Hi Karen I think I would be a bit suspicious about the 1896 description of him as a "master mariner" too. First, the chap himself was dead, so it wasn't necessarily how he would have described himself; secondly, his daughter may not have understood the distinction between "mariner" and "master mariner", and thirdly, she may have understood the distinction very well but wanted to present herself as being the daughter of a master, rather than a mere sailor. Certainly he is not in the index to Lloyds Captains Register, though this may not be conclusive of his NOT being a master; he may never have sailed on a "foreign" voyage. Have you had any luck with Gale's 19th Century British Newspapers online (access available through certain libraries) or any Irish Directories? Maybe there might be a notice of his death? Have you checked whether there is any record of a probate of his will or letters of administration? I gather that a great many records were destroyed but that some survive. Findmypast.com seems to have a new Irish section. He is maybe more likely to appear if he WAS a master mariner. Ancestry has some additional Liverpool Parish register documents come online in the last few days including the marriage records and the baptism certificates of at least one child. -----Original Message----- From: mariners-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:mariners-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Karen McLaughlin Sent: 12 May 2011 23:29 To: MARINERS@rootsweb.com Subject: [MAR] Washington Cunningham, Master Mariner ? Hi All I am hoping someone out there can help me to find further information about my gt gt grandfather Washington Cunningham who was a mariner - and possibly even a Master Mariner by the time he died. He was probably born around 1835 but birthplace is unknown. According to marriage certificate, his father was George Cunningham, a ship's carpenter. Between 1856 and 1862 Washington appears to have been a 'mariner' based in Liverpool (ref info taken from marriage certificate (1856) + baptism records of 3 daughters (1857/1860/1862). However, I cannot find the family on the 1861 England census. The family must have moved across to N. Ireland because in 1864 a 4th daughter (my gt grandmother - Catherine Rebecca) is born in Strangford, N.Ireland. In 1871, a son is born in Ballyculter, Strangford, N.Ireland and Washington's occupation is given as 'sailor'. By 1896 he is deceased - his name (deceased) appears on his daughter Catherine Rebecca's 1896 marriage certificate and his occupation is given as Master Mariner. If anyone could give me new information or point me in the right direction, I'd be extremely grateful. I visited the records office at Kew but was unable to find Washington Cunningham's name on any maritime index. Many thanks Karen ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MARINERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message