Mariners-L Archives

From:
Subject: Re: [Mar] Age limit to become a ship's cook?
Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 10:28:56 EDT

In a message dated 05/05/2001 11:36:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:

> Now, to my question...was there an age limit to becoming a ship's cook?
>
An age 'limit'? I don't think so, not in the time period you mention (1881).
When you think of cooks and cooking you don't think age, you think experience.

One of the chores of a cabin boy (usually aged 12 or less) normally included
assisting the cook in the preparation of meals and the cleaning up afterwards
(i.e. peeling potatoes, washing pots and dishes, etc.).

When the incumbent cook died, got fired, or went AWOL, the cabin boy
(depending on his experience) was often offered the job. If the cook died
while at sea and the cabin boy was too inexperienced, some other member of
the crew was assigned the cook's job. If the captain and crew liked his
cooking he remained cook.

This is exactly what my grandfather went through when he went to sea in 1889.
He retired from the sea in 1916 as chief steward. His nickname was 'Cookie'

Dan of Pennsylvania in the United States of America
Researching:
Belgium - Aarnik, Baetens, Berggreen, De Ridder, Hofstede,
Sieben, Verheyen
Denmark - Bareisen, Basse, Berggreen, Birch, Brandt, Bruun,
                Burmester, Clausen, Frandsen, Hansen, Josiasen,
                Krogh, Poulsen, Sibbern, Sieben, Verheyen,
                Vonsild, Wiingaard
Ireland - Dougherty, Doyle, Fitzsimmons, Murphy, Steers

This thread:

• [Mar] Age limit to become a ship's cook? by Taryn Jones <>
  • Re: [Mar] Age limit to become a ship's cook? by Stephen Baines <>
    • Re: [Mar] Age limit to become a ship's cook? by "Alf Collins" <>

  • Re: [Mar] Age limit to become a ship's cook? by

  • Re: [Mar] Age limit to become a ship's cook? by