South Shields (Tyne) Sea Pilots of the latter half of the nineteenth century, were the real aristocracy of the river’s work force. These men could genuinely afford to dress well, and long retained their distinctive ‘stove pipe’ hats when afloat.
These they knew, with a knowledge born of generations of men who, with little other than skill, had brought countless ships to a safe anchorage, the work involved great responsibility and was fraught with many difficulties requiring coolness and ability. This they had in plenty as is witnessed by the innumerable sailors who daily entrusted them, without so much as second thoughts, with their lives.
John Hutchinson
John Hutchinson was the great, great, uncle of Metcalfe Tinmouth on his mother’s side. He acted as pilot for the Italian Patriot Garibaldi, when his ship the ‘COMMONWEALTH’ came into the Tyne in 1854.
Captain of Pilots
- Joseph Reed 1724 – 1738
- Loftus Danby 1738 – 1754
- Matthias Giles 1754 – ?
- Capt. Wm. Errington ? – 1773 Died
- Joseph Hogg 1803 – 1815
- John Thompson 1815 – 1845
- William Pearson 1845 – 1864
- James Kelly 1864 -? (Last Ruler appointed by Trinity House)
Pilot Masters
- John Purvis 1893 – 1905
- A.L. Ayres 1905 – 1908 Retired
- Capt. Chas. K. Sergent 1908 – 1915
- Capt. L.M. Lamb 1915 – 1932 Died
- Wm. Marshall (Twaddles) 1932 – 1944 ( Served 25 years as Deputy Pilot Master. )
- Capt. Henry Row 1944 – 1946
- Capt. George W. Graber 1946 – 1964 Died
- Sydney Johnson 1964 – 1981 Retired. (Last of the Pilot Masters)
Taken on board “Queen’o the May” 3rd July 1931
Pilot Master 1944 – 1946
Pilot Master 1946 – 1964
Taken onboard pilot cutter ‘Helm’ 1947
(Taken outside Pilot Watch House 6th May 1981)
Last of the Tyne Pilot Masters.
Deputy Pilot Master 1955, Pilot Master 1964 Retired in June 1981
List of Pilots 1746
Sea Branches South Shields
- HODGESON William
- MAJOR Robert
- SUTHERN Cuthbert
- SMITH Harry
- WRIGHT John
North Shields
- ARCHER John
- KELLIO Ralph
- LACEY Samuel
- MATTSON Robert
- MANN Edward
- MITFORD Harvey
- SNOWDON Johnson
- WILBERFORCE Edward
Newcastle
- BLAIGDON Jonathon
- BROWN George
- GIBSON William
- RAMSEY David
- ROBINSON Chris
- SHOTTON Ralph
Barr Pilots South Shields
- HAMILTON John
- HARRISON Ralph
- HALIDAY Thomas
- HUBBUCK Thomas
- MORDEW David
- SANDOM Ralph
- WRIGHT John
Town or River Pilots
- ATKINSON William
- ANDERSON George
- ERRINGTON Chris
- REDHEAD John
- THOMPSON Isaac
- THURSTON William
Making a total of 32 pilots
Names of Pilots
Licenced to pilot vessels throughout the entire District on the Tyne in the year 1909
|
Name
|
Age
|
Name
|
Age
|
Name
|
Age
|
|
Charles Pearson
|
78
|
Martin Purvis (2)
|
49
|
James Purvis (3)
|
39
|
|
William Marshal
|
70
|
Heny Duncan
|
51
|
Matthew Houlsby
|
38
|
|
William Tinmouth
|
70
|
John G Stewart
|
48
|
Henry purvis
|
38
|
|
Robert Young
|
70
|
Henry Y Marshall
|
48
|
Edward C Burn
|
37
|
|
John Peat
|
69
|
George B Morrison
|
48
|
John Phillips (2)
|
37
|
|
John Hutchinson
|
69
|
James Purvis (3)
|
49
|
Robert H Burn
|
37
|
|
William Strachan
|
68
|
John G H Thurlbeck
|
47
|
William Young (2)
|
36
|
|
John Brown
|
67
|
David Marshall
|
47
|
Bryson Taylor
|
41
|
|
John Bone (1)
|
67
|
James W Carter
|
47
|
Thomas T Houlsby
|
36
|
|
Thomas Young (1)
|
67
|
Charles Burn (2)
|
50
|
James Morrison
|
36
|
|
James Wright
|
68
|
Alexander Leslie
|
46
|
Robert Young (2)
|
35
|
|
Robert Purvis (1)
|
67
|
Lancelot Burn (2)
|
50
|
James Morrison
|
36
|
|
Heslop Wright
|
67
|
George Burn
|
44
|
Philip Y Tinmouth
|
35
|
|
Charles Chamber
|
65
|
John Whale
|
46
|
James Wright (2)
|
35
|
|
Robert Philips (1)
|
63
|
John Burn (2)
|
44
|
Thomas W Stephenson
|
34
|
|
Jacob Harrison
|
63
|
Ralph Burn
|
43
|
William H Tinmouth
|
34
|
|
Thomas C Purvis (1)
|
61
|
Richard Thurlbeck
|
43
|
Matthew Young
|
37
|
|
James W Mackey
|
62
|
Matthew C Reid
|
43
|
Thomas Bone
|
35
|
|
James Purvis (1)
|
60
|
William Purvis (2)
|
45
|
Thomas Heron
|
35
|
|
Richard Harrison
|
60
|
Henry Leslie
|
44
|
William Purvis
|
34
|
|
Anthony Emmerson
|
52
|
John Marshall (2)
|
43
|
Alex W Harrison
|
35
|
|
John Phillips (1)
|
60
|
John W Marshall
|
42
|
William O Purvis
|
34
|
|
Arthur L Burn
|
60
|
Robert Leslie
|
42
|
Beckworth Purvis
|
32
|
|
Henry Young
|
59
|
John Young
|
42
|
Thomas Y Purvis
|
32
|
|
Joseph O Moffat
|
59
|
William Purvis (3)
|
42
|
James A Ramsey
|
31
|
|
John T Cree
|
51
|
John H Tinmouth
|
42
|
John Nevens
|
34
|
|
Lancelot Burn (1)
|
58
|
Robert Phillips (2)
|
42
|
Joseph Marshall
|
33
|
|
William M Young
|
57
|
Thomas Young (3)
|
41
|
Fred Peat
|
34
|
|
James Young (1)
|
57
|
James Burn
|
41
|
William S Morrison
|
30
|
|
Robert Pickering
|
57
|
Robert Cowell
|
44
|
Annthony H Nevens
|
31
|
|
Robert Ramsey
|
57
|
John Bone (2)
|
41
|
Ralph P Sloan
|
31
|
|
Anthony Hogg
|
57
|
Robert Chambers
|
41
|
John G M Houlsby
|
30
|
|
John Burn (1)
|
56
|
Robert Heron
|
41
|
William P Duncan
|
29
|
|
John Duncan
|
55
|
William Young
|
40
|
James W Purvis
|
31
|
|
James Young (2)
|
55
|
Thomas H Purvis
|
40
|
John B Young
|
30
|
|
Anthony Thurlbeck
|
54
|
Thomas Tinmouth
|
40
|
Joh S Y Bone
|
29
|
|
John W Purvis
|
54
|
Joseph Wright
|
40
|
Ralph Phillips (2)
|
29
|
|
Robert Duncan
|
53
|
George W Burn
|
40
|
John H Pickering
|
29
|
|
Samuel Stewart
|
50
|
Thomas L Wright
|
40
|
John H Duncan
|
29
|
|
Amos L Ayre
|
49
|
Robert Purvis (2)
|
39
|
Robert W Purvis
|
31
|
|
Ben Heron (2)
|
49
|
Ralph Phillips
|
39
|
James H Mackey
|
30
|
|
John Chambers
|
49
|
Jacob Bone
|
39
|
Joseph Watson
|
31
|
|
William Thurlbeck
|
49
|
John A Peat
|
39
|
Thomas H Marshall
|
29
|
NAMES OF APPRENTICES IN THE YEAR 1909
|
Anthony Thurlbeck
|
22
|
John T Harrison
|
21
|
John Duncan
|
17
|
|
John Thurlbeck
|
20
|
Richard Tinmouth
|
19
|
Robert Leslie
|
16
|
|
Peter Purvis
|
18
|
Thomas Reed
|
18
|
Stanley Purvis
|
18
|
|
Thomas Purvis
|
19
|
Thomas A Strachan
|
19
|
Robert Pickering
|
16
|
|
Richard Duncan
|
20
|
W C Stewart
|
16
|
Robert Chambers
|
16
|
|
Robert Ramsey
|
20
|
Robert Cowell
|
16
|
Jacob Harrison
|
15
|
|
James Duncan
|
19
|
Edward Ramsey
|
17
|
George Purvis
|
18
|
|
George Ayre
|
17
|
Stanley Phillips
|
16
|
Arthur L Burn
|
15
|
TYNE PILOTAGE AUTHORITY
LIST OF PILOTS IN THE YEAR 1961
|
AYRE Arthur H
|
PHILLIPS James R
|
|
AYRE George
|
PHILLIPS Kenneth
|
|
BURN Charles
|
PICKERING Robert
|
|
BURN Charles H
|
PICKERING Raymond
|
|
BURN Joseph Wm.
|
PICKERING John H
|
|
BURN John
|
PURVIS Harold
|
|
BURN True Britton
|
PURVIS Robert E
|
|
BURN Malcolm N
|
PURVIS Charles
|
|
BURN John H
|
PURVIS James (1)
|
|
BURN George Wm.
|
PURVIS James (2)
|
|
BURN W. Alan
|
PURVIS John R
|
|
BURN James
|
PURVIS John (1)
|
|
BURN Richard C.
|
PURVIS John (2)
|
|
BURN Arthur L
|
PURVIS George Wm
|
|
BURN Morris F
|
PURVIS William
|
|
BURN George P
|
PURVIS Thomas Y
|
|
CHAMBERS Alfred
|
PURVIS Thomas Adrian
|
|
CHAMBERS William P
|
PURVIS Thomas H
|
|
COWELL Edward D
|
PURVIS Michael
|
|
DUNCAN Richard
|
PURVIS Peter K
|
|
DUNCAN Alexander
|
RAMSEY James C A
|
|
DUNCAN John H
|
REID Matthew
|
|
DUNCAN Stanley
|
STEWART Samuel
|
|
HARRISON Alex W (1)
|
SHEWAN Ralph S
|
|
HARRISON Alex W (2)
|
SLOAN Raph P
|
|
HERON Benjamin
|
STEPHENSON Peter K
|
|
HOULSBY Matthew
|
TAYLOR Andrew
|
|
HOGG Thomas
|
TINMOUTH William
|
|
HOGG John A
|
TINMOUTH Thomas
|
|
LESLIE Alex
|
TINMOUTH Ronald (1)
|
|
LESLIE Cyril Y
|
TINMOUTH Ronald (2)
|
|
LESLIE Henry
|
TINMOUTH John W
|
|
MARSHALL Joseph
|
TINMOUTH Metcalfe
|
|
MARSHALL George F
|
TINMOUTH Raymond
|
|
MARSHALL John Anderson
|
TINMOUTH Thomas Y
|
|
MARSHALL John E
|
THURLBECK Norman
|
|
MARSHALL John H Y
|
THURLBECK William O
|
|
MORRISON James
|
THURLBECK Ronald
|
|
MORRISON Robert R
|
WATSON Leonard W
|
|
NEVENS Anthony H
|
WRIGHT Fred S
|
|
PHILLIPS Stanley (1)
|
WHALE John
|
|
PHILLIPS Stanley (2)
|
WHALE William M
|
|
PHILLIPS Ralph
|
WHALE Sydney
|
|
PHILLIPS William
|
WHALE James S M
|
|
PHILLIPS Albert
|
YOUNG Ralph
|
|
PHILLIPS John W
|
YOUNG William M
|
|
PHILLIPS Ronald
|
YOUNG William W
|
|
PHILLIPS John D
|
Total of 95 Pilots
Tyne Pilot Authority
List of Pilots in the Year 1981
|
AYRE George
|
PHILLIPS James R
|
|
BURN Charles H
|
PHILLIPS John Downie
|
|
BURN John Hart
|
PURVIS James
|
|
BURN James
|
PURVIS William
|
|
BURN Richard C
|
PURVIS George W
|
|
CAVE Don
|
PURVIS Thomas Adrian
|
|
CHAMBERS Joseph
|
PURVIS Thomas H
|
|
COWELL Edward
|
PURVIS Alan Young
|
|
DUNCAN David
|
SLOANE Ralph P
|
|
DUNCAN Stanley
|
TAIT Robert
|
|
EGAN Jeff
|
TINMOUTH Metcalfe
|
|
HARRISON Alex W
|
TINMOUTH Raymond
|
|
HOGG John A
|
TINMOUTH Ronald
|
|
MARSHAL John Duncan
|
TINMOUTH Philip Young
|
|
MARSHALL John Hanson
|
WHALE James R
|
|
PICKERING John H
|
WINTER George
|
|
PICKERING Raymond
|
YOUNG Thomas
|
|
PHILLIPS Kenneth
|
YOUNG William F
|
Total of 36 Pilots
Tyne Pilots
In 1988 the Port of Tyne Authority became responsible for providing pilotage on the Tyne and the Pilots were given the opportunity of being employed by them. However the Pilots refused, preferring to remain a self-employed independent body. At that time there were 27 Pilots working for the Tyne Pilotage Authority. This then reduced to 12 (listed below) to form Tyne Pilots Ltd.
|
John Hart Burn
|
Ralph P Sloane
|
|
David Duncan
|
John D Marshall
|
|
Philip Y Tinmouth
|
Thomas H Purvis
|
|
George Winter
|
Alan Y Purvis
|
|
Edward Cowell
|
James Purvis
|
|
Jeff Egon
|
George W Purvis
|
In 1998 only 8 Pilots remain
|
John Hart Burn
|
Ralph P Sloane
|
|
David Duncan
|
John D Marshall
|
|
George Winter
|
Thomas H Purvis
|
|
Jeff Egon
|
Alan Y Purvis
|
In 2008 John D Marshall and Alan Y Purvis – the last two remaining Tyne Pilots retired; marking not only the end of their long family tradition, but also the end to the long established Tyne Pilotage Authority. A service that had spanned 143 years.
(Photograph dated between 1895 and 1905)
– left to right –
John Cree John Phillips John Purvis (Pilot Master) Ralph Shotton Anthony Ramsey
Alex Leslie Thomas Purvis Larry Harrison Anthony Hogg John Whale
Robert Duncan True Britton Burn Richard Young George W Purvis Anthony Ramsey
John H Duncan Richard Young Bob Ramsey Anthony Ramsey Anthony Reed
Anthony Ramsey George W Purvis Thomas Pickering
Thomas Tinmouth Thomas Houlsby Thomas Purvis Unknown James Ramsey
Back Row: John Cree, J.H. Tinmouth, J.W. Stephenson, T.H.Purvis.
Front Row: W.O. Purvis, Harry Purvis, Robert Morrison, Jim Morrison, W.S. Morrison
Back Row: T.Y. Purvis, Wm. Phillips, James Wright, E.C. Burn.
Middle Row Harry Purvis, Robert Ramsey, Harry Young, A.L. Ayre, T.H. Purvis.
Front Row: Joe Marshall, W.O. Purvis, John Cree.
Alex Leslie or Phillips, E.C. Burn, T.Y. Purvis, John Bone, Harry Purvis, W.H. Morrison ? John Cree (sitting)
Jacob Bone, Vivian Bone, James Purvis, William Young, John Purvis, Anthony Thurlbeck, Richard Young, Ralph Phillips, Ralph Sloane, Richard Duncan, T.Y. Purvis.
Alderman Thomas Sykes Chairman, Captain Lamb Pilot Master (in uniform) and pilot George Purvis (2 nd from right front) among those present.
Born 1899 Died 1969
James Stanley Ayre
Born 1896 Died 1963
Amos L Ayre
Born 1860 Died 1930
George Ayre
Born 1892 Died 1928
Trying to find information on my paternal grandfather Matthew Houlsby. He is listed above on the 1909 Pilots as being 38 years old. I have no other information. Also listed are a Thomas T and John G.M Houlsby presumably brothers. Anything you can t ell me will be greatly appreciated. I know live in the USA and cannot get to any information that might be in Shields. The only family left are a younger cousin, who lives in Spain and myself. Thank you in advance Doris Finn.
A Matthew Houlsby born 19 jan 1871 parents John Houlsby and Ann Tinmouth married in 1894 Margaret Jameson His family appear in the 1881 Census. living at the Lawe South Shields with other Pilots Families Brothers Thomas ,Terence, and John are listed
I am still trying to find any information on my grandfather Matthew Houlsby. Or his brothers listed on the1909 pilots list. Thank you in advance Doris Finn..
Hi there
I understand that the Tyne pilots passed from fathers to sons. My grandfather was Harold Purvis (1906 – 1973) and he was a Tyne pilot. His father was James Purvis (1861 – 1937 and married to Dorothy Elizabeth Baker). I’m trying to ascertain his correct family line as there are so many Purvis families (no doubt all related in some way). If anyone can assist with this, I’d be so very grateful.
Kind Regards, Philippa Nidd
Hi Philippa,
I’ve got a James Purvis in my ancestry tree (husband of mother-in-law of 2nd cousin 2x removed), you have to find them all in order to find yours!
So mine:- Born 1st quarter 1861, South Shields to James and Emma Robertson, Emma is a Widow in the 1861 census living with son James and her mother Jane Robertson, Jane is also a widow, in 1866 Emma then married Richard Purvis (not a bother). Emma Robertson’s father is William (a Shipwright), James’s father is Thomas and Richard’s father is Andrew (Pilot). Andrew’s wife is Thomasine Young
Hope this is of some help.
My Pilot ancestry starts with the Young & Dixon families, I had trouble with the number of Pilots called Henry Young of south shields, so I researched them all, just to make sure.
Regards
Keith
Note, all this is correct until proven wrong and I don’t mind getting corrected.
This is so nice to see a list of all those who worked for the authority, including my Grandfather Albert Phillips, who had served for some length of time. My father Albert Foster Phillips joined as an apprentice & Grandad signed his investiture (he has this framed at his home). Grandad passed before I was born (I wasn’t born until 1970) & I know so little of him. Thank you for posting this up
Doris – I have quite a lot of information about Houlsby family history, including about the pilots and quite an extensive family tree. My grandfather was Thomas Houlsby, pilot. If you email me at Guy.Houlsby “at” eng.ox.ac.uk I can send you information.
Hi Guy
I’m researching the history of the building that was the Pilot Office on Greens Place and how it worked in the past. I have had some really good info from John Marshall on the day to day workings of the Pilot Office and would like to hear more from anyone who worked there or even lived there during it’s time as the Pilot Office. Also does anyone know about the Wellesley Hospital that was sited here c.1885-1910, or when the Lifeboat Society had there office here C.1885-1940s? Does anyone know of it’s origins as “Bone’s Hall” before The Pilotage Authority purchased the building in 1885? It appears on the 1827 map of South Shields but prior to this there seems to be a mystery,
Hello, I am looking for information on my wifes great,great,great grandfather and family.he was a Tyne pilot by the name of James Wright born about 1814 and was lost in the rescue of the Betsy, we have just discovered a link and would love to know more if anyone can help.
Thanks
Hi, I’ve just found this site.
my 3x Great Granda was also James Wright, I believe he had 11 children, but I think only 8 survived him after this tragic disaster.
I am descended from his son James 1841 – 1822 (also Tyne Pilot/lifeboatman) and his Grandson James 1873 -1930 (Tyne Pilot/lifeboatman) who was also tragically killed, after an Accident caused by transferring from ships ladder on to the Pilot Boat.
Kind regards
Clare Wright
Hi reading through the pilot history is fascinating but I would just like to say that the information in 1998 on who was left is missing 1 person and that was my farther who was a Tyne pilot until 29th December 1998. If possible please can we get him added to this list to keep his memory alive. James Purvis 1946-1998
Thank you
I was Jim’a cousin and best friend always worked on same shift and spent many happy trips to the UK pilots golf society meetings.His death was a huge shock and such a nice man,never had a bad word for anyone was totally undeserved.
I’m David Duncan, I was your father’s best man in 1974.
As Tom Purvis says, he was a great guy and I don’t know why his name is missing from that list.
Would it be possible to contact either Mr Lubi or Mr Atkinson to discuss a book I am currently writing? I am directly descended from a family of river pilots called Lumsden who worked from 1796 to 1878 as down pilots. Much of what is written is fascinating and helpful but there is less on the river pilots than on the sea pilots. I have been in touch with both Trinity House and the Discovery Museum and have found several helpful sources but I would very much appreciate a discussion with someone more knowledgable than myself. Thank you.
I believe my grandfather was a tyne pilot, Edward Ramsey, he died in 1982.As a young boy
I had a few trips on the pilot cutter Ceur urther(think that’s the name).Have you information on him, think he piloted the launches from Swan Hunters as He received a radiogramme from then when he retired in arouns1957
trying to find information on Frederick Dunn listed on son’William 1900 marriage certificate as sea pilot deceased. William was born North Shields 1872 thanks