CAWTHORN Richard
6 FEBRUARY 2006

I'm searching for my great-grandfather whose name is Richard Cawthorn. He was a mariner and on the 1901 census his profession is described as 'Mate on Keel Barge'. His headstone reads 'Master Mariner'. His father was called John Cawthorn, a coal merchant, and his grandfather, also John, was a mariner on the 1851 census. 

The family have definite connections with Knottingley and I'm informed that 'RICHARD CAWTHORN DIED AFTER BEING SUNK ONBOARD HIS SHIP WHICH WAS HIT BY A TORPEDO DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR'. We believe the boat to be called 'OWAIN TUDOR/TUDUR'. A picture of this boat hangs on my dad's wall and he was told this was Richard's. What did they ship? I'm aware that two Cawthorn families co-existed in and around the Ferrybridge/Knottingley area and this is causing some confusion. I would be very grateful for any help or information.

Julia Wilkinson
wilky8 (at) hotmail.com
6 February 2006

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