James Barwick Skillings (b. December 6, 1818, d. September 28, 1852)
James Barwick Skillings (son of James Skillings and Sarah Barwick)164 was born December 6, 1818 in Gunthorpe, Norfolk165, and died September 28, 1852 in the sea near the coast of Holland on 'Richard&Hannah'166. He married Mary Codling on 1841 in Sunderland167.
Notes for James Barwick Skillings: According to the details on his Seaman's ticket register entry (dated Jan 3rd 1845), James was pockamarked, had blue eyes and brown hair, and could not write.
The ship on which James was sailing when he died - the 'Richard and Hannah' - was registered in Sunderland on Feb.14th 1848 (no. 33), had a 'burden' of 210 tons. Looking at the Crew Lists amd Home Trade Ship Agreements for 1851 and 1852, it mainly sailed to and from London, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. Sailings seemed to be about once every 4 or 5 weeks, and generally lasted about 3 or 4 weeks.
The Home Trade Ship Agreement for the 'Richard & Hannah' for the first 6 months of 1852, show James joined the ship on the sailing on April 3rd, to Amsterdam returning on May 9th. He was listed as a seaman on this journey and earned £3 10s for his journey. On the next sailing, he was listed as a cook, and earned £3 15s. This journey was also to Amsterdam, leaving on May 14th, and returning on July 4th.
James' original home port appears to have been Blakeney in Norfolk, as this was listed as his town of origin on one of the Home Trade Ship Agreements, although all other references confirm Gunthorpe (a few miles inland south of Blakeney) as his place of birth.
In the 1861 census the 12 year old James Barwick and 9 year old Elisha were listed as being stepsons of John McLoughton, who was by then married to their mother Mary.
More About James Barwick Skillings: Occupation: Bet. 1836 - 1852, mariner (ticket no. 90,651).168 Residence: Williamson st, Monkwearmouth.169
More About James Barwick Skillings and Mary Codling: Marriage: 1841, Sunderland.170
Children of James Barwick Skillings and Mary Codling are: