Wilson Line (Christiania - Hull)
Jules2	Has anyone information on sailings with Wilson Line between Chritiania, Norway and Hull, England. I am looking for information on routes, sailing times, crew, captains etc. My great-great grandfather was Captain George Pepper, and he was Captain on one (or more) of these ships, and received 'St.Olavs orden' for his service. Any good links or searches on the net? All replies are much appreciated. Thanks:) Jules
Borge	Hello Jules I have seen the name of your gggrandfather mentioned several times in connection with the Wilson Line ships. S/S Montebello (1) Captain G. Pepper, appointed to the ship in 1890. S/S Oslo launched on 9.4.1906, she was completed on 19.5.1906, master appointed to the ship in 1906 was Captain G. Pepper. I will check for other refrences too, and I think Nick Evans might know more. Børge Solem
thelebrity	Captain Pepper is mentioned in an Aftenposten article printed when Oslo was heading for Hull on it's first trip from Christiania.A lot of the article describes the party that was held by the wilson line to celebrate the ship, and brings extracts of the speaches, one of them was held by the captain. I haven't copied this part of the article, but I will be glad to do that, and let you know what I've found. It won't be this week, but I will get to it soon, as I have other ship article to check up on. Per Helge Seglsten
thelebrity	I have found captain Pepper mentioned in two articles from Oslo's first journey in 1906. One of the newspapers printed a sort of a cv of cpt. Pepper. I will post the infornmation here when I post the rest I've got. But Oslo was the third ship he was captain of. He started as a low rank officer on Tasso thirtysomething years before, and had well above 1.000 North Sea crossings behind him in 1906. Per Helge Seglsten
thelebrity	Here, finally, is what Aftenposten wrote about mr. Pepper on the 24. of may 1906: (first a description of the ship "Oslo") The ship is sailed by captain Pepper, who earlier was the captain of the Christiania route vessel "Montebello". Captain Pepper has been employed at Wilson Line steamers in norwegians seas for 34 years, as he started out as assistant "styrmann" on the "Albion" in 1872. Since he has been captain of "Tasso", "Hero" and "Montebello". He has crossed the north sea 1611 times. Then the captain tells the reporter how the ship got it's name. He says that he asked the secretary of the british legation in Oslo, mr. Leech to ask queen Maud if she would decide the ship's name. At captain Pepper's next trip to Oslo he was told by mr. Leech that Maud had decided the ship should be called Oslo. (All the Wilson line ships should have names starting with an "O") The before mentioned speech captain Pepper held, was described as humorous and powerful, with toasts for norwegian tourism and the reprecented travel agencies. Per Helge Per Helge Seglsten
Borge	Hi Per Helge Nice piece of new info! If you do come across any material concerning the ships I would be very happy for a copy that I could translate. Btw, the Wilson Line ships had names all ENDING with an "o". Børge Solem
thelebrity	Here is more about captain Pepper in the 1906 papers. Unfortunately I havent had time to translate it yet. Anyone feel free to do that! Aftenposten, may 24. 1906: (about cpt. Pepper's speech and a speech to captain pepper) Kaptein Pepper erindrede i morsomme og vellykkede ord om alle de turister han havde hatt den glæde at kunne føre over atlanteren. Han omtalte fortelig (?) de gjenvordigheder de stundom kunde gjennemgaa; men takket være den elskværdige behandling og imødekommenhed, de havde fundet hos de herværende turistfirmaer, Bennet og sons, og Cook og son, var de trods alt bestandig med glæde vendt tilbage. Han udbragte en skaal for turistbureauernes tilstedeværende representanter. --- Generalagent Ferd. Elster udbragte en skaal for kaptein Pepper, vor kjære ven, som i saa mange aar havde bragt passagerer fra alle verdens kanter til og fra vort land. Pepper er bleven kjendt mand blandt alle rationer; og i de mange aar kapteinen har været i kompagniets tjeneste har han forstaaet at erhverve sig en sjelden sympati blandt passagererne ved sin elskverdighed og fin humor. Taleren var sikker paa at have hele selskabet med sig paa et leve kaptein Pepper. Per Helge Seglsten
nicholasjevans	If he was the captain of a Wilson Line vessel then his personnel record will be held by the University of Hull Archives. I suggest you email archives@acs.hull.ac.uk Regards, Nick Evans Nick
scanbar	I am new here and saw the mention of the Wilson Line ship "Montebello". I have reason to believe that my grandfather sailed on her from Olso to Britian in Oct 1890. His name was Carl Ludwig Emil Michelsen/Karl Ludvig Emil Mikkelsen. I am interested in getting passenger lists and port in Britain where he had connections to the USA. His destination was Chicago, Illinois and I have only a hunch that perhaps he landed in Boston, Massachusetts. I would also like to know if there was a Swedish passenger on board by the name of Anna Olson. Thank you Barbara