Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society

In 2022 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives received a collection from the Aberdeen branch of the Fishermen’s Mission (https://www.fishermensmission.org.uk/). 

The records deposited were those of the Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society, also known as the Aberdeen Steam Fishermens’ Benevolent Society and Aberdeen Fishermens’ Provident Society. 

The Society was established in the late 19th century due to several violent storms, which were disastrous to the community of Aberdeen fishermen. In 1898 the fishing fleet at sea lost more than 60 men. ‘The Loss of Life at Sea Fund’ organised by the Lord Provost raised public subscriptions, with more than £5000 being distributed to dependents. A benefit concert was held in the Music Hall under the auspices of the Shore Porter’s Society.

In 1900, further storm wreaked havoc among boats in the harbour. The Fishing community felt they could not ask the public to step in again, so the Aberdeen Steam Fishers Provident Society was formed in 1900 by Sir John Irvin of Richard Irvin & Sons Ltd (father of Mr Richard Irvin, chairman of Aberdeen Harbour Board).

It was set up as: 'an independent insurance scheme against accidents sustained at sea by fishermen sailing from Aberdeen. Benefits are provided if they are incapacitated temporarily or permanently by injury, the funds being contributed by those at work’ (Aberdeen P&J 30 Nov 1964).

Minute books in the collection begin in 1900 and detail the activities of the charity, the different ways assistance was provide to active and retired fishermen (and their families), and how the committee ran and financed the charity during this period. The Society’s registered office was at 164 Market Street.

DD2332/1/1/1 - Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society: Minute Book 1900-1904

'Baillie Pyper in the Chair, intimated that the meeting had been called for the purpose of assisting the crews of fishing vessels working from the Port of Aberdeen to formulate some scheme whereby the men might provide for their dependents in future cases of disaster'

DD2332/1/1/1 - Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society: Minute Book 1900-1904

Contributions were paid by fishermen wishing to opt into the society and insurance scheme. When the society was established, crews of all vessels fishing from the port were asked to contribute one penny a day for every day the boats were at sea. Hence the ‘Penny a Day’ scheme was created…and another colloquial name for the Society!

In 1902, the first medical officer was appointed for the association. Applications for an association surgeon were also noted in the minutes of 21 July 1902, with Dr Sinclair being approved by the committee for the role.

By 1910 it sounds like these roles had expanded. A report for the Society detailed in the P&J on 21 March 1911 discusses the engagement of a doctor and nurse, to undertake focused treatment of its own members who sustain accidents. They would require appliances and an additional room, which opened on 1 July 1911.

The role of the nurse was obviously a key component of the service. The minutes of 8 Feb 1915 include half a page of positive feedback for Nurse Niven, and the committee's disappointment at her resignation owning to acceptance of a new role abroad.

DD3223/1/1/4 - Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society: Minute Book No. 4 (1912-1921)

The Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society minute books also provide detail about historical events that greatly impacted the focus of their society, including WW1. Newspaper articles from the Press and Journal show that fishermen and their boats were utilised by the Admiralty as minesweepers:

‘now that the herring fishing is stopped, several of the Peterhead drifters lying idle in the harbour have been requisitioned by the Admiralty for scouting purposes in the North Sea. Eight of the vessels left the port yesterday morning, fully manned and specifically fitted out in order to deal with mines which they might come across’ (Aberdeen P&J, 5 Sept 1914)

On account of this, the Society revised their rules and the scale of benefits, which can be seen in the Committee of Management Reports 1 January 1914 - 31 December 1914. A war clause was added to section “A”, extending the benefits therein until the end of the war, and under section “E” the period of benefit was lengthened by an additional 13 weeks at 5s per week.

DD3223/1/1/4 - Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society: Minute Book No. 4 (1912-1921)

The below extract from a meeting of 8 December 1914 records 11 casualties onboard the "Drummond" and the "Princess Beatrice", both boats being used as minesweepers. The widows of the deceased had been paid under the revised section 'A' of the Society's terms.

DD3223/1/1/4 - Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society: Minute Book No. 4 (1912-1921)

Additional information on the Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society can be found through the forms they used to register as a Friendly Society. The Society first registered in 1908 and there is a fairly complete run of forms from 1909-1972. Forms for the latter dates include lists of the trustees and committee members. These forms are useful for tracing the name changes of the Society as well. For example, in 1958, we can see the word ‘steam’ is dropped from the title. The below form is the first in the series.

DD3223/1/2/6 - Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society: Friendly Society Registration forms (1909-1972)

In 1998, nearly 100 years after the introduction of the scheme, the Society was disolved due to the dwindling number of members. In order to do so, 75% or upwards of members had to agree to dissolution (under the terms of the Friendly Societies Act). 112 members voted in person, and with additional postal votes, the Society ceased active membership.

There are a large number of newspaper articles detailing the dissolution of the society and advertising reimbursement of the final pot of contributions to members. 

'Aberdeen Fishermen's Provident Society: PENNY-A-DAY. The Committee is considering the future of the Society and therefore require information of its membership. All fishermen who sailed out of Aberdeen and who believe themselves to be members are requested to write to the Secretary' [Aberdeen Evening Express, 17 Nov 1997].

The Society was clearly inundated with correspondence; there are four files for this part of the collection, and they contain many letters from local fishermen looking to ascertain their membership to the Society.

You can view the catalogue for this collection here: DD3223: Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society . It is available to search in person at our Old Aberdeen House Archives during our usual opening hours. Please note, some parts of the collection are closed due to Data Protection legislation. This will be noted on the catalogue under the heading 'Open or Restricted Access'.

Kimberley Smith, Archivist