Henry Gunson

Master Mariner

Henry Gunson was born on November 26th, 1842, the son of Henry and Elizabeth Gunson. He was baptised in the new church of St. Bridgets, in the village of Calder Bridge. He grew up in Calder Bridge and was educated there. Sometime after the 1851 census the whole family moved to Liverpool.

The Merchant Navy

Henry decided to join the merchant navy. He was apprenticed on May 1st, 1857, sailing on the Cairnsmore to the East Indies, the ship's master being J. Crosby. That trip lasted for one year, then he transferred to the Bolivia, a sailing ship under J. Johnson, the ship's master, sailing first to Australia, then back to Liverpool. Over the next three years the Bolivia sailed back and forth between Liverpool and South America.

Second Mate

On his return to Liverpool in 1862, after he had completed his five years apprenticeship, he became a seaman at 19 years of age. He then applied to be examined for competency and on June 10th, 1862 Passed as a second mate and was given the number of 26083.

His next posting was to the Santa Rosa, under captain J. Pike, and he sailed with this ship for two years between Liverpool and South American ports. He returned to Liverpool on October 8th, 1864, leaving the ship at this point.

First Mate

He applied to sit his exam for first mate, and passed papers in navigation and seamanship on October 28th, 1864.

He sailed as first mate on the maiden voyage of the Santa Lucia, leaving on December 7th, 1864, for South America under captain S. Pike. This voyage lasted eight months, twenty two days, finishing on September 9th, 1865. He was ashore for just over five months, before sailing once more on this ship, leaving on February 21st, 1866, this time bound for Australia, and the voyage, there and back, lasted just under one year. They arrived back in Liverpool on February 10th, 1867.

Once ashore Henry applied to sit his Ship's Master exam. He sat the exam and passed on February 26th, 1867.

Captain Gunson

Henry Gunson the became master of the ship Santa Lucia at 25 years of age, sailing to Valparaiso, South America and North Pacific ports.

On his first voyage as Captain there was at least one passenger, Charlotte Ann Oatway Cumming. She was being sent to Valparaiso by people called Robinson who had adopted her and her brother after her father and grandfather had died, to work in a shop they owned there. Henry was asked to look after her. Henry and Charlotte fell in love during the crossing and married in Valparaiso in Chile in September 1867. Henry brought his wife back to England on the return journey.

On a subsequent voyage he was asked to bring back a cargo of guano - bird droppings - a very good fertiliser but extremely smelly. His wife, Charlotte, was upset, and did not want him to do this, so he did gun running instead! During this period the Spanish were blockading their old colonies, trying to upset the trade routes.

Henry continued to captain the Santa Lucia until late on 1874.

Steamships

When Henry sailed again it was on aped a steamer, the S.S. Staffordshire. This time he sailed as a mate, learning the new skills needed on a ship that combined sails and engines. Lloyd's register for 1874 shows Henry as the master of the S.S. Staffordshire. He was still employed by Ismay & Co. based in Liverpool. The ship was a passenger ship, and sailed to Australia, leaving on October 13th, 1874. From this point on Henry was to sail on passenger ships, sometimes as first mate, sometimes as captain.

The Allan Line

Henry changed the shipping line he worked for to the Allan Line. This must have occurred some time between 1874 and 1878 as the crew list for the Istrian after it was refitted in 1878 shows Henry as first mate. This company had ships that sailed out of Liverpool and Glasgow, mainly to Canada and the Eastern sea ports in the U.S.A. One ship, the S.S. Sarmation carried children from orphanages and reform schools to Canada, for a new beginning and a new life.

Henry continued to sail with Allan Line ships until he retired at the end of 1904, his last two years being spent ass captain of the S.S. Carthaginian.

Henry died while living with his daughter, Emily, and her husband, James Summers, on March 9th, 1906, aged 63.