Family Mystery

[Phil the Victorian]

Hi I am new to this interesting forum, and have been interested in FH for quite a few years.

My problem involves my Father-in -laws grandfather. According to his childhood memories his father told him
that his grandfather had been a merchant seaman who got in trouble in Canada, and then stole a fellow seamans
papers and identity. He thinks that his original name may have been Fitzgerald and he may have been of Irish origin.
My father in law is now 90 and his memory may be affected by time?

His Grandfathers name was William Lander

The details I have researched mainly from FMP are:

First appearance 1890 Marriage to Winifred Dicker in Hackney
1891 Census 61 Wells Street, Hackney William Lander, Head, Married, Male, 38, 1853, Seaman, London England - with wife Winifred

1901 Census 84 Wick Road, Hackney William Lander, Head, Married. Male,48, 1853, AB Seaman, Merchant Service, Homerton England With his
wife and four children.

1911 Census 2 Sidney Road Homerton (which I beleive was a Workhouse mainly for Sailors) Inmate,Widower,Male,Formerly Seaman, 58, 1853, Born London
Whitechapel. His youngest son was an inmate in an orphanage/workhouse and I have not fully researched the others.

1919 Died 3rd Quarter 1919

My father in law asks is it possible to find out anything about his grandfather prior to 1890?

I fear it is a brick wall.

Thanks for any comments

Phil.

[maesglasssclub]

Hi Phil, there is a birth record apr- Jun 1854 William Lander Middlesex, MMN Peasley.
Robert

[Elizabeth Herts]

This is William and Winifred's marriage for those researching this:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/1623/31280_197735-00073/3236367?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fgst%3d-6&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

[Macbev]

If I understand you correctly, your f-i-l's grandfather is thought to have originally been born in Ireland as a Fitzgerald and assumed the identity of William Lander in Canada. Did he marry under this assumed name in 1890?

Do we have any idea as to when the identity switch occurred? If the family anecdote is correct, researching William Lander's antecedents will only give a false history as they will belong to a man who is not your f-i-l's grandfather. I imagine we would need to find a crew list for Canada which contained both a William Lander and a Fitzgerald (assuming they both served on the same vessel) in an appropriate time frame.

[Olde Crone Holden]

There's a register of seamen's papers somewhere, I am sure. If the real William Lander had his papers stolen, surely that would have been noted on the register? It won't help identify years ur man but at least it will confirm the family story.

Other than that.....DNA testing?

OC

[Phil the Victorian]

Thanks all so far,
Yes Macbev, The family story is as you say, born in Ireland (or maybe London Irish ??) as a Fitzgerald, assumed the identity of William Lander in Canada,
and married and lived the rest of his life and died as William Lander.

Regards
Phil

[Phil the Victorian]

Thanks Robert, I think the William born in 1854 you mentioned died in 1856 and is buried in Hackney Cemetery according to FMP.
Phil

[margaretmarch]

There's a register of seamen's papers somewhere, I am sure. If the real William Lander had his papers stolen, surely that would have been noted on the register? It won't help identify years ur man but at least it will confirm the family story.

Other than that.....DNA testing?

OC

There are records on FMP but neither William Lander no William Lander are found.
Margaret

[Phil the Victorian]

Thanks Margaret, I checked FMP seamens records last night and there is a huge gap including the 1870s. 1880s, and 1890s just the time I am looking for.
I have read that there are records in Newfoundland but I have no idea if they are online?
Phil

[vera2013]

There is a record on FMP Navy Crew Lists for a

W Lander

Born 1852 London

Year 1890
Role Able bodied seaman

Vessel Mayfield
From 17/12/1890 to 12/02/1891

Previous port Leith
Previous vessel Benliedi
Previous vessel year 1890

I remember seeing a site that gave further info on ships ? Crew lists. Will check out history

Vera

[Phil the Victorian]

Thanks Vera, that sounds interesting.
Phil

[vera2013]

There is a record on FMP Navy Crew Lists for a

W Lander

Born 1852 London

Year 1890
Role Able bodied seaman

Vessel Mayfield
From 17/12/1890 to 12/02/1891

Previous port Leith
Previous vessel Benliedi
Previous vessel year 1890

I remember seeing a site that gave further info on ships ? Crew lists. Will check out history

Vera

CLIP

crewlist.org.uk

Also refers to Newfoundland

Vera

[Christine in Herts]

I think that, when I was looking for crew lists, I read that TNA has something like 10% - a kind of sample - and that the rest are in Newfoundland.

I have lots of copies for 1916 for sailings between UK and Canada.

C