Graham Savage from Manchester is presently researching his family history and recently received an old photograph from a relative. The photograph was very fragile and had already started to fall apart so that Graham immediately had a 'restoration' type copy made. The two halves were skilfully re-joined and a remarkable picture emerged.

The picture shows a scene from the late 19th century and includes amongst a large group of people, Graham's Great Grandfather, William Savage, shown here in this detail view as the tall man standing crossed legged to the left of the upper group of people.

William Savage was born in Sutton, Cheshire about 1863 and according to the 1881 census was living at home in Weston, Runcorn with his widowed father George and three sisters. William's occupation is given as a 'Dock Labourer'.

Graham Savage's research has shown that for many years William was employed by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, at one stage his occupation being described as 'Tug Driver' this about the time he moved to live in Manchester.

On seeing the photograph, Graham tried some research on his home computer and soon found our web-site, although on reading details of the present 'Daniel Adamson' Graham was surprised to learn that the vessel was not re-named until 1936, which was obviously at variance with the details shown in the picture which clearly shows a vessel from an earlier time, notwithstanding the fact that our vessel dates from 1903!

Graham kindly forwarded a copy of the photograph to us and of course we were soon able to confirm that the vessel pictured was in fact the first 'Daniel Adamson,' or rather she was, briefly between 1894 and 1895.

Built in 1864 by Messrs. Blackwood and Gordon for the impressively named Loch Long & Lochgoil Steamboat Company, she was originally named 'Chancellor II' later becoming the 'Shandon' and finally under the ownership of the Ship Canal Passenger Steamer Co. was named 'Daniel Adamson'.

The enterprise was not a success and by 1895 having already returned to the Clyde she was scrapped.

At present no precise details regarding the date of the photograph are known, however, as we know the Manchester Ship Canal was opened on New Year's Day 1894 and the vessel itself was disposed of in 1895, it might be fair to assume the picture was taken about 1894, possibly on the occasion of an inaugural sailing or a similar significant occasion. 

Our thanks go to Graham Savage for kindly allowing us to reproduce this fantastic photo and for the brief notes on William Savage's career.

It would be rather nice if other readers have similar family stories to relate with connections to other historic vessels, not least those with family links to the present 'Daniel Adamson' at any stage in her long life. If you can help, please contact me and I will endeavour to include details in a future article.

- Neil Marsden