This important booklet and record of service is first stamped and dated in 1913. It is unlikely to be the first booklet issued as the seafarer Arthur O. Dixon b. 1879 commenced maritime service in 1904 working for the Harrison Line between 1904 and 1914. He enlisted as an RNR officer during WW1. He is recorded as returning to Merchant vessel service with the New Zealand Shipping Co between 1916-1920. He subsequently was employed with Adelaide Steamship Co between 1920 and 1921. All documentation shows him to be regarded as an officer of good character and reliable. On leaving seafaring Mr Dixon eventually took up a smallholding in regional Victoria.Unusually for the early 20th C. era of Mr Dixon's service at sea two images of Mr Dixon survive on ID papers and were included in the gift of papers. Personal objects included an unusual small travel size New Testament (see VC record ) heavily annotated provide further insights into the experience of early 20th C. seafarers.Fabric reinforced and backed heavy card covers and service book with multiple pages pre printed for completion by either handwritten entries or ink stamps. Records service record, dates, status, vessel names, ports, master names, character assessment. A thin pink ribbon is affixed by a staple to Page 26.Various - see images licensing, registration, certificate of discharge, mariner papers, seafarer certification, identity cards, identification, arthur oswald dixon, seamanship, seamen, sailors, officers, seafarers, wwi, merchant navy, ran, rnr

This document one of several papers and objects from the estate of Mr Arthur O. Dixon, an ex-master mariner and later smallhold farmer. Other correspondence and papers gifted to the Mission indicates the year 1919 (post his service in World War 1) was a time of some changes for Mr Dixon, possibly leading to his subsequent re-location to Australia show that he served as a crew member on the Merchant vessel "Hororata" a vessel which is noted in the MTSV records including an image of the crew in the early 1920s. (see VC record ).This vessel is also mentioned in a narrative poem by a de-mobbed Soldier of WW1 as the transport for a number of returning servicemen and families. The poem is held in the National Library of Australia.Unusually for the early 20th C. era of Mr Dixon's service at sea two images of Mr Dixon were included in the gift of papers. Personal objects included an unusual small travel size New Testament (see VC record ) heavily annotated provide further insights into the experience of early 20th C. seafarers. Officially printed document, and official copy of an original certificate of competency issued by the office of the Register General of Shipping and Seamen recognising Arthur Oswald Dixon as an Extra Master. At right angles to the certificate is a small margin at left indication the current document is an approved copy in 1919 of the original certificate issued in 1904. See image for both sides of the document for extensive text.certificate of competency, master, captain, sailor, arthur oswald dixon, seamanship, sailors, seamen, seafarers, officers, 1904

Bob Rust was born in Poplar, London in 1823. He became a merchant seaman and all of his "Certificates of Discharge" (except the first one) show him working out of the London docks. The certificates document his career as an "Able Seaman" between the years 1845 to 1852. He worked on the following ships - Jan 25th - March 22nd, 1845 - schooner "Sisters" out of Hull. 14th July - 30th Nov 1845 - "Caleb Angus" - Port of London to West India Dock, London. 12th Dec 1845 - 14th June 1846 - "Caleb Angus" - Port of London to West India Dock, London. April - 16th Oct 1847 - barque "James Turcan" - discharged at Antwerp. It was noted by Mr Mills (Master) "his conduct was to my entire satisfaction. He is a sober, steady man" 25th Oct - 18th Dec 1847 - Brig "Eclipse" - Port of London. Dec 1847 - Nov 1848 - "Cecrops" - London to Cardiff to Cuba and discharged at West India Dock, London. 2nd Dec 1848 - 9th Feb 1850 (15 months) - "Enterprise" - discharged London. Nb - this was not the "Enterprise" used by John Pascoe Fawkner to enter the Yarra in 1835 or the "Enterprise" that sank in Lady Bay, Warrnambool in 1850 and it was not the "Enterprise" belonging to the British Navy which was used to search for Sir John Franklin's lost expedition and later made two Arctic voyages. It is not noted where Bob Rust sailed to on this voyage, but his Master noted on his certificate that "the bearer is an excellent seaman and a good sail maker". 3rd April - 20th Oct 1850 - brig "Thames" - London to London via Trieste. 30th Oct 1850 - 10th May 1851 - "Elizabeth". 9th June - 10th Nov 1851 - "Lady Rowena" - to Alexandria. 23rd Nov 1851 - 17th May 1852 - "Thames" - Mediterranean voyage to Trieste. Bob Rust was an early settler in Warrnambool. He came to Warrnambool, Australia sometime between May 1852 and 1856 where he was recorded in the Electoral Roll, as a labourer, living in Henna Street. According to family history, he "jumped ship" at Port Fairy (then Belfast) as there are no records of him officially arriving in Australia. His picture and details are recorded in "The Pioneers' Register, Warrnambool Township and Shire 1839-1900 Volume Two". He married Sarah Ann Twaits in 1865 and they had seven children. His wife died in 1876 following the birth of their last child. He doesn't appear to have ever worked as a seafarer once he arrived in Warrnambool but is only recorded as working as a labourer and chimney sweep and (in the 1880's) operating as a "General Storekeeper" and "Produce Merchant" (frequently advertising in the Warrnambool Standard for items such as potatoes, oats and dairy produce from his Henna Street premises). He continued to live in Henna Street until his death on 15th January 1906 aged 82 years. English maritime discharge certificates evolved from simple proof of release in the 1700's to become official service records in the mid 1800's. They were issued at the end of a voyage to confirm a sailor had been released from duty and paid. The Merchant Shipping Act of 1835 introduced the formal registration of British seamen, to allow the Government (Board of Trade) to identify individual seamen for the Royal Naval Reserve. Seafarers who registered were issued with tickets which contained some personal details including name, date and place of birth. As the registration system evolved over time, each merchant seafarer was allocated a unique number which would be retained during their time of service at sea. Bob Rust's number was 27914. It also documented the name of the ship (for each voyage), its tonnage, master and date and place of discharge. Early certificates had separate notes re the seaman's conduct or character but after the early 1850's, these became part of the discharge certificate. This collection of "Certificates of Discharge" include those from the late 1840's (which were smaller in size), several handwritten character references as well as some examples of the newer forms of the early 1850's.Theses certificates are significant examples of the legal paperwork generated by the British government in the day-to-day regulation of working seamen in the late 19th century. They are also significant as they document the career of a working seaman at that time.This is a set of twelve "Certificates of Discharge", two handwritten character descriptions and two "Certificates of Character" issued to Able Seaman Bob Rust primarily between the years 1845 and 1852. They have been issued by the Masters of the ships Bob Rust had sailed on, at the completion of each voyage. They differ slightly in size and layout but most follow a similar format in documenting the name of the seaman (Bob Rust), his ticket number (24696), the name of the ship and its tonnage, the port of departure and discharge (e.g. West India Docks London) and the date of the voyage. Some later certificates also describe the destination of the voyage (e.g. Mediterranean). Two of the documents are handwritten notes by the master of the ship certifying as to the conduct of the seaman and two later documents (from 1851 and 1852) are "Certificates of Character" - completed and signed by the Master on the termination of the voyage. Example of Certificate from 1845 - 1850 - "Certificate of Discharge. Schedule E, 7 & 8 Victoria, c.112. This is to certify, that Robert Rust/ whose Register Ticket is numbered 24696 served as Able Seaman/ on Board the Caleb Angus of the Port of London / of the Burden of 303 Tons, from the 14th day of July to the 30th / day of Nov 1845 and that he was discharged from the said ship on 30th /Nov 1845 at West India Docks London Dated this 3 day of December 1845" Mr Whittle MASTER. Example of handwritten character note - "This is to certify that the/ bearer Robert Rust sailor in the barque/ James Turcan, under my command as able / seaman six months during which time / his conduct was to my entire satisfaction / he is a sober steady man. W B. Mills Antwerp 20th October 1847"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, certificate of discharge, certificate of character, robert rust, bob rust, seaman's certificate of discharge, sisters, caleb angus, james turcan, eclipse, cecrops, enterprise, brig thames, elizabeth, lady rowena, warrnambool pioneer, sarah ann twaits

This is a register of weddings performed at the Mission to Seafarers at the Port Melbourne site. The register names all parties involved including bride, groom, celebrant, witnesses, bride and groom's parents and addresses at the time. It also outlines previous marital status, employment details and other personal details. Historical record of marriages performed at the Mission to Seafarers commencing in 1915.Purple stamp in top left-hand corner of a flag with a flying angel. "From the Mission to Seamen Melbourne" Handwritten: Register No. 1, No. 1-11 (Dec. 7th 1915 to July 27th 1921)st nicholas chapel, port melbourne, mission to seamen, seamen's mission, mission to seafarers, marriage, register, wedding, st james, anglican church, dio-marriages, dio-archives

The "letters to Lillie" show the international nature of the Mission to Seafarers. They are an important display of the handwriting style of the time, revealing courting attempts and give us an insight into life in 1925.Lillie Duncan was a member of the Harbour Lights Guild and this letter forms part of a collection of letters sent to her by different seafarers.Letter addressed to Miss Lillian Duncan, 11 Paxton St, East Malvern, Melbourne, Australia from J. Kokx, U.S.S. Medusa, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, 5th Div - California consisting of six parts: Part 0097.1 Envelope Part 0097.2 Small certificate Part 0097.3 Letter page 1 Part 0097.4 Letter page 2 Part 0097.5 Letter page 3 Part 0097.6 Letter page 4 The back of the small certificate reads "This is a small copy of of the big certificate we got"The envelope has three stamps, two 2 cent stamps (red) and one 1 cent stamp (green). All are United States Postage stamps. The 1 cent stamp reads Franklin under the image of a head and the two 2 cent stamps read Washington under the image of a head.uss medusa, julius kokx, lillie duncan, lhlg

The register documents twenty-one weddings that took place in the Mission to Seamen's church district between the 22nd of June, 1945 to the 1st of December 1962. Each certificate is a record of all the information needed to legalise a marriage under Commonwealth law, such as names, dates of birth, marital status, parents and employment. Within the register, there are two letters confirming that grooms are bachelors, and one Statutory Declaration signed by a bride, declaring she is a spinster.The register is a historical record of weddings performed at the Mission to Seamen church between 1945 to 1962.Handwritten in black ink on the front cover: REGISTER NO II (underlined) / MISSION TO SEAMEN / PORT MELBOURNE / NO 19 - / 22-6-45 - / (REGISTER NO 1. / 6-4-29 - 19-3-42 IS KEPT AT / CENTRAL).marriage, wedding, 1945-1962, register, marriages, dio-marriages, mission to seafarers, seamen's mission

The receipts are dated from the 3rd of April 1965 to the 29th of November 1966. They document some of the information needed on the actual marriage certificate, such as the date and location, bride, bridegroom and celebrant's names, as well as the date the each certificate was sent to registering authority.Part of the record of weddings performed at the Mission to Seafarers between 1965 to 1966.Printed on the front cover: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA / CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE.receipt, register, 1965-1966, st peter chapel, st andrew chapel, marriages, dio-marriages, mission to seafarers, seamen's mission

The receipts are dated from the 16th of December 1967 to the 21st of August 1971. They document some of the information needed on the actual marriage certificate, such as the date and location, bride, bridegroom and celebrant's names, as well as the date the each certificate was sent to registering authority.Part of the record of weddings performed at the Mission to Seafarers between 1967 to 1971.Printed on the front cover: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA / CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE. The Australian crest is printed above this.marriage, wedding, register, receipt, 1967-1971, mission-to-seafarers, port-melbourne, marriages, dio-marriages, st andrew chapel, st peter chapel

The receipts are dated from the 26th of August 1972 to the 1st of February 1975. They document some of the information needed on the actual marriage certificate, such as the date and location, bride, bridegroom and celebrant's names, as well as the date the each certificate was sent to registering authority.Part of the record of weddings performed at the Mission to Seafarers between 1972 to 1975.Printed on front cover: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA / CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE. The Australian crest is printed above this.marriage, wedding, register, receipt, 1972-1975, mission-to-seafarers, port-melbourne, marriages, dio-marriages, st peter chapel, st andrew chapel

The receipts are dated from the 17th of December 1977 to the 2nd of October 1982. The last receipt has been cancelled. They document some of the information needed on the actual marriage certificate, such as the date and location, bride, bridegroom and celebrant's names, as well as the date the each certificate was sent to registering authority.Part of the record of weddings performed at the Mission to Seafarers between 1977 to 1982.A typed note taped to the front cover: THIS BOOK IS ISSUED FOR USE OF THE MINISTER ATTACHED TO THE / (handwritten) MISSION TO SEAMEN, MELB, (typed) CHURCH AND IN THE EVENT OF HIS TRANSFER FROM THAT CHURCH NOT BY TAKEN WITH HIM BUT / SHOULD BE LEFT FOR HIS SUCCESSOR. ANY CANCELLED CERTIFICATES / SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTERING AUTHORITY MARKED "CANCELLED". Printed under this is the Australian crest. Printed under this: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA / CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE.marriage, wedding, register, receipt, 1977-1982, mission-to-seafarers, port-melbourne, marriages, dio-marriages, st peter chapel, st andrew chapel

The receipts are dated from the 20th of November 1982 to the 8th of July 1989. The last receipt has been crossed out, possibly cancelled. The is a handwritten note within the register. They document some of the information needed on the actual marriage certificate, such as the date and location, bride, bridegroom and celebrant's names, as well as the date the each certificate was sent to registering authority.Part of the record of weddings performed at the Mission to Seafarers between 1982 to 1989.Stamped in black ink on the front cover: N.B INSTRUCTIONS RE: USE OF THIS BOOK (underlined), followed by the instructions. Under this is printed the Australian crest. Under this is printed : COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA / CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE.marriage, wedding, register, receipt, 1982-1989, mission-to-seafarers, port-melbourne, marriages, dio-marriages, st peter chapel, st andrew chapel

The receipts are dated from the 22nd of October 1989 to the11th of May 1993. The ninth receipt has been cancelled. They document some of the information needed on the actual marriage certificate, such as the date and location, bride, bridegroom and celebrant's names, as well as the date the each certificate was sent to registering authority.Part of the record of weddings performed at the Mission to Seafarers between 1989 to 1993.The Australian crest is printed on the front cover. Under this is printed: CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE / N.B. INSTRUCTIONS RE: USE OF THIS BOOK, followed by the instructions.marriage, wedding, register, receipt, 1989-1993, marriages, dio-marriages, port melbourne, st andrew chapel, st peter chapel, mission to seafarers