The steam tug "The Star" and the Patterson family

My Great Yarmouth Ancestry.

By Maureen Maughan

I live in Tyne and Wear but have recently found that some of my ancestors were from Great Yarmouth.  My ancestor Christmas Patterson, circa 1869, (yes that was his real name) was the son of Matthew Patterson and Eliza (nee Knights).  Matthew was a master of the steam tug "The Star" on the 1881 census, along with his son Matthew and a crew member, Henry Moss, age 28.

On the 1851 census Eliza Knights and her family were living at Row 133.  What were these "Rows" - fishermen's homes?  I was fascinated when I found this site and would love any information about how these communities lived and worked, and anything about the steam tugs.

Maureen Maughan

This page was added by Maureen Maughan on 30/06/2009.
Comments about this page

Hello Maureen. I am no expert, but I hope that the authors (Peter Allard and Parry Watson) of Maritime Great Yarmouth. Volume 1: a portrait in old photographs and postcards [Seaford: S.B. Publications, 1995] will let me quote from their book.

The Star was owned by the Great Yarmouth Steam Tug Company Ltd, which was formed in 1880. The owner of the so-called Red Funnel Tugs, it was the largest tug company in Yarmouth. This was at a time when the local fishing fleet was "at its peak".

As for The Rows, have you read Richard Dade's piece on this website?

Old photos and more can be seen on Norfolk County Council's website www.norfolk.gov.uk under 'Leisure and culture'.

For much more information, you could try tracking down books by local historian Colin Tooke, for instance Great Yarmouth: The Rows and the Old Town (published in 2000).

By Paul Douch
On 12/08/2009

Hello Maureen,

It is indeed a small world. Christmas Patterson was my Great Grandfather, he had a son whom he named after his Father Mathew who was my Grandfather. I would like to get in touch, and I also live in Tyne and Wear. Sid Patterson 6/7/ 2011

By Sidney Patterson
On 05/08/2011

Hello Maureen It is a small world Christmas Patterson was my Great Grandfather and I have been interested in the family tree for a great many years now. I also live in Tyne and Wear and I would love to get in touch with you as I have a lot of information on the family. Best wishes Sid Patterson

By sidney patterson
On 05/08/2011

Hello Maureen It is a small world Christmas Patterson was my Great Grandfather and I have been interested in the family tree for a great many years now. I also live in Tyne and Wear and I would love to get in touch with you as I have a lot of information on the family. Best wishes Sid Patterson

By sidney patterson
On 05/08/2011

Hello Maureen I also live in Tyne and Wear, and Christmas Patterson was my Great Grandfather. I would love to get in touch with you as I will be able to help you. Best wishes Sid

By sidney patterson
On 05/08/2011

Hi Sidney, Matthew Patterson was my GG Grandfather, would love to hear more about the Pattersons! Regards Debra

By Debra Murray
On 06/06/2012

This Patterson Family has relations in Australia and I am one of them, Russell.

By Russell Malham
On 28/01/2013

Hi to every one related to this Patterson, there are few of us in Australia that are related to him.  Russell

By Russell Malham
On 28/01/2013

Hello I have not visited the site for some time, and I noticed a Debra Murray who is related to Matthew Patterson.  I would love to get in touch Debra, as I have a lot of info on our family.  Hoping to hear from you.  Regards Sid

By Sidney Patterson
On 04/02/2013

Hello Maureen,Greetings from Great Yarmouth..I have just stumbled upon this site while looking for something else...and seen your reference to the Patterson family, my grandmother Charlotte Gedge(Patterson) was Matthew and Elizas daughter...she died in 1960...my grandfather Horace Geroge Gedge having died in 1948...I have also been in touch with the relatives in Australia...and am on their family tree..What a small world...Kind regards Ken Smith

By Kenneth Smith
On 11/09/2013

Hello Maureen Maughan....just come on this site and came across your comments...I too am related to the Patterson family...my Grandmother Charlotte was sister to Christmas Patterson, she married my Grandfather Horace Gedge... she died in 1960.....am on the My Heritage site and member of the Australian site...Hope to hear from you...you can email if you wish...smithken2004@aol.com

By Kenneth Smith
On 11/09/2013

Hello Ken I have just looked at the site and saw your comment about your Grandmother. Charlotte was the sister of my Great Grandfather Christmas Patterson. I would love to get in touch Kind regards Sid Patterson

By sidney patterson
On 04/10/2013

Hi all, Just found this page and am thrilled to find so many distant relations , I'm descended from Jonathan and Mary (Waterton) through son Matthew. Nicky Sewter Great Yarmouth.

By Nicky Sewter
On 25/10/2014

Hi Nicky

I have just recently revisited the site, and noticed the message that you had left.

I would love to hear from you.

All best wishes

Sid Patterson

 

By Sid Patterson
On 23/06/2015

Hi Maureen,

your ancestor was my several times great uncle.

By katie arnett
On 02/07/2015

Sid was your father named Sydney Patterson of Great Yarmouth as my grandmother was Joyce Patterson his sister who moved to America. Looking for information about relatives. Thanks

By Erik
On 30/03/2016

Sid was your father named Sydney Patterson of Great Yarmouth as my grandmother was Joyce Patterson his sister who moved to America. Looking for information about relatives. Thanks

By Erik
On 30/03/2016

Hi Erik

Sorry about the delay in replying. My father was indeed called Sydney Patterson, but he was born in Gateshead not Great Yarmouth. However I would like to get in touch with you.

Kind regards

Sid

 

 

By Sid Patterson
On 04/02/2018

Erik,

I have just found these messages about Sidney Patterson of Great Yarmouth, he was my grandfather and I am really just starting with my family history and I just checked with my mum and he had a sister named Joyce who went to the US.

I don't believe that this is a coincidence, please get in touch.

Ron

By Ron Fiorentini
On 20/02/2021

I might as well add my two cents worth of being related in some small way to a few of you!
I am 1st cousin 3 x removed to Horace George Gedge (1868-1948).
Horace's father, Horace Horatio Gedge, married my 2nd great grand-aunt Hannah Crosswell. 
I have extensive Gedge info of the family and of their part in Great Yarmouth's fishing heritage. The Gedge's also played a big part in Great Yarmouth's lifeboat history. 

 

By Phil Gibbs
On 21/05/2021

Patterson of Great Yarmouth

I am related to some of them.  I live in Tasmania, Australia. Any info would help me out,

Russell

By Russell Malham
On 01/10/2021

I am a relation of Christmas Thomas Patterson, Matthew Patterson's brother.

By katie arnett
On 16/12/2022
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