James Buxton

A Deck Hand with Dredger Mercurius (London), James died on 28th of June 1916 at the age of 61.

James was born at Norwich in 1855, a son of William and Sarah Buxton. In 1861 his family lived at Greyhound Lane, Heigham, Norwich. By 1871 they were living at West End Street, Norwich, and James was a bricklayer’s labourer. 

In 1881 James was the Mate on the trawler Effort. 

On 20 November 1882 James married Eliza Elizabeth Rounce at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley. James was a fisherman and they both lived at Kirkley. In 1891 they lived at 35 Saint Leonards Road.

In 1893 James was the Skipper of the trawler Albatross, LT 546. In 1896 the trawler Fashion, owned by James, was wrecked off the Dutch coast. 

In 1901 James, Eliza, and family, lived at 345 London Road South, and James was a smack owner and fishing smack master. They were still at that address in 1911 when James was a smack owner. Later Eliza lived at 333 London Road South. 

During the First World War James was a Deck Hand on the Dredger Mercurius. On 28 June 1916 the Mercurius was on a voyage from Southampton to Immingham when it struck a mine about three miles south-east of Lowestoft and sank with all hands.