Thomas William ARTHUR of Wisbech.
Hi. I have been researching my ancestors of Wisbech, and finally found my G.G. Grandfather. Here is just a very short part of his own story, just one page of 28. Thomas William ARTHUR Born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire England on the 18th January 1867 It was the coldest day on record. I was born in the early part on the year 1867 at a small seaport town on the east coast of England, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire and at the time of my birth and until I was about 10 years of age, my Father (John Arthur) was a Captain in the Merchant services. As he was away from home a great deal, the whole family was left to my Mother. I was the second Son but my elder Brother was drowned whilst on a voyage with my Father for pleasure during his summer holidays. My Father took his loss so much to heart that he shortly afterwards gave up his ship and retired from the service he had followed for 40 years. Sometime after leaving his ship he started in business as a Ship Breaker and Coal Merchant. I was at this time about 18 years of age and I had got it into my head that I would like to go to sea and be a sailor. When I mentioned this to my father he said he would rather bury me than let me go for a sailor but I had my mind made up and come what would I was going. I would not go to school only now and again and besides this I was always in trouble. One day I stowed away on a steamer bound for Sutherland and when I showed myself on deck after we were clear of land the Captain (a friend of my Father’s) said he would send me back when we reached Sutherland and which he did at about two o’clock in the morning. I got ashore early to get out of his way but he informed the police station along with another lad whom I had persuaded to run away with me. After being detained about three days we were sent home again. But as time went on they could do nothing with me and one day some three month after I got home I called at my Father’s office. He was talking to a friend who happened to be the Captain of a ship then at Hull he called me towards them mentioning to hid friend that I was the son he had been speaking about. I was questioned as to whether I would go with Captain W for a voyage or two to which I of course consented and at once went running home to tell my Mother to get my cloths ready as I was going to Hull in a day or so to be a sailor. She waited to hear what my Father had to say about it when he came home to dinner after which it was agreed that I should and everything be got ready that I should need to make me comfortable. After saying good bye to my friends and parting with my Mother who entreated me with tears in her eyes to be a good boy, always do as I was told and write home often. I set off with a few shillings for pocket money for Hull by train my Father coming to the station to see me off and also Captain W and in due time we reached the latter’s vessel which proved to be a small topsail schooner and all went well. We left the Humber two days afterwards bound for the French port of Dunkirk during which passage we experienced some very rough weather in the North Sea which had the effect of making me sea sick and unable to the work which I was told to do and as a consequence I was ill-treated by Captain W and beaten with a rope’s end until I was sore and bruised thus making my life one not to be desired and I wished myself home again. I afterwards learnt that my Father had given instructions to Captain W not to spare the rope’s end if by so doing he could knock the idea of a sailor’s life out of me. The cruel treatment I was subjected to was the means of my life being spared as after events show. 16 days after leaving Hull we reached Dunkirk and I then wrote home and told my Mother that I was alright with the exception of being sea sick. I did not mention the beatings I did not wish to add to her troubles as I was aware it was a trouble me going to sea at all for she had begged of me to be anything but a sailor............. Hope this may enable me to make contact with other members of his family as Thomas William was one of 11 children. David Arthur.
Hi. I have been researching my ancestors of Wisbech, and finally found my G.G. Grandfather. Here is just a very short part of his own story, just one page of 28. Thomas William ARTHUR Born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire England on the 18th January 1867 It was the coldest day on record. I was born in the early part on the year 1867 at a small seaport town on the east coast of England, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire and at the time of my birth and until I was about 10 years of age, my Father (John Arthur) was a Captain in the Merchant services. As he was away from home a great deal, the whole family was left to my Mother. I was the second Son but my elder Brother was drowned whilst on a voyage with my Father for pleasure during his summer holidays. My Father took his loss so much to heart that he shortly afterwards gave up his ship and retired from the service he had followed for 40 years. Sometime after leaving his ship he started in business as a Ship Breaker and Coal Merchant. I was at this time about 18 years of age and I had got it into my head that I would like to go to sea and be a sailor. When I mentioned this to my father he said he would rather bury me than let me go for a sailor but I had my mind made up and come what would I was going. I would not go to school only now and again and besides this I was always in trouble. One day I stowed away on a steamer bound for Sutherland and when I showed myself on deck after we were clear of land the Captain (a friend of my Father’s) said he would send me back when we reached Sutherland and which he did at about two o’clock in the morning. I got ashore early to get out of his way but he informed the police station along with another lad whom I had persuaded to run away with me. After being detained about three days we were sent home again. But as time went on they could do nothing with me and one day some three month after I got home I called at my Father’s office. He was talking to a friend who happened to be the Captain of a ship then at Hull he called me towards them mentioning to hid friend that I was the son he had been speaking about. I was questioned as to whether I would go with Captain W for a voyage or two to which I of course consented and at once went running home to tell my Mother to get my cloths ready as I was going to Hull in a day or so to be a sailor. She waited to hear what my Father had to say about it when he came home to dinner after which it was agreed that I should and everything be got ready that I should need to make me comfortable. After saying good bye to my friends and parting with my Mother who entreated me with tears in her eyes to be a good boy, always do as I was told and write home often. I set off with a few shillings for pocket money for Hull by train my Father coming to the station to see me off and also Captain W and in due time we reached the latter’s vessel which proved to be a small topsail schooner and all went well. We left the Humber two days afterwards bound for the French port of Dunkirk during which passage we experienced some very rough weather in the North Sea which had the effect of making me sea sick and unable to the work which I was told to do and as a consequence I was ill-treated by Captain W and beaten with a rope’s end until I was sore and bruised thus making my life one not to be desired and I wished myself home again. I afterwards learnt that my Father had given instructions to Captain W not to spare the rope’s end if by so doing he could knock the idea of a sailor’s life out of me. The cruel treatment I was subjected to was the means of my life being spared as after events show. 16 days after leaving Hull we reached Dunkirk and I then wrote home and told my Mother that I was alright with the exception of being sea sick. I did not mention the beatings I did not wish to add to her troubles as I was aware it was a trouble me going to sea at all for she had begged of me to be anything but a sailor............. Hope this may enable me to make contact with other members of his family as Thomas William was one of 11 children. David Arthur.