Arthur Allanach
Arthur Allanach
Arthur Allanach was born in 1877, location and parents as yet undocumented. He died an early death aged just 22 years in 1898, having served briefly in the US Navy as a fireman.
Parents
- Father – Unknown
- Mother – Unknown
Birth
Arthur Allanach was born on February 18th 1877. This could be in Canada but his death certificate mentions he was born American. A birth registry document has not been found in either country, nor is any birth recorded in that name in Scotland.
Siblings
It is not known as to whether Arthur had any siblings :
Marriage
Arthur never married.
Children
Arthur did not have children.
Death
Arthur Allanach died in October 1898 in San Diego, California, when he was just 22 years old.
Life Story
1891
Arthur appears in the 1891 Census record for Wellington, Kent, New Brunswick, Canada. He is stated as being 14 years old, and a lodger of Samuel Allanach (39) who resides at the property with Samuel’s father – Duncan Allanach (79) and mother Jessie (65). His religion is confirmed as ‘Free Church’ and that his birthplace was New Brunswick, as was his Mother’s and Father’s. Confusingly, his relationship to the Head of household (Samuel) is stated as ‘lodger’, and Arthur does not appear in the 1881 census at the same address or living with Duncan or Samuel.
1894
Whilst serving on ‘Constellation’, Arthur is admitted to hospital for Tonsillitis, resulting from ‘climatic exposure. The below photos show what the USS Constellation looks like today, and also a photo of its deck from 1893.
1898
Arthur is again admitted to the Naval Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island, from ‘exposure incident on service’. He is discharged April 23rd 1898.
1898
An application to the Navy Pension board confirms service dates and ships that Arthur served on as Rocket, Annie and Constellation. Despite the doctors confirming in the documents that Arthur was made an invalid, the pension application is rejected.
The below video shows the stresses of working as a ‘fireman’ on a ship at he turn of the century.
1898
Arthur dies in 1898 in San Diego of a lung issue.
1900
The 1900 Newport (R.I.) Daily has a story about how the San Diego Oddfellows helped pay for the burial of Arthur in San Diego and that they sent ‘an elaborate set of resolutions’ as a thank you.
