Valparaiso, Chile: Compania de vapores sudamericano

[SusanScot]

My great-grandfather, Samuel Barnes, an engine fitter in Govan, Glasgow, went to Valparaiso 1906-1908 to work at CSAV. Was this a common phenomenon? I also have no record of the death of his father, also Samuel Barnes, and am wondering if they went together. Samuel junior was blind on his return.

Any information about the company and its relationship with Scottish workers would be very welcome.

Thank you

[Currie]

Hello Susan,

Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV) is a Chilean shipping company that is currently the largest in Latin America. CSAV, one of the oldest shipping companies in the world, was founded in 1872. The company’s business initially consisted exclusively of coastal shipping services but these were rapidly extended along the whole west coast of South America to the Panama Canal before this was opened to regular traffic. CSAV then extended the scope of its business to the United States, followed by Europe, the Far East and Japan, South-East Asia/Pacific Islands and the east coast of South America.
http://www.csav.cl/pages/compania.htm

There seems to have been a never ending procession of ships built for CSAV in Scottish Shipyards and that probably explains why they wanted Scottish Engineers to maintain them. Possibly it was part of the deal but it’s just as likely the company would have been looking for experts to keep their ships in good working order. I guess there would have been a local shortage of Marine Engineers and similar Specialists.

In the “19th Century British Library Newspapers” available down this road viewtopic.php?t=11449 you’ll find a number of articles in the Glasgow Herald such as:

Glasgow Herald, Thursday, July 6, 1882 - Contains a description of a new Steamer “Maipo” being the 6th vessel of her class built for CSAV by John Reid & Co. in Port Glasgow.

Glasgow Herald, Monday, September 19, 1892 - Another new Steamer “Caulin” built by Reid’s.

Glasgow Herald, Friday, November 24, 1893 - Launching of “Malleco”? built by Napier’s at Govan.

Glasgow Herald, Tuesday, February 18, 1896 - Launching of the “Palena” the 12th vessel built for the company by Reid’s.

Not much help with the Samuel Barnes problem though.

Hope this helps,
Alan

[SusanScot]

Alan,
Many thanks for that information. I felt there had to be a link between CSAV & the Scottish shipbuilders.

It would seem from further examining the available info that Samuel Jnr went blind gradually after his return from Chile, so probably not caused by an accident, which was my assumption.

The link to the newspaper archive mentioned in the thread you directed me to is one I have come across before. I was using it merrily until someone on a Family History Society forum I visit told us it was an illegal loophole and got everyone worried. The general consensus on the forum was inconclusive.

Thank you again for your help.

Susan

[Currie]

Back again Susan,

Just in case you ever need to chase up Chile Records go to Google Books http://www.google.com.au/books?hl=en and search for CHILE VITAL RECORDS and you should end up at “International Vital Records Handbook - Page 342”

http://www.registrocivil.cl/home.html Where there are “Servicios en Linea” but I don’t speak Spanish.

I wouldn’t worry too much about Gale. Gale deals only with libraries, Institutions and the like. The more people there are who know about the existence of this material, the greater the demand for it and that’s all the better for Gale. I look on it as free advertising for the company in a similar way to the Ancestry freebies etc. Gale isn’t losing revenue if the access cannot be purchased by the people accessing it. They are also probably getting valuable statistics on the popularity of particular types of databases etc.

The Gale databases are only currently otherwise available to people who live in the areas covered by the libraries or institutions or whatever who have free access or decide to purchase access to them. A great many libraries will not have the funds for this or will not be interested and consequently many people may never get the opportunity to get hold of family information contained therein, not ever.

The thing has been running for three months at least, trials don’t last that long. If it was a genuine trial it would have ended long ago. It’s unlikely that an organisation such as Gale wouldn’t be fully aware that it’s being accessed by thousands the way that it is. My speculation, which is probably as good as someone’s illegal loophole speculation, is that Gale knows all about it and could shut it down at any time it becomes of no perceived benefit to them.

All the best,
Alan

[SusanScot]

Alan,

Thank you so much for such interesting contacts and information.

I do speak Spanish, and have e-mailed the Chilean Registration Office. Fingers crossed. Otherwise, I will contact the suggested bodies from the Vital Records link you gave me.

You have reassured me about Gale. I'm sure you're right. This isn't the first "trial" they've had, I remember "breaking through" from a tip-off a couple of years back.

Once again, many thanks, and I'll let you know if I get anywhere.

Susan