Black Sailors, Dress Uniform, on deck of a "warship&quo

[Lynn]

A family ancedote goes like this --
... In the second dresser drawer there were about 5 pictures wrapped up ... all of them were of coloured sailors in dress uniform...they were big war ships not sailing ships... I don't know where they are now (actually "noo" but I can't write scots as well as ya'll)... this story told by a man brn 1930 who used to sneak a look at the snaps wheh he was a wee boy in George Street Paisley

Any ideas? The drawer and pics belonged James Wilson of Paisley Scotland brn 1881 died 1961. He was grandson of a black man and white scottish woman. We suspect the pictures (which we do not have nor have we seen them) were of his father Alexander Wilson brn Greenock abt 1854 or of his uncle Joseph Wilson brn abt 1850 and living at Greenock in 1871. I have tried the archives and can't seem to get anywhere. I know nothing about military, navy, merchant marine and such. I would appreciate any advice of where to start looking info on mixed race black/white sailors in the 19th C.

[SarahND]

Hello Lynn,
Is this the family in 1861? Not that it answers your question, but just trying to zero in on the people.

1861 census

2 John St, Greenock East, Renfrew

Joseph Wilson, 41, head, born Timbrectoo Noburland ??, Africa [excuse ancestry's OCR scanner!!!], Engine fitter
Jeannie Wilson, 33, wife, born Blantyre, Lanark
Joseph Wilson, 10, son, born Pennycuick, Edinburgh, Scholar
Alexander Wilson, 7, son, born Greenock, Renfrew, Scholar

Regards,
Sarah

[Lynn]

yes -- that is them -- I have the document and the census guy wrote down Timbuctoo Africa -- I have since established that Joseph was born in Angola not Mali -- Timbuctoo was likely the census writer writinf the only place he knerw in Africa or Joseph pulling his leg -- but yes -- it took me ages (and I mean years to find this record) -- you folks are amazing here -- Joseph (the Africa one) dies at Greenock in 1873 -- Jean his wife disapears from the radar after this 1861 census record -- still spending way too many credits looking for her -- Jean McMillan married the African Joseph at Greenock in 1847 and after 1861 she disappears -- thanks, Lynn

[SarahND]

I note that in 1851 his birthplace is indeed given as Angola, hardly Timbuktu!!

Square, Penicuick, Midlothian
Joseph Wilson, 30, head, born So Africa, Angola, Millwright
Jane Wilson, 23, wife, born Blantyre, Renfrew
Joseph Wilson, son, 10 mo., born Penicuick, Midlothian

[Lynn]

How did you find that????

I have been looking for this record for over a year!!!

I found 1841 but not 1851 ... this is much appreciated ... I am gobsmacked

Thank you so much

[Lynn]

I have never been able to find Joseph Jr 's birth record in Midlothian -- if you can wave that magic Genealogy dust of yours I'd be grateful -- thanks so much -- I am just floored to have the 1851 census record after looking for it so long -- I have no idea what i have been doing wrong -- what keys did you search on? Thank you again. Lynn

[SarahND]

Hi Lynn,
I can't take any credit for it... I have a subscription to ancestry.com and just a few months ago they added an index for the 1851 and 1861 Scottish censuses. Sometimes the spelling is more than a little odd, since it appears that they used Optical Character Recognition to do the job quickly! I just searched for Joseph Wilson born Africa and up he came! You should now be able to find the actual image on Scotland's People.

Not sure if I can come up with Joseph Jrs birth cert-- I think that magic wand is in the possession of some other TS members

All the best,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Hi Lynn,
Another question (well, a couple of them!). You say you lost sight of Jean after 1861. Did you find Joseph Sr in the 1871 census, or just Joseph Jr? Was Alexander somewhere in Scotland without his mother? On the 1873 death certificate, who signed as informant? Was Joseph Sr. a widower or a husband at that time?

Regards,
Sarah

[emanday]

yes -- that is them -- I have the document and the census guy wrote down Timbuctoo Africa -- I have since established that Joseph was born in Angola not Mali -- Timbuctoo was likely the census writer writinf the only place he knerw in Africa or Joseph pulling his leg -- but yes -- it took me ages (and I mean years to find this record) -- you folks are amazing here -- Joseph (the Africa one) dies at Greenock in 1873 -- Jean his wife disapears from the radar after this 1861 census record -- still spending way too many credits looking for her -- Jean McMillan married the African Joseph at Greenock in 1847 and after 1861 she disappears -- thanks, Lynn

I think Joseph did have a sense of humour about his heritage. In the IGI entry for his marriage he has given his father's name as "Sambo". This is an extracted entry, so that is likely what is written in the register. Now that is an OPR image that would be interesting to see!

[Lynn]

The OPR document is posted that the url below -- thank you to all for your interest and help.


http://www.freewebs.com/wilsonreunion/