Genealogy Chat

Carol, I will PM you one of the Application Forms for Master's cert that was filled in by and signed by James A Bains - do you have the marriage cert to compare the signature?

Looking for his Master's certs on Ancestry, I have come across another set of records and these are very interesting. He seems to have applied for a duplicate Master's Cert in 1887 because he had lost a portmanteau containing the original between Kings Cross Station in London and Newcastle - so that puts him in London at about the right time.

If you have access to Ancestry, do a search for James Alexander Bains b1842 South Shields and scroll down passed the family tree records. There are a few results but you need to page through all the images.

I notice that Eliza is shown as Ship Steward on the census - perhaps she and James met aboard ship? On one of the documents in the Master's certs record there is list of the ships he had served on from 1865 to 1883. I wonder if crew lists for those are available. Will have a look.

Shields Daily Gazette
Publication date:Wednesday 23 October 1867

MARRIAGES. Newcastle —At St. Nicholas', Newcastle, on the 22nd, Capt. James Alexander Bains, to Jane Elizabeth Nicholson, both of South Shields. No cards.

(nothing helpful!, but saw above)

Chris :)

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?_q=james+alexander+bains

(various on above)

Sorry only just come on line.

Wow!
Potty, that is fasinating re application for duplicate certificate does prove he did visit London, but by 1887 g.grandmother had remarried.

Yes that is a mistake Eliza must have given husband's occupation.

Would love to see the ships he served on, where would I find these?

Chris, thanks for that, any snipped of information if helpful, did not realise he was a Capt.

Just need to see my great grandfathers signature then it will prove one way or another that the James from South Shields was a bigamist.

Carol

Hi Carol

have sent you the image of James/Eliza's marriage. The Master's certs records show him applying for his Second Mate's cert. First Mate's and Master's (Captain's) certs and applying for a duplicate. It seems that the each cert had to be returned when applying for the next one.

Yes Chris the Ref. you gave is for James Alexander Bains, my great Uncle.

Where would I look to see South Shields Gazette?

Carol

Carol, have been looking through the Durham Diocese Marriage Licence images on familysearch and have found James and Jane Nicholson - the image has his signature - will PM it to you.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?basicsearch=james%20alexander%20bains&exactsearch=false&newspapertitle=shields%20daily%20gazette

(from British Newspapers 1710-1953 Find My Past, also on above, copied it out, as just that small piece)

Chris :)

Potty

Thanks for sending the signatures, have enlarged and although not dissimilar am not convinced. Suppose are signatures can change but certain characteristics normally remain.

Think I am just going to have to claim him as mine ;-)

Thanks for that Chris.

You are both stars.

Carol