David Michael/Davies [since his father was Michael Davies, either with second name using the traditional Welsh patronymic as Michael, or following the English model of surnames] married Sarah Lewis in Llanllwchaiarn parish on 3 January 1838. David (from 1841 census with surname Davies) was a hatmaker living near Park-llwyd, about 1.5 miles from New Quay, in Cardiganshire. He signed his name, whereas Sarah signed by mark.
They had several children, who were baptized in Llanllwchaiarn parish with
surname Michael: dates were
16-12-1827 for Lewis Lewis/M (f: David Michael of
Potery Farm, hatter, m: Sarah Lewis of Blaenpendryn);
[presumably Potery is Pottre and Blaenpendryn is BlaenPenrhyn, nearby]
14-12-1830 for Michael M;
18-3-1833 for Samuel M (aged 10 weeks at Blaenpendryn);
5-5-1837 for Jane M;
27-9-1839 for Evan M (at Parkllwyd).
Lewis
was actually born before they were married (so illegitimate) - hence the use
of his wife's surname Lewis. Indeed, the most probable date of baptism of
Sarah Lewis, herself, is 22 Jan 1814 (at Llanllwchaiarn) with father Evan
Lewis. This would make her rather young (14 or so) when Lewis was born - at
that date, the minimum age for marriage was 12 for women and 14 for men. In
1841, Lewis was already earning - as a servant at Tynpurlip, Coybal nearby.
David Michael died 14-12-1850 at Parkllwyd [he was born 12-1-1807].
The family was still at Park-llwyd at the 1851 census, Sara was supported by her absent older sons,
and possibly pregnant, since Mary was not shown in the census but was born soon afterwards.
Unlike the 1841 census, when surnames were Davies, in 1851 the surnames were Michael again.
Lewis (now surname Michael also) was an unmarried servant nearby at Purlip. Michael
and Samuel were absent - since they had embarked on careers as mariners.
Jane continued, unmarried, to look after the home while her brothers went to sea - she died
3 February 1912, aged 74.
New Quay was very active in marine activities - there were shipyards building wooden sailing vessels, ancilliary trades, ship-owners and navigation schools teaching the requirements to pass the examinations to be certified as mate or master. Most importantly, a large number of crew came from New Quay and the surrounding area. In the days of sail, Welsh mariners had a deserved reputation as able and reliable.
Seamen and ships were well documented - from 1835-1858, seamen had a "ticket" which listed their personal details and their experience and enabled them to move on to new postings. Ships had to submit crew lists regularly (every 6 months for coasting vessels). Ships were registered and given a unique "Official Number". Officers (mates and masters) had to obtain a certificate after presenting evidence of sufficient experience and passing an examination. From 1854, only crew lists were required for seaman, although mates and masters were more fully documented. The regulations were more relaxed for coasting vessels while those "going foreign" [beyond Brest or the Elbe], or carrying passengers, had to comply fully.
Typically boys went to sea quite young - at 14-16 years old. Those unable to write, and so study, would not be able to progress to become an officer - instead rising through the ranks as a seaman: apprentice, ordinary seaman, able seaman, boatswain (also written bosun). Sometimes they were reported as serving as mate (cert-nil) which means filling in temporarily for an absent mate. Both Samuel and Lewis seem have have followed a similar route - becoming a boatswain.
Those who were certificated (as mate or master) were much better documented - so we know more about their services. Furthermore, their higher income meant they could save up to own shares in vessels. It was very common for the master of a vessel to be owner or part-owner. They could then choose their crew - and family members were often on board.
Michael Davies
Ticketed on 29 April 1848 at Newport, he was described as born Llanllwchaiarn
on Nov 1830, with height: growing; hair: brown; complexion: fair; eyes: blue.
He was a "boy" aged 17 and could write. His first service was in 1847 on a Cardigan-registered
vessel, and in 1851 as a "seaman" on Cardigan, Aberystwyth and Newport-registered vessels.
He was certified (no. 99021) as mate in 1859 and as master in 1863.
Mr. Evan Jones opened a school for mathematics and seamanship in Caebach
near Pontsian [about 8 miles south of New Quay]. There is an interesting story
about the school. A young man from "Pottre" in Newquay [most probably Michael
Davies whose family were from there] went from this school to Liverpool to sit
an examination for a seaman's Master's Certificate, and came out at the top of
the list of the successful candidates. When asked as to where he had received
his education, he replied, "In a barn on the edge of Pontsian." "Well," said
the examiner laughingly, "it should be well if everyone was taught in a barn."
In 1861 he was mate of the Marwood (28292) 103 tons during the census
(master and owner John Jones of New Quay and 5 crew, built John Rees at New Quay 1860).
He was mate of the brig Elizabeth Jane(28300) of 153 tons registered
Aberystwyth during 1862; aboard the Elizabeth Jane, his youngest brother Evan was boatswain.
Here are some of his significant services as master. They are large sailing vessels
which would not enter small ports such as New Quay - but which travelled the world.
(i)His first command during 1864-7 was the 122 ton schooner Ivor(13186)
built in Bangor in 1854 and part-owned by her first master, E. Phillips of New Quay.
(ii)From 1868-73 he was master of the brig Walter J Cummins(50850) 160 ton
built Miramichi 1865 and part-owned by himself.
(iii)From 1877, he then commanded the larger brig Maggie Cummins(66397) 294 ton
built PEI 1873. He was again owner with a major share. This vessel was loading
a cargo of mahogany while anchored off the shore of Mexico when strong winds
drove her (and two other vessels nearby) ashore on 5-10-1880 with the vessel lost but the
crew aboard saved. Details of loss and report
of inquiry - which exonerated him.
(iv) Around 1882-5, he was master of the barque Julia(20473) 367 tons built South Shields 1858.
(v) From 1885, he was master and owner of the barque Umgeni(51005) 365 tons,
built Liverpool 1864, trading to Natal in South Africa. He was returning
aboard about 10:30pm on 4-3-1892 in Princes Dock, Liverpool, and he had to
cross a French barque, Auguste, to reach his vessel. Climbing the side of the
French vessel, his foot slipped and he fell between the vessel and dockside. By
the time his body was recovered, he had died. He was unmarried and his sister
Jane Davies (of Margaret Street, New Quay) was awarded administration of his
estate (£291).
He often had family members on board, for instance on the Maggie Cummins: in 1875, his oldest brother Lewis Davies as able seaman and Lewis's son David as boy; in 1878, his younger brother Samuel Davies as boatswain; in 1880, Lewis's son David as boatswain [nephew mentioned in report on inquiry into loss].
He did not marry - though in 1875, a widow named Jane Hughes sued a master mariner, Michael Davies, for breach of promise of marriage. Both were natives of New Quay and the plaintiff kept a boarding house in Liverpool at which place the defendant lodged when his ship was in Liverpool. The defendant promised to marry the plaintiff but failed to carry out the promise. Jury awarded her £170 damages.
His sextant has been loaned to Ceredigion Archives by Mr. R. Gareth Owen.
Evan Davies
Born New Quay 1839, he was certified (no. 29261) as mate in 1863 and as
master in 1867.
He gained experience on local vessels - for instance he was boatswain
aboard the Elizabeth Jane in 1862.
Significant commands:
(i) His first command was 1868-73: the snow Ocean Belle(27865) 188 tons, built Sunderland 1859,
registered Aberystwyth, owned Aberdovey.
(ii) From 1876, he commanded the barque Kwasind of Swansea, 479 tons, built
PEI 1875, which he owned. His address was given as 1 Margaret Street - the same as that where
Michael Davies was in the 1881 census. [Kwasind (meaning "very strong man") was the name of
Hiawatha's friend in the famous poem]. He had to abandon the Kwasind in the
Atlantic in stormy conditions on a voyage from Newfoundland to Swansea: all
crew were saved by the SS England. More detail of loss.
(iii) During 1878-88, he commanded the barquentine Erminia (75507) 631 tons built PEI 1877
and owned by S. Power of Swansea.
(iv) Died on 22 February 1898 at Falmouth whilst serving as master of the
barquentine Daisy(97072) 384 tons, built PEI 1893.
In Q3 1875 he married Ellen Evans; in 6 Sept 1876 a daughter Ellen Catherine Davies was born to Evan Davies and his wife Ellen (née Evans) at Pengoylan, New Quay - witnessed by Jane Davies of 1 Margaret St.. Evan is described as seaman, merchant service. Ellen Davies died Q4 1882 aged 37. His daughter continued to live with her aunt, Jane, at 1 Margaret Street.
His home address remained that of his family, 1 Margaret Street, New Quay,
although he was rarely at home. In Sept. 1885, he married Mary Anne James
(née Davies) who was a widow with two children (Mary[married Captain T
Thomas July 1896, guests include Miss Jane Davies, Margaret St; Miss Ellen C
Davies] and Margaret[Maggie - married John Evans]) and he moved with them to
Clifton House, Hill Street, New Quay.
Their son, John
Albert Davies, was born on 16-6-1886. In 1911 he was an engineer - in
merchant marine. He served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in
Mesopotamia from 1916-8 and then joined the Auxilliary Royal Irish
Constabulary (1921-22). In 1939 he was a mechanical engineer living at 81 Tyle Teg, Burry Port.
Samuel Davies
Samuel Davies' ticket [actually initially as Samuel Michael], issued at Newport on 15 April 1848, shows his first voyage at age 16 as apprentice. He is given crew number 236471 and described as born in Llanllwchaiarn parish on 4 Nov 1832, with physical characterstics: [height: growing; hair: sandy; complexion: fair; eyes: grey; mark: contracted 4th finger on left hand] and not able to write. In 1848 he was serving on Cardigan and Liverpool-registered vessels, and, in 1851, on an Aberystwyth-registered vessel as an Apprentice. In 1853 he was seaman aboard the 169 ton barquentine Mary Ann of Newport (that traded to the Mediterranean) and in 1854 on the 296 ton barque Clio of Liverpool.
His early service will most probably have been on locally owned and crewed vessels, while he gained experience. He does not seem to have progressed to become an officer - and rose through the ranks as a seaman: ordinary seaman, able seaman, boatswain (also written bosun). Around 1864, he seems to have changed from using Samuel Michael to using Samuel Davies.
From crew lists, his service, mainly as boatswain, includes these vessels 1868-1884: Walter J Cummins(50850), Pacific(27308), David Jenkins(47855), Eliza and Hannah (21669), Favourite(51918), Eagle(1157), Xanthippe(21668), Maggie Cummins(66397), Erica(77651), Lynwood(73993).
I have no record of whether he married, or where he lived on shore leave. He seems to have been involved a lot on vessels sailing from Swansea.
Lewis Davies
There were several seamen named Lewis Davies born at New Quay about the
same date (1827) which makes it difficult to separate them. The ages on seaman's records are
often out by a year or two - which does not help.
In 1847/8, one is ticketed as born August 1828 (unable to write) and the other as born 20 November
1829 (able to write). At that date, Lewis Davies/Michael was still a farm servant - as
shown by 1841 census, so he is neither of those ticketed. He could not have started sea service
until after 1841 - when he was 23, possibly encouraged by his younger brothers.
One of these ticketed (presumably the one able to write) eventually
became a master and ship-owner (master during 1873-83 of the schooner
Friendship 80 tons, built 1857 New Quay, owned by Lewis Davies). Another
confirmation of this complication is that the Aberystwyth-registered Ellen
Anne (built New Quay 1866, owned P. Thomas, New Quay, 95 ton schooner) in 1882 has both
the mate and an able seaman named Lewis Davies, both reported as born 1829 in
New Quay.
From crew lists, some of the services are to vessels with family members - such as those mentioned above (on the Maggie Cummins in 1875). Furthermore, the report of the inquiry into the loss of the Maggie Cummins in 1880, states that the captain, Michael Davies, had his nephew aboard as boatswain (named in crew list as David Davies, born 1851); and the most likely explanation is that he was the son of Michael Davies's eldest brother Lewis.