in service, joining and discharged in the middle of voyages. After leaving the Kate Covert in Maryland, a year later, September 10, 1881, he joins. the Souvenir in Antwerp, Belgium again as 1st Mate. The ship sails from Antwerp on September 15 and arrives in Liverpool on March 15, 1882. But again confusion: James was discharged ‘by mutual consent’ in Saint John, New Brunswick on February 7, 1882.
His next ship is the Lennie, again he is Bosun. While the Seafarers list the ship as sailing from Antwerp on September 15, 1882, and arriving in Bordeaux, France February 27, 1883, James joins the ship in Saint John, New Brunswick on January 18, 1883. He is discharged in Bordeaux on February 27th. However, he is back on the ship in November 1883, joining it in Dover, England on the 15th and sailing as Bosun to Pensacola, Florida where he is discharged ‘with mutual consent’ on April 1, 1884.
And then there is a long gap in maritime information. The next, and last, ship where I found James was the Highlands. Again, he was in Antwerp, Belgium and joined the ship as Bosun on June 27, 1894. It sailed from Antwerp on the 29th and arrived in St. John, New Brunswick March 13, 1896. However once again James has not stayed for the full voyage, he was ‘discharged with mutual consent’ in Cardiff on August 3, 1894.
It will take many hours in the files in the Maritime History Archive to find more information about the ships and their crews. Unfortunately, there are not crew lists for the dates that James was on board. One rather surprising, to me, detail did show up in the records ‘Agreement and Account of Crew’. On each ship, with the exception of the Highlands where no crew lists exist, in the box detailing provisions allowed is the note: ‘at the Master’s option No [spirits, alcohol, grog] allowed’. What? A sailor without rum? This will definitely take more research!
All the above-named ships were built in Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. A powerful reminder of the importance of ships in the Atlantic Canada economy.
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