In a message dated 12/10/2007 15:27:12 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: The Seaman's United Protection Society would be a Friendly Society, ______________________________________________________________________________ _______ Hi Allan, Sorry, that is not correct, it was not a Friendly Society, it was a national Trade Society formed in 1851 as a direct result of the 1850 Mercantile Marine Act, and was apparently confined to the coal trade. The Sunderland Seamen's Society was a branch long before the National Amalgamated Sailors and Firemen's Union of Great Britain and Ireland. One of the rules was that no member of the society was to sail in any ship from the North East ports, or any port where branch societies existed, unless the crews were all members of the society, and each member had to produce his medal before signing articles. Stan