Thomas Scarrow, Master Mariner, Harrington, Cumberland

Thomas Scarrow, Master Mariner

Thomas was born on 14th April 1842 in Harrington to Joseph Scarrow, master mariner, and Ann. Thomas had a younger brother George, and a younger sister Jane. Obviously inspired by his father's adventures as a master mariner, Thomas followed in his footsteps, signing on as an apprentice to the ship Kamehameher IV in 1857 at the age of 15. His first voyage was from Liverpool to Honolulu, Hawaii which took four months. From Honolulu they sailed south to Valparaiso, the principle port of Chile. Whilst there, Thomas wrote a letter to his mother back in Whitehaven. Thomas undertook two year long trips on Kamehameher IV under the tutiledge of the master John Garry. Examination of the ship's logs shows them both to be very eventful, and would possibly have put lesser men off taking up a career in the merchant marine. The table below shows extracts from Kamehameher IV logs:

The Adventures of Kamehameher IV, April 1857 to Jun 1859

Liverpool to Honolulu	Apr to Aug 1857	Wilton Glover went AWOL on 21-22 Apr, refused duty on 5 Jul; AWOL on 22 Aug; on 23 Aug intoxicated on board and refusing duties; Demanded discharge on 25 Aug which was refused; AWOL on 26 Aug; Arrested at 6pm on 26 Aug and sent to prison; Released from prison on 31 Aug and put to work at his own request.
Honolulu to Valparaiso	Sep to Oct 1857	On 12 Oct it was blowing heavy gale and high seas, and Nicholas Pardiff, being on lee main yard arm, he fell overboard and drowned. Not seen again despite turning ship around
Valparaiso to Caldera	Nov 1857 to Jan 1858	Ennis Bridgeman, John Dittman and Charles Smith deserted on 11 Jan, taking the ship's boat with them which was later found on the rocks.
Caldera to Swansea	Jan to Apr 1858	James Lennox was ill with stricture caused by venereal disease, and in doctors hands from 15 Dec until 19 Jan.
On Shore	Apr to Jun	Shore leave in Liverpool.
Liverpool to Shanghai	20 June 1858	Peter Gess complained of bad cough on 20 Jun; still complaining of bad cough on arrival in Shanghai and was treated by a surgeon. On 26 Nov, he burst a blood vessel and died immediately.
Liverpool to Shanghai	26 Aug 1858 Thursday	Blowing very strong is the wind, therefore called all hands to put the ship about and shorten sail. Dennis Saunders, steward, refused to come on deck saying it was not his duty to do so, also giving much insolent and abusive language to the Chief Officer and myself . John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews
Liverpool to Shanghai	21 Sep 1858 Tuesday	Whilst at breakfast with my officers and Mr. Carr (a cabin passenger from England) Dennis Saunders, Steward, began abusing Mr. Carr in a shameful manner and on my ordering him to desist and keep quiet, he made use of much insolent and abusive language. I threatened to put him out of the cabin if he continued such behaviour. He said he wished I would do so. Had it not been through the intercession of Mr. Carr I should certainly have done so as such conduct in a steward is unbearable. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart.
Shanghai	27 Nov 1858 Saturday	Dennis Saunders, steward, carousing with the sailors in the forecastle against my positive orders. The Chief Officer went in the forecastle and ordered him to go in the cabin which he refused to do. Fifteen minutes afterwards, he desired him again to go aft to the cabin which he refused, at the same time giving very abusive language to the Mate. Thomas Taggart. Joseph Bewley. W Matthews
Shanghai	28 Nov 1858 Sunday	The steward very insolent at 7:30. He came to me and demanded his discharge which I refused. He said that he would have it one way or another during the whole day. He went about his work as slow as possible and did everything in his power to aggravate the officers and myself. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate
Shanghai	6-7 Dec 1858 Monday & Tuesday	The steward still very sulky and insolent. When I spoke to him about it he demanded to go on shore to see the Consul. I told him he might go at Eleven O’clock and I would go with him. At half past nine I called of the steward and found he had gone on shore without leave. At half past one he came on board with a letter from H.M. Off. Consul requesting me to come on shore on the following day at noon. I went at the time appointed time with the Chief Officer, thereby putting my ship to a great expense and inconvenience as the work was stopped until the Chief Mate’s return. Dennis Saunders was ordered on board to his duty. At 8pm I came on board and wanted the steward – he would not be found. I went down to the forecastle and found him lying on the chests. I again told him to remain in the cabin as I could not allow a steward to defy me so openly and disobey my most positive orders. He refused to leave with the cabin in the presence of three or four of the men. He came aft at 9pm and was very insolent . John Garry, Master. John Rodgers, Carpenter. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate
Shanghai	8-9 Dec 1858 Wednesday Thursday	Dennis Saunders again asked for discharge which I refused. He did all in his power to annoy me. He refused to scour the cabin when told by both the Chief Officer and myself. He then asked for liberty to go onshore for awhile which I granted for twelve hours in order to get clear of his annoyance. He went on shore and returned in time for his work in the morning. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate
Shanghai	10 Dec 1858 Friday	At 7:20am I told Dennis Saunders, steward, to clean my cabin. He refused saying he would not go into that cabin again. I therefore called the Chief Mate and asked him quietly in his presence to clean my cabin – he again refused. I therefore told him to remain off duty until I spoke to the Consul about it. . John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate All this statement has been read over to him and he had no answer to make. John Garry, Master. John Rodgers, Carpenter. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate. Joseph Bewley.
Shanghai	11 Dec 1858 Saturday	8am. I told Dennis Saunders to go to his duty in the cabin. He refused to do so and at the same time using very abusive and insolent language. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate
Shanghai	12 Dec 1858 Sunday	Dennis Saunders turned to his work this morning again, but going about his work in a very lazy manner and doing all in his power to vex the Master and his Officers. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate
Shanghai	23 Jan 1859 Saturday	Dennis Saunders, steward, refused to wash out the cabin when told to do so by me, giving one very insolent and abusive language in the presence of two gentlemen. At 5pm I went on shore telling the steward not to leave the vessel until I came on board again. At 9pm I came on board and found that he had left the ship with asking leave and did not return until 8 O’clock on Sunday morning. He was then very insolent and saucy, saying he would go home in the forecastle if I would not give him his discharge. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate
Shanghai to Foo Chow	25 Jan 1859 Tuesday	Dennis Saunders, alias Graudison, was very sulky and insolent and doing all in his power to aggravate and annoy me. At 7pm, Captain Donald of the ship “Pride of the Seas” came on board. When I called upon the steward he was very insolent and grumbled very much. For the sake of peace I said nothing to him although his bad behaviour justified one in punishing him as we were on our way to Foo Chow and without the jurisdiction of British Laws. At 8pm I heard a noise in the fore cabin and on looking to see the cause of it I saw the steward with a pistol in his hand. Captain Donald and I followed him into his room in company with the Chief and second officers, the carpenter, one seaman and an apprentice. We took the pistol from him – it had a very heavy charge in it. We also took out of his hands a pistol bullet and about a dozen percussion caps. On examining his room we found a quantity of Blue Stone. He broke a bottle of liquid which he represented as Blue Stone Water, and refused to say what it was intended for. On examining the arm rack, we found two muskets loaded with ball, the charge being five inches although he had orders never to load any arms without my permission as he was intoxicated. I asked upon the advice of my officers and all on board and confined him in a spare cabin until morning for safety. In the morning at daylight I released him. He seemed to glory in his actions and was very insolent. I sent him to work forward and took a boy in the cabin. On examination I find a great deficiency of stores of all kinds and his insolence unbearable. John Garry, Master. John Rodgers, Carpenter. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate. M Cahar Seaman. J Y Slack Apprentice
Shanghai to Foo Chow	27 Jan 1859 Thursday	A quantity of Mercurial Ointment found in the pantry which Dennis Saunders refused to say what it was intended for. John Garry, Master. William Matthews 2nd Mate
Shanghai to Foo Chow	28 Jan 1859 Friday	Dennis Saunders (ex-steward) refused to come on deck to make sail saying that he was sick. I recommended him to go to bed and keep himself warm as it was too cold to take any medicine. Dennis Saunders still off duty I went to see him when he said he could not eat anything. I sent him some sago which he ate, also some medicine. The crew came aft and told me that he was only pretending to be sick and that he ate as much in the forecastle as two men. I questioned him about this when he refused to tell me when he was ill saying he wanted to see a doctor, and still very saucy and insolent. Every attention was paid to him both by myself and officers. When asked to come on deck he refused saying it was too cold. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate
Foo Chow	6 Feb 1859 Sunday	Dennis Saunders came aft to say he wanted to go on shore and to go on board a Man of War. I asked him his reasons , he said he was sick but would not tell me what was the matter with him saying the doctor would let me know when he saw him. As he refuses to tell me what ails him I cannot prescribe any medicine for him. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate. All this has been read to Dennis Graudison (alias Saunders) and he said he did not care about the official log.
Foo Chow	8 Feb 1859 Tuesday	Dennis Saunders refused to take medicine saying he did not know what I might give him through revenge. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate.
Foo Chow	9 Feb 1859 Wednesday 8am	Dennis Saunders was told by the Chief Mate to assist in putting out ballast – he said he would not do it. The Chief Mate acquainted one with his refusal. I went and asked him his reasons for not working. I told him if he was sick I did not expect him to work. He said he was not sick but that he would not do any work whatever in the ship and was very insolent and desired to be sent to see the consul. I promised to send him as soon as the duty of the ship permitted. At noon he was desired again to go to his duty which he refused. He not only refuses to work but interferes with the other men working . He has full liberty to go about the ship and his victuals are still supplied to him. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate
Foo Chow	9 Feb 1859 Wednesday Noon	The crew came aft and desired me to take Dennis Graudison out of the forecastle as they could not be annoyed by his bad behaviour and insolence. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate. William Allen
Foo Chow	10 Feb 1859 Thursday	Dennis Saunders (alias Graudison) refused to go to his duty saying he was not sick but would not work. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate.
Foo Chow	11 Feb 1859 Friday	The officers of the ship say that they will not about the ship if Dennis Saunders is allowed to remain. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate.
Foo Chow	11 Feb 1859 Friday	The whole crew came to me this morning to say that if Dennis Saunders remained in the ship they would demand their discharge as he has done all in his power to create disturbance between them and the officers and his conduct is unbearable. John Garry, Master. John Rodgers, Carpenter. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate. M Cahar Seaman. Lewis Lannis, Seaman. Charles James, Seaman.
Foo Chow	11 Feb 1859 Friday	Martin Gearlin, cook, informs one that Dennis Saunders has frequently drawn a knife to him, and that if I keep him on board he will be afraid of his life. He has been seen with his knife drawn by various parties on board. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate. M Gearlin, Cook.
Foo Chow	11 Feb 1859 Friday	Dennis Saunders still refuses to work and very insolent. In consequence of all those complaints I feel compelled to bring him before the Consul as I have great regard for the comfort of my crew as they have all behaved as well as men could do ever since we left home. All this read over to Dennis Saunders and his reply was that he would answer me another time. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate. William Matthews 2nd Mate.
Foo Chow	11 Feb 1859 Friday 1pm	James William Graudison (alias Dennis Saunders) was discharged before H.B.M. Consul by mutual consent. John Garry, Master. Thomas Taggart, Mate.
	19 Feb 1859	This is to certify that James William Graudison is discharged and left behind by mutual consent , that his wages are settled to his satisfaction, and that provision is made for his going to Reniffes in the schooner “Spee” and thence to Shanghai.
Foo Chow to London	Feb to Jun 1859	An uneventful voyage home!

Thomas served as an apprentice for two years on Kamehameher IV and then finished his final year on Corea under the same master, John Garry. Whilst on the ship Corea, he was promoted to able seaman. In 1861, still only aged 18, Thomas obtained a second mate's certificate of competency. In this rank he got a job on the barque Eastern Chief on a voyage from Liverpool to San Fransisco. By 1862 he had achieved his first mate's certificate and he susequently worked as first mate on several voyages: to Chile and Singapore on the barque Athelston, and then to Bahia on the ship Braganza.

Towards the end of 1863, he was to hear of his father's untimely death aboard his vessel Teesdale. This probably lead to Thomas gaining a certificate of competency as master at the end of 1864. He was still only 21 years of age. On his return from Paraiba as first mate on Braganza in May 1865, Thomas assembled a crew and took command of his late father's barque, Teesdale. Teesdale was registered in London, and over the next five years, Thomas sailed as master from his London base to the Cape, North America, South America, the Far East and India. During this period, Thomas must had made the odd trip home, as on the 13th May 1868, he married Elizabeth Brocklebank in Harrington.

In 1871, Thomas acquired a new ship, Invincible. His first voyage was to Adelaide in Australia, the only continent which Thomas had yet to visit. They duly arrived in Adelaide, and then made a further stop in Portland before heading home. During this fateful voyage, Invincible lived up to its name. Sadly, Thomas was not so lucky, and on the 21st September 1871, was tragically washed during a violent storm. The tale is recounted by the first mate, P Renouf.

To view the next page about Thomas Scarrow which deals with his certification, click here.