Richard was probably born in 1833 in Beccles, Suffolk, the first child of Jane Hinksman (1809–1840)★. His father is not known. He is Ian's 3x great grandfather.

Richard's early life was spent in and out of the Shipmeadow workhouse. His mother, Jane, was unable to earn enough to support her family and she and Richard were admitted to the workhouse on several occasions in 1834 and 1835. During their last stay, from April through to August 1835, Richard's sister Mary was born there. The three of them were discharged with an allowance ot two shillings a week and the family remained out of the workhouse until the untimely death of Jane in 1840. Richard and his sister were re-admitted for the remainder of their childhood. ^a1,a2,a3,a4

Richard's time in the workhouse was not a happy one and he was determined to leave as soon as he could. On 25th September, 1844, aged around 11, he and a boy by the name of William Bourne left the house without permission. They returned the next day and were placed in the cells for twelve hours as punishment. ^a5

In February of 1846 a letter from Mr Leslie of North Shields in Northumberland arrived requesting boys who wished to go to sea. The board of the Workhouse recommended two boys, Richard aged 14 and William Downing aged 16, to be apprenticed. Richard was to take up his apprenticeship in August that year but in June he and a boy named John Adams absconded for three days. On their return Richard was punished more severely: he was placed in the cells for two twelve hour stints and flogged by the schoolmaster on the Saturday following his return. Both he and John Adams were restricted to bread and water. The next month he ran away again, this time with another boy, William Brown. On their return the pair were sent to Beccles House of Correction and imprisoned for a week. Their punishment may have been more severe since they stole clothing to take with them. There is no record of any further punishment but almost certainly the master of the workhouse will have required further discplining through flogging and restricted food. ^{a6,b1,b2,b3,a7}

Richard was bound as an apprentice to Henry James Butcher of Yarmouth on 14th September 1846 for seven years. He was initially to serve on the Attila, a 37 ton sailing ship. However, in June 1847 he deserted the ship Mary Ann and his apprenticeship was transferred to master J. S. Adams of the Neptune in October. ^c1,a8

By the time of the 1851 census he was living at 12 Shakespears Walk, Shadwell, Shadwell^d1.

He married Mary Ann Spencer (1829–1888)★, a general servant, on 15 Feb, 1855 at Christ Church, Tynemouth^e1 . They went on to have four children.

• Jane Ann born on 8 May, 1856 in Tynemouth, Northumberland. Died in the Oct-Dec quarter of 1928 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland at the age of seventy-two.
• Richard born on 17 Nov, 1858 in North Shields, Northumberland. Married Martha Underwood on 12 Jun, 1882^e2. Died on 30 Jan, 1942 at 3 Woodsgreen^e3 at the age of eighty-three.
• Elizabeth★ born on 23 Aug, 1862 at Bell Street, North Shields^e4. Married Thomas Turner Peak★ on 22 Sep, 1879^e5. Died on 13 Feb, 1937 at Knight Memorial Hospital, Blyth^e6 at the age of seventy-four.
• Caroline Spencer born on 21 Apr, 1866 at Bell Street^e7. Died on 21 Jan, 1868 at Bell Street^e8 at the age of one.

He was recorded in the 1861 census aboard Carron^f1. The Carron was a 238 ton sailing ship carrying coal between North Shields and London. That night it was off the coast of Whitby. Richard was an able seaman, one of a crew of seven under John Smith Brown, the ship's master.

By the time of the 1861 census he was living at Bell Street^f2 with his wife Mary Ann and two children Jane Ann and Richard.

In the 1871 census he was living at Maitland's Quay, Bell Street, North Shields^g1 with his wife Mary Ann and three children Elizabeth, Jane Ann, a servant and Richard, a grocers assistant.

He was recorded in the 1881 census at 10 Hedley Street, Wallsend^h1 with his wife Mary Ann.

By the time of the 1891 census he was living at 5 Wright Street, Cowpen^k1 with his daughter Elizabeth.

Richard died at the age of seventy-eight on 15 Dec, 1911 at Tynemouth Union Workhouse Infirmary, Tynemouth^e9

Timeline

1833

Probably born around this time in Beccles, Suffolk.

1834

9 Jul

Left The Union Workhouse in Shipmeadow^a1.

19 Nov

Entered the Union Workhouse^a2.
Recorded as residing in Beccles^a2.

1835

30 Apr

Entered the Union Workhouse^a4.

5 Aug

Left the Union Workhouse^a3.

1846

1 Jul

Entered House of Correction, Beccles^b1,b2,b3.

7 Jul

Left House of Correction^b3,b2.

14 Sep

Apprenticed in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk^c1,a8.

1851

30 Mar

Recorded in the 1851 census at 12 Shakespears Walk, Shadwell, Shadwell^d1.
Occupation recorded as mariner^d1.

1855

15 Feb

Married Mary Ann Spencer★ at Christ Church, Tynemouth^e1.
Occupation recorded as mariner^e1.
Recorded as living in Tynemouth, Northumberland^e1.

1856

8 May

Daughter, Jane Ann Hinksman, born in Tynemouth.

1858

17 Nov

Son, Richard, born in North Shields, Northumberland.

1861

7 Apr

Recorded in the 1861 census living at Bell Street, North Shields^f2.
Recorded in the 1861 census residing aboard Carron^f1.
Occupation recorded as able seaman aboard Carron^f1.
Occupation recorded as mariner^f2.

1862

23 Aug

Daughter, Elizabeth Hinksman★, born at Bell Street^e4.

1 Oct

Occupation recorded as seaman, merchant service^e4.

1866

21 Apr

Daughter, Caroline Spencer, born at Bell Street^e7.

26 May

Occupation recorded as seaman merchant service^e7.
Recorded as residing at Bell Street^e7.

1868

21 Jan

Daughter, Caroline Spencer, died as a child at Bell Street^e8.

22 Jan

Occupation recorded as seaman, merchant service^e8.

1871

2 Apr

Recorded in the 1871 census at Maitland's Quay, Bell Street, North Shields^g1.
Occupation recorded as seaman^g1.

1879

22 Sep

Occupation recorded as mariner^e5.

1881

3 Apr

Recorded in the 1881 census at 10 Hedley Street, Wallsend^h1.
Occupation recorded as mariner^h1.

1882

12 Jun

Occupation recorded as seaman.

1888

30 Apr

Wife, Mary Ann, died at the age of fifty-nine in Wallsend, Northumberland.

1891

5 Apr

Recorded in the 1891 census living at 5 Wright Street, Cowpen^k1.
Occupation recorded as fitters labourer^k1.

1911

15 Dec

Died at the age of seventy-eight at Tynemouth Union Workhouse Infirmary, Tynemouth^e9.
Recorded as living at 39 Goschen Street, Blyth^e9.
Occupation recorded as merchant seaman^e9.

Other Information

Other names and variations

• Richard Hinksman^{e9,e2,e1,e5,d1,f2,f1,c1,m1,h1,a4,a2,b3,b2,b1}
• Richard Inksman^e4
• Richard Hincksman^p1,q1
• Richard Hinkman^g1
• Richard Hiksman^a1

Seaman's ticket

334555^c1,p1,q1

Research Notes

Ships and Voyages #

From indexes of Apprentices:

• Apprenticed to the Attila, 37 tons, 14 Sep 1846
• Mary Ann, deserted Jun 1847. There are dozens of ships named Mary Ann (see)
• Neptune, master J. S. Adams, Oct 1847

From Register of Seamens Tickets:

• 1847: as an apprentice went out on a ship registered in London from Yarmouth on 13 Jul 1847, arrived in London on 1 Oct 1847 and left ship
• 1853: as a seaman went out on a ship registered in Shields from Liverpool on 2 Aug 1853, arrived in Shields on 14 Sep 1853

From Register of Seamen, Series III (1853-1857):

• 1853 on Magnet
• 1857 on Renovation

From 1861 census:

• Able seaman on Carron, a sailing ship of 238 tons, official number 3584