Samuel Richmond

Born

18 June 1851 at Thorne

June 1851, Thorne, Yorkshire— From Janet Brock’s research

A boy aboard the Ann — aged eleven

1861

Saml. Richmond — Son — [age] 11 — [born] Thorne.— The 1861 census — the boy on the keel

Master of the Mayflower — Humber Dock, twenty-four days before his wedding

1871

1. Samuel Richmond — unmarried — 22 — Master — Yorkshire, Thorne. 2. Stephen Barley — unmarried — 21 — Mate — Yorkshire, Thorne.— The 1871 census — master of the Mayflower

Married Mary Elizabeth Oates

26 April 1871 at Holy Trinity Church

April 26, 1871 — Samuel Richmond, 22, bachelor, Waterman, Osborne St. — Mary Elizabeth Oates, 23, spinster, Osborne St., [father] William Oates, Joiner. Solemnized between us: Samuel ☓ Richmond, his mark — Mary Elizabeth Oates. In the presence of: Stephen ☓ Borley, his mark — Emily Jane Oates.— Marriage — Holy Trinity, Hull (26 April 1871)

April 26, 1871 — Samuel Richmond, 22, bachelor, Waterman, Osborne St., [father] Henry Richmond, Waterman — Mary Elizabeth Oates, 23, spinster, Osborne St., [father] William Oates, Joiner. Married after banns by me, Edmund Jackson, Curate. This marriage was solemnized between us: Samuel ☓ Richmond, his mark — Mary Elizabeth Oates. In the presence of: Stephen ☓ Borley, his mark — Emily Jane Oates.

— First marriage — Holy Trinity, Hull (26 April 1871)

Master of the Marion — Ickles Lock, Rotherham

1881

Near Ickles Lock — Samuel Richmond, Master, married, 30, Master of Barge Marion, born Yorks, Thorne — Frederick Ross, Mate, unmarried, 15, Mate do., born Hull. [Alongside: Joshua Lea Tansley, Master of Barge Lily, of Maldon, Essex; Isaac Barley, Mate, 18, born Thorne.]— The 1881 census — the Marion at Ickles Lock

Joseph's Terr. — Elizth. Richmond, Wife, married, 33, Keelman's wife, born Lancashire, Manchester — William Hy., Son, 4, Scholar, born Hull — Arthur, Son, 1, born Hull — William Hy. Richmond, Brother, unmarried, 23, Keelman ["Bargeman" struck], born Thorne — Selina Richmond, Mother, 58, Nurse, born Elsecar.

— The 1881 census — the household ashore, without him

The keel country — a world that lived on the water

Three generations of this family gave the census-taker no address, only a vessel: William Richman married in a Thorne register year that reads like a muster of mariners; Henry's whole household slept aboard the keel Ann on census night 1861; Samuel lay at Ickles Lock, Rotherham, master of the Marion, while his family answered the door in Hull. The vessel behind those entries was the Humber keel — a bluff, square-rigged sailing barge, clinker- or carvel-built, sized to the inch for the locks it had to pass, with one great mainsail and a topsail on a single mast, and a cabin aft that was, for many families, home. Keels were worked by a man and a mate — often his son, sometimes his wife — and they carried everything the region moved: coal down from the pits, corn and seed up from the docks, timber, bricks, oilcake. Thorne, on the lower Don, was one of the trade's home ports — a town of keel-builders, sail-makers and waterman families — and from its staiths the water ran everywhere the work was: up the Don navigation to Rotherham and Sheffield, where Ickles Lock marked the head of the broad-water trade; up the branch canals to colliery villages like Elsecar, whose coal came down to the keels; and east by the Dutch River and the Ouse to the Humber, Hull and the sea. The census made special provision for this floating world — vessels were enumerated on their own schedules, listed by name like little parishes — which is why the family's records so often carry a ship where a street should be. Steam came into the trade in the later nineteenth century (Samuel's Reliance was a steam keel), and the railways, bigger holds and motor barges slowly took the rest; the last keels traded under sail within living memory of the Second World War, and the type survives today in preserved examples worked by enthusiasts. The keel world was close, hereditary and hard: crews were recruited at the family table, masters' daughters married masters' sons, and a good boat was livelihood, savings and address in one hull.

Two families on the water — the ones who carried, and the ones who caught

Two of the families that married into this one lived their whole lives on the water — and at opposite ends of the trade. The Richmonds of Thorne were keelmen: they carried. Their living was freight — hauling coal, corn and cake in flat-bottomed sailing keels along the rivers and canals and across the Humber, from the South Yorkshire pits down to the ports and back. The Thomases of the Devon coast and then Hull were fishermen: they caught. Their living was the harvest of the sea itself, worked from a deep-sea sailing smack out on the North Sea grounds, where the boat was not a carrier but a hunter and a voyage was worth whatever the trawl brought up. One family moved other people's goods; the other brought home a catch that was its own.

The difference ran through everything. The keel was built flat and shallow to sit on the mud and thread the canal locks, and it rarely left the sheltered inland waters and the estuary; the fishing smack was built deep and sea-kindly to live for days on the open North Sea. The keelman's dangers were the estuary's — the racing tides, the shifting sands, the fog and the crowded traffic that ran small craft down or drove them aground: it was on the Sunk sands off Grimsby that Samuel Richmond's Reliance was found abandoned and making water. The fisherman's dangers were the open sea's — the gale far from land, the man lost overboard: the smack George Henry Thomas skippered lost a hand drowned, set down in the vessel's own account. A keelman who owned his boat carried its risk as a man of business; a fisherman lived or starved by the catch. You would not have found a Thomas working a keel on the Don, or a Richmond shooting a trawl on the Dogger. And yet, three generations on, the two waters met on dry land: the keelman's great-grandson, Christopher Brock, married the fisherman's great-granddaughter, Janet Drewery — the carrying family and the catching family, joined at last well inland, in the quiet of the East Riding.

Registered owner — the Reliance, 61 tons

1890

The Reliance carried goods up to York and Goole. The firm was salvaged and is now called “Speare & Houfe.” — Joan Brock— The firm — a note by Joan Brock

Thirteen Spyvee Street — "Keelman, Barge"

1891

13 Spyvee St. — Samuel Richmond, Head, M, 42, Keelman, Barge, employed, born Yorkshire, Thorne — Mary E., Wife, M, 42, born Lancashire, Manchester — William H., Son, 14, Keel Boy, Barge — Arthur, Son, 11, Scholar — Minnie G., Daur., 9, Scholar — Alice M., Daur., 7, Scholar — Alfred, Son, 4 — all children born Hull.

— The 1891 census — 13 Spyvee Street

The keel Reliance robbed — Princes Dock

23 November 1894

George Green, Keelman, was charged on remand, at the Hull Police court this morning with stealing a suit of clothes and other articles from the keel Reliance when lying in the Princes Dock on the 3rd inst. the property of Samuel Richmond, Captain and Owner of the keel — Deputy Chief Constable Jones prosecuted — The prosecutor's keel, during his absence, was broken into, and several articles of clothing stolen. Subsequently, prisoner was found to be dealing with the stolen property and he was on consequence arrested by Detective Bailey. Prisoner pleaded guilty — There were two other charges against the prisoner … but they were not proceeded with. Prisoner said he was very sorry for what he had done and if Mr. Twiss would deal leniently with him he would clear out of the town till he could redeem his character. Mr. Twiss remarked that he had a good [deal] to reform. There were a long list of previous convictions against the prisoner who was committed for four months.

— Hull Daily Mail, 23 November 1894 (Janet Brock's transcription)

… sentenced to two months imprisonment for stealing a quantity of men's wearing apparel of the value of 25/- the property of Samuel Richmond, boatman of Thorne.— Hull Packet — an earlier theft (Janet Brock's transcription)

A GOOD DEAL TO REDEEM — AN OLD OFFENDER BEFORE MR. TWISS. “George Green, Keelman, was charged on remand, at the Hull Police court this morning with stealing a suit of clothes and other articles from the keel Reliance when lying in the Princes Dock on the 3rd inst. the property of Samuel Richmond, Captain and Owner of the keel — Deputy Chief Constable Jones prosecuted — The prosecutors keel, during his absence, was broken into, and several articles of clothing stolen. Subsequently, prisoner was found to be dealing with the stolen property and he was on consequence arrested by Detective Bailey. Prisoner pleaded guilty — There were two other charges against the prisoner… but they were not proceeded with. Prisoner said he was very sorry for what he had done and if Mr. Twiss would deal leniently with him he would clear out of the town till he could redeem his character. Mr. Twiss remarked that he had a good to reform. There were a long list of previous convictions against the prisoner who was committed for four months.”

— “A good deal to redeem” — the Reliance robbed (1894)

… sentenced to two months imprisonment for stealing a quantity of men’s wearing apparel of the value of 25/- the property of Samuel Richmond, boatman of Thorne.— An earlier theft — the Hull Packet

In 1899

1899

Kelly's Directory Samuel Richmond, Keel Owner, 4 Silvester Street, Hull— From Janet Brock’s research

Seventeen Pennington Street — "Ship owner… Employer"

1901

17 [Pennington St.] — Samuel Richmond, Head, M, 52, Ship owner [Nav.], Employer, born Yorks, Thorne — Mary E., Wife, M, 51, born Lancs, Manchester — Minnie G., Daur., S, 19 — Alice M., Daur., S, 17 — Alfred, Son, S, 14, Cycle Maker's Apprentice, worker — children born Yorks, Hull.— The 1901 census — "Ship owner… Employer"

Seventeen Pennington Street — "Ship owner… Employer"

1901

Kelly's Trade Directory Richmond Samuel, 17 Pennington Street, Hull Richmond S. & Sons Warehousemen & Steam Carriers, 72 High Street, Hull— From Janet Brock’s research

In 1905

1905

Kelly's Trade Directory Richmond S. Warehouseman & Carrier, 72 High Street— From Janet Brock’s research

The two Reliances — the Grimsby salvage case

6 September 1906

At the Grimsby Admiralty Court this morning his honour Judge Sir G. Sherston Baker, Bart. with Lieutenant Jackson R.N.R and Captain Turner as assessors dealt with a claim for salvage brought by Samuel Richmond, 71, Pennington Street, Master and owner of the S.S. Reliance, against Messrs T. & S. Oates, Shipbrokers and agents, Victoria Street, Grimsby, owners of the sloop Reliance. The original claim was for £60 but by permission of the court it was reduced to £35. Mr. Bloomer appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Thomas Mountain for Defendants. In opening Mr Bloomer said defendant's sloop left Goole with a cargo of gas coal on Thursday 7th

December 1905 and was bound for Louth. She should have reached Tetney Lock, the entrance to the Louth Canal, on the Saturday morning. She arrived in the neighbourhood of Tetney on the Friday afternoon and eventually grounded on the higher sands where she remained some time but eventually floated. Shortly afterwards she grounded again opposite Spectacle Beacon and remained in a helpless condition until the following Wednesday morning when she got off but again grounded on the Plum Sands. She had undergone considerable straining and was leaking very badly. The plaintiff eventually came in sight with his vessel and the captain of the sloop hailed him and asked him to take the sloop in tow. Plaintiff did not respond to the invitation at first, and defendants' captain thereupon said, "If you don't take us in tow, we shall sink, — we are making a lot of water". Plaintiff consequently took the sloop in tow, and thereby saved her from sinking, since had she been left on the bank of the channel she must have been swung round by the current athwart of the channel and broke her back. After being towed into Tetney Haven, the vessel, with the help of another sloop named Annie, succeeded in getting into the canal, but the sloop had to remain outside until the water had been pumped out of her. The following day she grounded in the canal, and once more had to be pumped out before she could be got up to Louth. When she arrived at the latter place repairs were necessary and these cost over £11. Altogether she had been washing over the sands at Tetney for five days. Plaintiff bore out this statement and added that his own ship was valued at £400 and her cargo was worth £800. In cross examination he said the sloop carried three hands and had an anchor and cable out, but despite this there was great danger of getting athwart the channel. He had known ships get athwart even in mild weather and lie in danger. Mr. Mountain: Is not this place where you took the sloop in tow a safe spot? — No. You only towed her half a mile, I think, and the time only occupied half an hour? — We were more than that. Is it not a fact that you are not very friendly disposed towards Mr. Oates? — No, I have nothing against him. He once made an award against you, did he not? — That has nothing to do with this case. Have you not said you will make your teeth meet in this case? — No. A curious feature was the evidence of Albert Cranidge, who at the time of the mishap was mate of the defendants' sloop and is now mate of the plaintiff's ship. He said, after supporting plaintiff's statement, they went aground six times, and at the time when the Reliance got hold of them they were in danger of sinking, a depth of three feet of water being in the sloop. They had been pumping for several hours. Mr. Mountain intimated that his clients had paid £5 into court and the value of the sloop and the cargo was only £77. His honour thereupon stated that so far as he had heard the evidence he thought that the claim had not been made out and he should find in favour of the defendants but he would allow plaintiff to take the £5 paid into court.

— Hull Daily Mail, 6 September 1906 (Janet Brock's transcription)

HULL ADMIRALTY CLAIM AT GRIMSBY. “At the Grimsby Admiralty Court this morning his honour Judge Sir G. Sherston Baker, Bart. with Lieutenant Jackson R.N.R and Captain Turner as assessors dealt with a claim for salvage brought by Samuel Richmond, 71, Pennington Street, Master and owner of the S.S.Reliance, against Messrs T.& S. Oates, Shipbrokers and agents, Victoria Street, Grimsby, owners of the sloop Reliance. The original claim was for £60 but by permission of the court it was reduced to £35. Mr. Bloomer appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Thomas Mountain for Defendants. In opening Mr Bloomer said defendant’s sloop left Goole with a cargo of gas coal on Thursday 7th

December 1905 and was bound for Louth. She should have reached Tetney Lock, the entrance to the Louth Canal, on the Saturday morning. She arrived in the neighbourhood of Tetney on the Friday afternoon and eventually grounded on the higher sands where she remained some time but eventually floated.. Shortly afterwards she grounded again opposite Spectacle Beacon and remained in a helpless condition until the following Wednesday morning when she got off but again grounded on the Plum Sands. She had undergone considerable straining and was leaking very badly. The plaintiff eventually came in sight with his vessel and the captain of the sloop hailed him and asked him to take the sloop in tow. Plaintiff did not respond to the invitation at first, and defendants’ captain thereupon said, “If you don’t take us in tow, we shall sink,- we are making a lot of water”. Plaintiff consequently took the sloop in tow, and thereby saved her from sinking, since she had been left on the bank of the channel she must have been swung round by the current athwart of the channel and broke her back. After being towed into Tetney Haven, the Vessel, with the help of another sloop named Annie, succeeded in getting into the canal, but the sloop had to remain outside until the water had been pumped outside of her. The following day she grounded in the canal, and once more had to be pumped out before she she could be got up to Louth. When she arrived at the latter place repairs were necessary and these cost over £11. Altogether she had been washing over the sands at Tetney for five days. Plaintiff bore out this statement and added that his own ship was valued at £400 and her cargo was worth £800. In cross examination he said the sloop carried three hands and had an anchor and cable out, but despite this there was great danger of getting athwart the channel. He had known ships get athwart even in mire weather and lie in danger. Mr. Mountain: Is not this place where you took the sloop in tow a safe spot? — No. You only towed her half a mile, I think, and the time only occupied half an hour? — We were more than that. Is it not a fact that you are not very friendly disposed towards Mr. Oates — No, I have nothing against. He once made an award against you, did he not? — That has nothing to do with this case. Have you not said you will make your teeth meet in this case? — No. A curious feature was the evidence of Albert Cranidge, who at the time of the mishap was mate of the defendants’ sloop and is now mate of the plaintiffs ship. He said after supporting plaintiffs statement, they went aground six times, and at the time when the Reliance got hold of them they were in danger of sinking, a depth of three feet of water being in the sloop. They had been pumping for several hours. Mr. Mountain intimated that his clients had paid £5 into court and the value of the sloop and the cargo was only £77. His honour thereupon stated that so far as he had heard the evidence he thought that the claim had not been made out and he should find in favour of the defendants but he would allow plaintiff to take the £5 paid into court.”

— The two Reliances — the Grimsby salvage case (1906)

In 1908

1908

Kelly's Trade Directory Richmond Samuel, Shipowner, 17 Pennington Street, Hull— From Janet Brock’s research

In 1910

1910

Death of wife Mary, May 8th 1910 Notice "May 8th 1910 at 17 Pennington Street, Mary Elizabeth the beloved wife of Samuel Richmond aged 61. Interred at Hedon Road Cemetery, Tuesday May10th" Hull Daily Mail— From Janet Brock’s research

A widower of sixty, lodging with the Romans family

1911

Living with the Romans family John Henry Romans, Head, age 28, General Labourer, born Worsborough Annie Elizabeth Romans aged 27, born Goole Louisa Maskill, sister in law, wife's sister, born 1873, Goole Peter McHugh, boarder, born 1866, County Mayo, Ireland Ethel Wilkins, boarder, born 1886, Hull single, Dressmaker Sarah Rachel Wilkins, boarder, born 1888, Scarborough, Schoolteacher Thomas Wilkins boarder, born1851, Birmingham, widowed, Butcher Samuel Richmond , visitor, ,born 1851, Thorne, widowed, Shipowner Address: 157 Plane Street,

— From Janet Brock’s research

Married Florence Maskill

22 June 1911 at Holy Trinity Church

June Twenty Second 1911 — Samuel Richmond, 60, Widower, Ship's Captain, 157 Plane Street, [father] Henry Richmond (deceased), Waterman — Florence Maskill, 45, Spinster, 157 Plane Street, [father] William Maskill (deceased), Corn Merchant. Married after banns by me, W. J. Peacey, Vicar. Solemnized between us: S Richmond — Florence Maskill.

— Second marriage — St John the Baptist, Newington (22 June 1911)

"Keel's adventure in the Humber" — the wreck of the Reliance

24 January 1912

This morning the steam keel Reliance belonging to Samuel Richmond, who was both the captain and owner was picked up by the tug, Belle of the Eske, in the Sunk Roads on the Yorkshire side of the river, abreast of Grimsby, in a derelict condition. She was driving helplessly with the tide. There was a strong wind blowing and a nasty sea running. When the keel was boarded it was found that her steaming lights were in the engine room burning brightly, showing that the vessel must have been abandoned rather hurriedly. She was badly damaged at the bottom and was making water freely. The tug got hold and brought her to Hull. It was found that the boat was missing and the crew consisting of Mr. Richmond and an engineer had evidently got away in that. The weather was very rough and grave fears were entertained for their safety. Inquiries were made along the coast through Lieutenant Douglas and the coastguards. For many hours the search was fruitless but a telegram was received late this afternoon that the two men had got ashore at Easington. The tug had on board a general cargo composed principally of flour and cakes. She left Hull yesterday and was bound for Louth. On arrival at Hull, efforts were at once commenced to pump the water out and repair the keel.

— Hull Daily Mail, 24 January 1912 (Janet Brock's transcription)

The salvage operation affected him badly as he lost boat and cargo and therefore a lot of money.— The family's memory — recorded by Joan Brock

The salvage operation affected him badly as he lost boat and cargo and therefore a lot of money. — Joan Brock— What it cost him — the family’s memory

“Keel’s adventure in the Humber” — the Reliance abandoned and salvaged

24 January 1912

KEEL’S ADVENTURE IN HUMBER — NARROW ESCAPE OF CAPTAIN AND ENGINEER. “SPECIAL FOR THE DAILY MAIL.” “This morning the steam keel Reliance belonging to Samuel Richmond, who was both the captain and owner was picked up by the tug, Belle of the Eske, in the Sunk Roads on the Yorkshire side of the river, abreast of Grimsby, in a derelict condition. She was driving helplessly with the tide. There was a strong wind blowing and a nasty sea running. When the keel was boarded it was found that her steaming lights were in the engine room burning brightly, showing that the vessel must have been abandoned rather hurriedly. She was badly damaged at the bottom and was making water freely. The tug got hold and brought her to Hull. It was found that the boat was missing and the crew consisting of Mr. Richmond and an engineer had evidently got away in that. The weather was very rough and grave fears were entertained for their safety. Inquiries were made along the coast through Lieutenant Douglas and the coastguards. For many hours the search was fruitless but a telegram was received late this afternoon that the two men had got ashore at Easington. The tug had on board a general cargo composed principally of flour and cakes. She left Hull yesterday and was bound for Louth. On arrival at Hull, efforts were at once commenced to pump the water out and repair the keel.”

— “Keel’s adventure in the Humber” — the wreck (1912)

After the wreck — "Lighterman", Plane Street

December 1912

Kelly's Trade Directory Richmond Samuel, Lighterman, 157 Plane Street, Hull— From Janet Brock’s research

In 1930

1930

Death of Samuel aged 79 years (indexed as 83 years)— From Janet Brock’s research

Died

September 1930

September q. 1930, Sculcoates aged 79 years— From Janet Brock’s research