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I am trying to find service records for Captain James Clark for the period between 1861 and 1868. James drowned off the West Coast of Jutland, Haurvig, Denmark, 28 Dec 1868. He was Captain of the scooner Ellen. I haven't been able to find out whether it was a ship disaster, or if he fell overboard.

I have his Masters and Mates Certificate, #70.529, which shows his service to the merchant marine from 1835 until the issuance of this certificate in 1851. I would very much like to find out what he was doing between 1861-1868.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, Dorothy Langton.

Hello Dorothy - welcome to the boards

Any idea when and where he was born?

Inscription 6
In memory of Captain James Clark, Auchencairn, who was lost at Haurvig, Denmark, 28th Dec’r. 1868, aged 56 years. Margaret, his daughter, died at Auchencairn, 18th June 1841, aged 1 year & 3 months. David, his son, died at Rockcliffe, near Carlisle, 21st April 1875, aged 20 years. Mary Houston, wife of the above Captain James Clark, who died at Auchencairn, 31st March 1892, aged 82 years. William Clark, son of the above, who died 20th March 1903, aged 55 years. John Clark, son of the above, who died 23rd Sept. 1907, aged 65 years. Elizabeth Clark, daughter of the above, who died at Auchencairn, 10th Dec’r 1914, aged 79 years.

http://www.kirkyards.co.uk/rerrick/auchencairn.asp

Name: Margaret Clark
Gender: Female
Christening Date:
Christening Place: , RERRICK, KIRKCUDBRIGHT, SCOTLAND
Birth Date: 17 Mar 1840
Birthplace: , Rerrick, Kirkcudbright, Scotland
Father's Name: James Clark
Mother's Name: Mary Houston
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11879-4
System Origin: Scotland-VR
GS Film number: 1068034
Reference ID: 2:1666NBD

Name: Jane Clark
Gender: Female
Christening Date:
Christening Place: , RERRICK, KIRKCUDBRIGHT, SCOTLAND
Birth Date: 17 Mar 1840
Birthplace: , Rerrick, Kirkcudbright, Scotland
Father's Name: James Clark
Mother's Name: Mary Houston
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11879-4
System Origin: Scotland-VR
GS Film number: 1068034
Reference ID: 2:1666NCL

Hello!
James was born 2 Aug 1813 in Rerrick, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. My great-grandmother, Ora Ann Clark, b. 1876 in Missouri, USA, told me her grandfather wanted her father to be a sailor like he was. James, Jr., didn't want a seafarer's life so he jumped ship in New York harbor, setting off on his own to make a life in America. James, Jr., is in the 1861 Scotland census in Rerrick, but does not appear again in Scotland records. Knowing his father died in 1868, he had to have come to the U.S. between 1861 and 1868. There are service/ship/crew list records available in the Archives in London, but I have not figured out how to accesss them from the U.S. The LDS film that would have the information is currently unavailable for loan. Hopefully, it will be become available.

The other record I would like to find is a report of the cause of his drowning.

Thank you for your welcoming reply to my post, and for your help.
Dorothy

Name: Ora Clark
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1910
Event Place: Myers, Grundy, Missouri, United States
District: 56
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Birth Year (Estimated): 1876
Birthplace: Missouri
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Indiana
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Sheet Number and Letter: 6A
Household ID: 89
Line Number:
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M1283
GS Film number: 1374796
Digital Folder Number: 004330730
Image Number: 00220
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Ora Clark M 34 Missouri
Wife Loula Clark F 26 Missouri
Daughter Velma Clark F 6 Missouri
Son Lloyd G Clark M 5 Missouri
Daughter Helen I Clark F 3 Missouri
Son Glenn Clark M 0 Missouri
Servant Clyde Brown M 20 Missouri

Name: Ora Clark
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Medicine Township, Mercer, Mercer, Missouri, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 65
Marital Status: Married
Race (Original): White
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birthplace: Missouri
Birth Year (Estimated): 1875
Last Place of Residence: Rural, Grundy, Missouri
District: 65-8
Family Number: 74
Sheet Number and Letter: 4A
Line Number: 12
Affiliate Publication Number: T627
Affiliate Film Number: 2128
Digital Folder Number: 005460063
Image Number: 00980
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Ora Clark M 65 Missouri
Wife Lula Clark F 56 Missouri
Son Russel Clark M 20 Missouri
Son Clyde Clark M 16 Missouri
Daughter Pauline Clark F 13 Missouri

There's a short article in the Times of 1 Jan 1869 saying that the" Ellen of Liverpool from Bayonne to Hamburg has been lost near Ringkjobing"

Ringkjobing is apparently in Jutland.

Looks as though there was more than one Ellen of Liverpool

Yes, the London Times

Hello, again, I have been trying to find the article you mentioned, but without success. I subscribed to the Times, and tried to search the archive, using the name of the ship, the date, Ringkjobing, Jutland, everything I could think of for a search, but to no avail. Can you tell me what I might to to locate the article? Thank you for your information, and help!
Dorothy

I should have tried a little harder before posting! I have found the article in the Times, and I thank you SO MUCH for the tip.

Glad you found it!