This is a delightful record of part of the life of Edward Rawes and his adventures while he was a sailor in the 1860's. His family were prominent fishmongers in Stramongate, Kendal. The article was compiled in the 1990's by Maurice Rigby.

Edward Rawes was born in Crosthwaite, Cumbria, sometime around the end of 1828 and the beginning of 1829, and was baptised at the parish church of Crosthwaite on February 15 1829 the son of Richard and Rebecca Rawes. He was one of the original seamen who had enlisted aboard the CSS Alabama off the Azores on August 24 1862, and during it's cruise was rated master at arms on June 1 1863. Served on board during the action with the USS Kearsarge on June 19 1864, and was taken prisoner until the Kearsarge arrived in Cherbourg where he signed the offer of parole. Had returned to Liverpool briefly to his family home in Kirkdale, where all trace of him is then lost. Is mentioned in Chapter 20 page 287/8 of Recollections of a Naval Life by John McIntosh Kell, published Washington, the Neale Company, 1900. Here it says that Captain Kell was on occasion travelling on a little steamer from Brunswick to Darien when on this particular voyage he had been approached by its captain. The captain explained to Kell that he was to give a signal to the shore when they pass Barratt's Island, because an old comrade from the Alabama by the name of Rawse (sic) had arranged to give Kell a commodore's salute of 13 guns one by one. At first Kell couldn't remember the name, but on approaching the island, and seeing the man step out, he immediately recoqnised the master at arms Rawes. He raised his hat to Rawes who by then had began firing the 13 muskets which he had by his side as a salute to Kell. The next day Kell was visited by Rawes and he told him all about himself, and how he was a form of "sentinal guard or watchman to the convicts" on that island that was being worked by convict labour. One of the owners of the island and lessees of the convicts had called on Kell the next day in the city of Darien. He told Kell that Rawes had given everyone such a scare as he hadn't explained what he was going to do, and the repeated firing of the muskets made them think the convicts had risen in mutiny. Rawes continued to reside in Savannah, Georgia, and it was from here where he was later admitted to the Saint Joseph's Infirmary. He died here on June 28 1880, Doctor Stone confirming cause of death as being secondary syphilis. Rawes being under the care of the sisters of mercy and not knowing he was baptised church of england, was interred in the Catholic Cemetery of Savannah, Georgia, that same day in a public grave. He was married to the widow Maria May, the daughter of Robert Roberts, at the parish church of Our Lady of Saint Nicholas, Liverpool, on September 14 1857. Born in Llangollen circa 1830, she survived her husband Edward, and died at the incredible age of 97 at the residence of her son-in-law 127, Radcliffe Street, Liverpool, and was buried in a public grave at the Kirkdale Cemetery, on March 19 1927 in section 20 grave 308 Church. Next of kin; Marie Elizabeth Jackson born July17 1896 to Charles H and Elizabeth J Jackson nee Rawes and married Richard Osborne at St Timothy parish church, Rokeby Street, Liverpool,in December 1943 and died at 76 Wilfer Street on February 2 1973. Richard Rawes, son, born in Kirkdale on September 26 1858 and who died at Rainford on January 13 1940 aged 81. His wife Ann Rawes had died the week before. A memorial marks their grave.

Notes:- Maurice Rigby, May 2010.