William Seed by Margy McShane

William Seed by Margy McShane

William Seed was born in 1856, the son of Thomas Seed, a Liverpool shipwright, and his wife Catherine. He was presented with a Bible on leaving Bluecoat, aged 15 years. In 1872, William was apprenticed to the “Mira Flores’ owned by William Nicol, a Liverpool merchant. William was drowned one year later, aged 17 on the 27th August 1873 at Cape Clear off the coast of Ireland.

I came across our William’s bible this morning. Funny how that happens. One minute you’re dusting, next minute floods of tears. Comes over you in waves, they say. Just like my lad. Washed overboard. Seventeen years old. Nearly a man.

My Thomas has never got over it. He builds ships y’see. And it was him that got William into Bluecoat when he were eight. ‘Connections’, he said. And I’d have one less mouth to feed here.

We were so proud when he got in. Those lovely blue coats! And he could read and write. Poems an’ such. I can’t read myself but Thomas read one to me once, from one of his letters home.

And then he were off to sea. Apprenticed to one of Mister Nicol’s ships. He looked so grown-up. Only away a year, and then...

They gave us his bible. Nowt else. We never had much.

So I lost William twice really. Once to Bluecoat. Then to the sea.