I found some more information for Graham and emailed it to him. I attached 2 items which are over 300 kB, so they’re too bulky to attach here. I told Graham that I’d add the information here in transcribed form.
Transcription of the 2 documents accompanying the Masters Certificate for John Taggart b 1803, issued 4th Feb 1851:
1) A note written by John Taggart:
“Whitehaven 29th January 1851. I beg to forward a new Claim for Certificate of Service, the former one returned from London to have my services inserted prior to being Mate was inadvertently destroyed by me thinking it of no further use. John Taggart”
2) An official form --- Mate’s Claim for Certificate of Service. Port of Whitehaven 29th day of November 1850.
John Taggart.
Number of Register Ticket: 484035.
When and where born: Whitehaven, 23rd Feb 1803.
Address: 105 Queen Street, Whitehaven.
Particulars of Service: A chart with these categories: Vessel’s Name / Port belonging to / Tons / Capacity, whether Apprentice, Seaman or Mate / In what Trade / Date of Service from...to.
There are 15 entries --- as an example, the first entry is: Senhouse / Whitehaven / 138 / Apprentice & Seaman / Coasting / From 8th March 1816 To 23rd Nov 1823.
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So he went to sea just after his 13th birthday. He became a Master circa 1831.
The address, 105 Queen Street, Whitehaven, matches the 1851 census details for John Taggart b 1803 Isle of Man, wife Isabella nee Waddell and 2 daughters whose birth registrations in the GRO show their mother’s maiden name to be Waddell --- so there’s no doubt that the “born Whitehaven” should have been “born Isle of Man”.
The birthdate 23rd Feb 1803 is the same as the baptism date for John Tygart, son of William Tygart and Isabel Christian. Perhaps John had to produce a baptism certificate when he first joined in 1816, since that was the only proof of birth at the time.
Jean