1800's Southport Peters family mystery

[Jon Maddox]

Thanks to all for your time and advice. I do appreciate that to prove without doubt anything to an academic I would likely need a paper trail. I am not an academic but I am confident in my research. I have been proven wrong at times and they have ended up as helpful as being proven wright.
I'm not sure if I need to know exactly who was related to who and how on the boat. The known facts and the scale of loss for the local women says it all.
Do I need to do things by the books and build tree ladders for other families? Yes if I wanted to work by the book with something to prove climbing up and down for other families descendants. I feel that I am already climbing in the canopy with my own family with nothing much to prove?

[BarbaraW]

This is a really heart rending first hand account that came up in a Google search from a New Zealand newspaper of all places!!



http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bi ... 870217.2.8

[Jon Maddox]

Thanks Mary, many of the men were identified on a Victorian commemorative postcard. I do not know of a good copy of it online though sorry. I have a copy in my Sefton Library publication.

[Jon Maddox]

Thank you again Barbara. I did not know about Jackson's views on the deathtrap boat.

[Jon Maddox]

Sorry I wrote "nothing much to prove" I do not feel that is true. I am privileged to be learning of my proud history. All credit to my nan for keeping things safe for so long. The point I think I was trying to make is that I am not too fussed who believes me most of the time.

[Bertieone]

Not an easy job to do, but I was wondering if there was ever a photograph of the crew in a newspaper, where each member may have been identified.

Some are missing,

[Jon Maddox]

[quote="Jon Maddox"]

[Jon Maddox]

It has previously been pointed out to me that the man who's thought could be John appears to have his jacket fastening the wrong way.

[Bertieone]

I have no knowledge of photography, I can see the reversing effect.

I'm convinced that your photograph is John Jackson and Henry Robinson, I'm sure for a while after the tragedy they would have received celebrity status and would have been sought after for many reasons, including photos.

[MaryA]

Great find Bert, that's even more than I hoped for!

[Jon Maddox]

Thank you so much Bert. I think the obvious has always been staring me in the face. The photography type has been a bit of a red herring. I also do not know of any other identified photos of John and Henry in smart clothes. The only pictures I've seen are of them in lifeboat gear or woolly jumpers.

Thanks to all
Jon

[Jon Maddox]

Mary I hoped for my gt gt gt grandfather

Thank you so much for suggesting I post here

[Jon Maddox]

I do believe that the mystery of who is solved in my mind. I now have another 2 questions for myself. Do I need to prove it any further? What best to do with it?

[big g]

"The bodies of the unfortunate lifeboatmen (who were fishermen by trade) were removed from the beaches and laid out in the coaching house of the nearby Birkdale Palace Hotel. The coach house was later converted to a public house, being named The Fishermen's Rest, and is reputed to be haunted by the spirits of the dead men"
From Wikipedia.

"The Fish was also a temporary morgue for 14 sailors after the Eliza Fernley Lifeboat disaster of 1886. The brass mermaids that secure the bar’s handrail, commemorate them to this day".

There are photographs on the walls of the Fishermens Rest re this disaster, unfortunately I haven't looked closely at them - - usually too busy eating!!

[Jon Maddox]

John Jackson was part of the lifeboat crew between the ages of 16 and 50. When he died in January 1922 3 of his sons and a son in law were still part of the lifeboat crew.
Henry Robinson died July 1938, he like John Jackson had been out to many wrecks since the Mexico.

Thanks big g

[BarbaraW]

I do believe that the mystery of who is solved in my mind. I now have another 2 questions for myself. Do I need to prove it any further? What best to do with it?

What about a copy to the RNLI archives?



http://rnli.org/aboutus/historyandherit ... itage.aspx

[Jon Maddox]

If it is agreed that I can be confident on their identification? I would like this picture shared far and wide. I have tried sharing the picture several times elsewhere without much interest when all I could say is "I believe". Is it thought that I should now be stating confidently "this is, my family are"??

Thanks for any opinions
I'm a little lost again
Jon

[MaryA]

What best to do with it?

Well I think I know what your next action will be, thanks to local knowledge of our Glenys, and that's have a pint or two in the Fishermans Rest - I'm thinking this may be the one at the end of Rotten Row, turn left into Weld Road? That would be a fitting tribute to the crew.

Sorry if I have it wrong and there's another Fishermans Rest.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Rot ... 3280f16f44

[big g]

Afternoon Mary,
That's the correct one; good food freshly made - no ding ding food (microwave)
Glenys

[Jon Maddox]

Thanks made me laugh Mary. I don't know about the pint. I'm 9 years sober. I'm not missing out on anything, I drunk my share. I just drunk it quicker than most I can honestly say without doubt that if I did still drink I would never have started on the family research some time ago
I see the family knowledge I have learned as one of my personal priceless rewards for giving up drinking. My other ultimate reward is that my 2 children will never see me and remember me drunk.
I am not completely anti alcohol, it just doesn't agree with me.

I think I'll give the pint a miss

Food and soft drinks so I can drive sounds good