The Fredericton Region Museum office received the following query, if you think you can help us please leave your comments here.

“I am searching for a photograph for my gg grandfather Walter Shanks born December 18, 1818 in Saltcoats, Scotland.  Captain Shanks was a Master Mariner sailing to and from New Brunswick for 50+ years.  I have a partial list of most of the ships he commanded.  Some but not all of his assignments included: being the Captain of the Meteor, Don Juan, Eliza and Sir Robert Peel from 1837 – 1839, the Clyde and the Beleck Castle in 1841, the Hugh Walker and the Sarah 1842/43, the Robina 1844/45, the Hannah Isabella 1845, the Superb 1847, the Anna and Magog in 1848, the Minerva 1850, the Agnes and Sophia 1854/56, the Blenheim in 1855/56, the Joseph Cunard 1856/57, the Princess Victoria 1857, the Isabel 1859, the Ella 1862, the Abby Craig from 1858 – 1873, the Petrel 1868 – 1871, the Jehu 1881 – 1884, and the Ailsa Craig from 1885 – 1893.

Captain Shanks, his wife Elizabeth and sons Walter Jr. and David along with Walter Jr.’s wife Lizzie and three children emigrated to the Keswick Ridge in 1885.  Captain Shanks died September 19, 1900 and is buried with his wife in the Pickard Merrithew, York County, New Brunswick. Being a famous Captain and prominent citizen on the Ridge I believe strongly that a photograph of him must exist somewhere.

Can you help?
Gordon Shank”