PETER
HUDSON was born in Liverpool, England on January 29, 1837, and was lost at sea in February,
1872. He was the oldest son of John and
Sarah Thompson Hudson. On January 7,
1864 Peter married Martha Appleton at All Saints church in Liverpool:
Peter and Martha's children were John (b. Apr 25, 1865, d. Aug 20, 1950), Charlotte (b.1866, d. Feb 10, 1911), Peter (b.1868, d. Sept 13, 1877) and Alfred (b.1871, d. July 8, 1958). They were orphaned when Martha died of tuberculosis on September 14, 1874. Our branch of the family is descended from John.
On February 20, 1869 Peter was appointed Master of the merchant brig Napier. The Napier was a two-masted ship with a cargo capacity of 273 tons and a crew of nine or ten men. Her official ships number was 38760. Peter's Master's Certificate was No. 23133.
Peter first went to sea as an Apprentice at age 16, in 1853. He passed the competency examination for Second Mate in 1860, for First Mate in 1864, and for Master in 1865. Peter's Certificate of Competency as a Ship's Master:
The Napier was used for trade between Liverpool, the West Indies (Caribbean) and the southern United States. The South was in desperate need of manufactured goods and equipment to rebuild following the Civil War, and England needed cottonseed oil to replace the declining supply of whale oil. Peter completed two such voyages in 1871, and sailed from Liverpool for a third time on October 16, 1871.
On February 20, 1869 Peter was appointed Master of the merchant brig Napier. The Napier was a two-masted ship with a cargo capacity of 273 tons and a crew of nine or ten men. Her official ships number was 38760. Peter's Master's Certificate was No. 23133.
Peter first went to sea as an Apprentice at age 16, in 1853. He passed the competency examination for Second Mate in 1860, for First Mate in 1864, and for Master in 1865. Peter's Certificate of Competency as a Ship's Master:
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| Peter Hudson's 1865 Certificate of Competency as a Ship's Master. The original is in the Maritime Museum Archives at Greenwich, UK. |
The Napier was used for trade between Liverpool, the West Indies (Caribbean) and the southern United States. The South was in desperate need of manufactured goods and equipment to rebuild following the Civil War, and England needed cottonseed oil to replace the declining supply of whale oil. Peter completed two such voyages in 1871, and sailed from Liverpool for a third time on October 16, 1871.
This is a
photo of a similar sized ship tied up at a dock warehouse in Liverpool in September
2012. (This ship was built in
1903.) The Napier would have appeared
similarly as cargo was loaded and unloaded to her from these same Liverpool
warehouses.
 |
| Albert Dock, Liverpool, September 2012 |
This is the entry in the 1870 Lloyd's Captains List for the brig Napier:
On her final voyage, the Napier left Liverpool on October 16, 1871, "on a Voyage from Liverpool to Antigua, and any ports/places in the West Indies, South America, Gulf of Mexico, and United States, and back to a final port of discharge in the United Kingdom [illegible] not to exceed 12 months." She had a crew of nine men: a mate, a bosun, a cook, and six able-bodied seamen. They ranged in age from 19 to 40:
Peter Hudson, Master, age 34, Liverpool
Daniel Thomas(?), Mate, age 24, Carmarthen
John Francis Avery, Bosun, age 27, Penzance
George Robert Benjamin, Cook, age 22, [Illegible]
Robert Thomas, Able Seaman, age 27, Jamaica
Frederick Malcom, Able Seaman, age 23, Jamaica
Thomas Casey, Able Seaman, age 40, United States
Anthony Christian, Able Seaman, age 31, Antigua
Enoch Davies, Able Seaman, age 19, Holyhead
Joseph Edward Lauds(?), Able Seaman, age 19, Liverpool
According to the Lloyd's List entry for Dec. 28, 1871 (original at Kew), the Napier arrived in Antigua on December 1, 1871.
New York Herald sailing notices for the Napier's departure from Savannah and arrival at Fernandina (click on image to enlarge):
According to the NY Herald, she left Savannah, Georgia on January 19, 1872, and arrived at Fernandina Island (now Amelia Island), Florida on January 24, 1872. Her arrival at Fernandina is also reported in the Lloyd's List entries for February 17, 1872. Lloyd's List for March 5, 1872 reported the Napier was cleared (to leave) Fernandina on February 6.
On February 6 Peter wrote to Martha that he hoped to leave Fernandina in time to be home for her birthday in February.
The Napier, loaded with cotton seed, sailed from Fernandina for Liverpool on February 10, 1872; that was the last she was heard from. In March she was reported as missing, and on June 28 1872 the Napier was officially declared lost at sea with all hands...except for Robert Thomas, whom Peter had discharged in Savannah.
Lloyd's List entry for June 13, 1872:
On August 19, Martha received a Letter of Administration for Peter's estate, because he died without a will:
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| Letter of Administration to Martha Hudson |
Peter and
Martha's children were John (b. Apr 25, 1865, d. Aug 20, 1950), Charlotte (b.1866, d. Feb 10, 1911), Peter
(b.1868, d. Sept 13, 1877) and Alfred
(b.1871, d. 1958). They were orphaned when Martha died of tuberculosis on
September 14, 1874.
The family lived at 53 Eastlake Street in Everton, Liverpool. In 2012 this is now a neighborhood of post-World War II single family houses. Much of Liverpool was destroyed by German bombing during WWII in an attempt to hamper the operation of the port.
Peter's son John emigrated to Argentina in 1892.
The family lived at 53 Eastlake Street in Everton, Liverpool. In 2012 this is now a neighborhood of post-World War II single family houses. Much of Liverpool was destroyed by German bombing during WWII in an attempt to hamper the operation of the port.
Peter's son John emigrated to Argentina in 1892.
John
transcribed his father's final letter to Martha as follows, but the July date is wrong. It's certainly a misreading of an abbreviation for February, as the Napier was
cleared from Fernandina, Florida on February 6 and actually sailed on February 10:
Brig- "Napier"
Fernandina. 6th July
(18)72
My dear Martha.
I am writing you again, but not getting any in return, but
it cannot be helped, thinking of the wild goose chase I have had since I left
you, but thank God I have got finished loading today and cleared and will sail
for home the first opportunity. I am
quite well, but have plenty of hard work to try and get along in this country.
I hope you and the children are all quite well and kiss
them all for me.
Dear Martha I have not much news to send you as I have
wrote you so often lately, please to give my kind regards to all enquiring
friends, and tell them if I was staying much longer in yankee land, the(n) I would soon begin to guess, however I am wishing myself out of it as
quick as possible. I think I may sail
tonight, or in the morning. I should
like to be home for your birthday if I could, as you only have one in four
years. The parrot is still alive and
well and well I hope you are taking care of the birds.
I have met very nice people here, the parties that
chartered the ship in particular, they are English people and will be coming to
L.Pool this summer and will call to see us.
I now conclude with hoping to get home soon and safe. I remain your loving and affectionate
Husband.
Peter Hudson
John's
note at the bottom of this transcription:
My father was lost at sea in 1872, he was 37 years old, my mother died in September 1874, aged 35 years. John Hudson was 9 years old, when he was left an orphan.
John is incorrect about Peter's being 37 years old when he disappeared; all the British sources and Peter's own handwriting agree that he was born on January 29, 1837.
My father was lost at sea in 1872, he was 37 years old, my mother died in September 1874, aged 35 years. John Hudson was 9 years old, when he was left an orphan.
John is incorrect about Peter's being 37 years old when he disappeared; all the British sources and Peter's own handwriting agree that he was born on January 29, 1837.
Peter's
letter implies that Martha was a leap-year baby (born on February 29, 1840; 1872
was also a leap year), but Martha's baptism record and death certificate say
she was born on February 25. Lending
weight to February 25 being correct is that she gave that date of death for
Peter when she applied in August to administer his estate, it being unknown
what day he actually died.
