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Archiver > Mariners > 2004-04 > 1081144366


From: "Mokurai" <>
Subject: Mathew POWER.
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 15:52:46 +1000


Hi All,

Well I have been looking for Mathew POWER's birth and death for the past 59 months...and my third cousin whom I "met" in April 1999 has been looking for 20 years. We had him marry on the 28 October 1807 in the Parish of Northam, North Devon...and that he was a Mariner, sailing we believed, between Bideford and Waterford. We followed his children, Mary, Eliza, and Thomas (Master Mariner) through their christenings, etc; and his wife Elizabeth FISHER to her death in 1858 in Plymouth. They moved there in 1811.

Then about six to twelve months ago I did some research for a guy living in Yorkshire, England. His ancestors lived here in Ballarat. I found their graves, sent him maps of the districts, and took photos of the houses they had lived in. I had done this before for others, driving as far away as Talbot...which is about an hours drive north.

This guy emailed me recently and said he felt he "owed" me and asked if I would like for him to do a lookup for my Mathew. He said his daughter was down in the area at Exeter and could go to the Records Office there and look for him. Over a number of emails I told him I thought the only way of finding Mathew was to go to the Kew Records Office (in London?) and he said it was 70 kilometres (miles?) away from his place....so I thought that that was the end of it.

Next thing he emailed me to say he was already to leave on the Saturday to go down there with his friend but there was a snow blizzard and a truck had tipped over on the highway. He said he would see what the weather was like the next day. Well I came back on Sunday Evening to find he had been down there Saturday afternoon...and found Mathew!

He found him in BT98/113, which is 1817 to 1819...but it had 1812 in it too somehow. Mathew POWER was a Master Mariner of the ship Good Matesman (of Plymouth). Between 4 February 1812 and 4 December 1812 he sailed her from Bristol to Plymouth. He had a Mate and five seamen, and a boy. The good part was we now had his age as 25 and his place of birth as Waterford, Ireland.

Now...I find I do not have any other information on what ships Mathew was on before, or after this year. I would like to know if SKS has access to information on the Good Matesman...and Richard & Ann (of Plymouth), which his son, Thomas POWER (Master Mariner) sailed on. And, if possible how do I find out about those other ships Mathew must have been on in his career. Thomas was not born until 23 June 1819. Thanking you.

Hooray,


Warren in Ballarat, Australia (ex Kiwi).

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