In 1835 a Royal Commission was instituted to look into
the “existing laws, regulations, and practises under which pilots are
appointed, governed and paid in the British Channel and the several
approaches to the Port of London, and also in the navigation connected
with the other principal ports in the United Kingdom.” It was the first
major inquiry into pilotage and one of the main items in the findings
and report of the Commission was the recommendation that there should be
a central body to control all pilotage affairs.
Amongst the many
witnesses was Hugh Douglas, a blacksmith in Holyhead.
Statement of Hugh Douglas. Nov. 19, 1835.
No. 48.
Holyhead, \3th
November 1835.
Has been employed in the Post-office dock-yard nine
years as blacksmith. Recollects getting leave of absence in the end of
the year 1832 to go to Scotland. He got leave of absence to go to
Scotland this present year; thinks it was in the month of August. Bought
some old iron from the resident engineer—about 11 tons 10 cwt.—and paid
the storekeeper for it. He is sure he paid the storekeeper £46. He paid
him at two separate times, and received a receipt for the amount of the
payment from the storekeeper. He says the iron was for his brother, who
lives in Scotland close to Kilmarnock, who is also a blacksmith. His
name is William Douglas. The money was sent to Hugh Douglas by his
brother from Scotland. The iron was sent to Troon by the " Countess,'1
one of the Post-office colliers, and was taken as ballast, no freight
being paid. The scrap iron he bought was sent to Kilmarnock, where there
is a scrap iron foundry. Kilmarnock is about nine miles from Troon, and
there is a railway from Troon to Kilmarnock. He has no recollection of
the time he bought the iron, but he thinks it was about the beginning of
this year. He was absent this year, on leave, in Scotland, about 11 or
12 days. He is quite sure he bought the iron before he went on leave
this year, and says his pay was not stopped while he was on leave: he
received his full pay on his return. He is paid £ 1. 15*. a-week, as
head blacksmith. He says that he makes up, by working during extra hours
and sometimes on Sundays, for the time lost during his absence, and he
never receives any extra pay, although he is subject to be called on at
all hours day or night.
States that no iron is delivered out of the
store to any person but himself. Receives whatever may be required by
direction of Mr. Johnstone, and has the charge of all the iron issued
from the store.
Is well acquainted with the collieries in the
neighbourhood of the Troon. The nearest to the harbour is Colonel
Boyle's, called the Shotton Colliery. No coals are ever brought for the
packets from this colliery. The works at the Troon collieries are very
extensive, and vessels can never be put to any inconvenience in getting
their freight on board. They have always an abundant supply at the pit's
mouth, and could, from any of the collieries, send down more coals than
a vessel could take on board before she had time to get out her ballast.
Troon coals don't answer for the blacksmith's shop.
(Signed) Hugh
Douglas.
Research notes:
1841 census for Holyhead :
NW
Street: James Douglas,30,born Scotland ; Frances,25,born Anglesey;
Frances ,5, born Anglesey,
Jennet,2,born Anglesey.
On the 1841
census ages from 14 inclusive downwards
were correct.Age 15 and
above was to the nearest five years.
15 meant between 15-19;30 meant
30-34;25 meant 25-29 and so on.
Tyn y wine: Hugh
Douglas,35,Blacksmith,born Scotland.
Mary,30,
Anglesey;Eleanor,10;Hugh,8;Owen,6;John,4;
Wiliam,1;Eleanor
Forcer,65,Independent,all born Anglesey.
William Douglas isn't
found in Holyhead as he was still having children born in Scotland in
1842.
James Douglas married Frances Behan in Holyhead on 6 Feb
1835 ,by licence. That means there could be a marriage bond at the
National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth which could give additional
info.
Hugh Douglas married Mary Williams in Holyhead 9 April 1830
by licence.
Some baptisms from the Holyhead register :
Children of James and Frances :Frances Ann 22/11/1835
Waterside.
Jessy 7/4/1839,Waterside;
Children of Hugh and Mary: Eliz
Mary,15/6/1845 Newry;
John Forcer,27/5/1837,Willow garden row; Owen
,3/8/1834,
Swift's Court ; Hugh 20/1/1833; Ellinor, 4/6/1831
William's Row.
Children of William and Catherine:
Andrew,8/1/1845,Church street; Catherine,28/4/1847,Waterside;
Jennette,4/9/1849, Cross street.
Hugh Douglas senior is called
a boilermaker in 1834,1837.
William Douglas, senior, is an engineer
in 1847,1849.
Frances Behan baptised 18/5/1814 in Holyhead, dtr
of William and Frances Behan, sailor.
She had a brother baptised
27/5/1818 in Holyhead called Joseph James Behan.
All dates are in
British usage as should be obvious.
Notice Hugh Douglas's son is
called John Forcer Douglas.
This probably means Eleanor Forcer living
with them in 1841 is related somehow.
1581 census
442 Cybi
St Douglas Hugh 44 Blacksmith SCT
442 Cybi St Douglas Mary 41 Wife
AGY Holyhead
442 Cybi St Douglas Ellinor 20 AGY Holyhead
442 Cybi
St Douglas Hugh 19 Apprentice AGY Holyhead
442 Cybi St Douglas Owen
16 Apprentice AGY Holyhead
442 Cybi St Douglas John 14 Scholar AGY
Holyhead
442 Cybi St Douglas William 11 Scholar AGY Holyhead
442
Cybi St Douglas Elizabeth 5 AGY Holyhead
442 Cybi St Douglas Hugh
King 23 Nephew/Blacksmith SCT
See also:
Douglases in Anglesey
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