On the baptism of his son, Robinson, his occupation is referred to as a 'mariner'. Thomas was referred to in his father's will as a mariner of Selby, Yorkshire. Three of the other brothers of Thomas are referred to as mariners or boatmen living in new Belingbroke in the County of Lincoln or Horsington. (Daniels - 22.4.96)

Thomas's death certificate records his occupation as 'mariner'.(See certificate on file).

Stamford Mercury, 26 February 1847. Died. ..; and on the 22nd, Mr Thomas Duckering, master-mariner, of the sloop W.S.R..

Thomas died from hydothorax - dropsy in the chest. (See death certificate on file).

'In the Consistory Court of Lincoln. In the Goods of Thomas Duckering deceased. Appeared personally Ashley Acaples of Saplding in the County of Lincoln Gentleman and made oath and said that he this Deponent is well acquainted with William Thomas Capps of Spalding aforesaid Ship Agent and who was an intimate friend and acquaintence of Thomas Duckering late of Spalding in the County and Diocese of Lincoln Mariner deceased and that this Deponent doth not know or ever heard of any such person as William Samuel Capps of Spalding Ship Agent with whom the said deceased had any personal acquaintance or whom he was likely to appoint an Executor of his Will. And therefore this Deponent doth verily believe that the said William Thomas Capps is the person meant and intended by the name of William Samuel Capps to be the Executor of the said deceased's Will. Sworn on the eighteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty seven. (Various signatures)'
'I Thomas Duckering of Spalding in the County of Lincoln Mariner hereby revoke all former Wills or other Testamentary Dispositions by me at any time heretofore made and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. I appoint William Pate of Spalding aforesaid Corn Merchant and William Samuel Capps of the same place Ship Agent Executors hereof and direct that all my just Debts Funeral and Testamentary Expenses be paid and satisfied by them a soon as conveniently may be after my decease out of my Property and Effects hereinafter bequeathed to them. I give and bequeath unto my Wife Elizabeth Duckering all and singular my Furniture, plate, linen, china and other Household Goods and Effects for her own absolute use and benefit. I give and bequeath unto the aforesaid William Pate and William Samuel Capps their Executors and administrators All that my Scoop or Vessel called the "W.S.R." of the Port of Boston together with the Ropes, Sails, Stores, Boat and all other the appartenances therto belonging. And also all and singular other my personal Estate and Effects not herein before disposed of UponTrust/subject to the Payment of my Debts Funeral and Testamentary Expenses as aforesaid/as to the said Scoop or Vessel to work and navigate the same in the usual manner and as to my said other effects to get in and convert the same into money and to place the Proceeds thereof out at Interest, and to pay over and apply from working such Vessel and making such Investment respectively to or for the Benefit of my said Wife during her life or Widowhood. And from and immediately after her Decease or marrying again which shall first happen upon Trust to sell the said Vessel with her several appendages either altogether or in shares as to my said Trustees or the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall seem most advantageous for the best Price or Prices that can be had or gotten for the same and to call in the residue of my Property and to divide and pay over such Sale Monies and Residue accordingly unto and between my three sons William Duckering, Southwell Duckering and Robinson Duckering or the lawful Issue of such of them as may be then dead/such Issue however taking only the share or shares which his her or their Parent or Parents if living would have been entitled to/equally share and share alike as Tenants in Common when and as my said Sons orsuch Issue as aforesaid shall severally attain their Age of Twenty one years. And I declare that not withstanding the Trusts hereinbefore declared in favour of my said wife it shall belawful for my said Trustees or the Survivor of the Monies toarise or tobe made from so working my Vessel as aforesaid such Sum or Sums of Money as they or he shall think necessary and proper and in the mean time to place the same in any Bank or otherwise out at Interest as an accumulating Fund for the purpose of meeting and defraying the Expense of any Repairs which the said Vessel may happen to require. And I declare that the Receipt or Receipts of my said Trustees or the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall be a good discharge or discharges to the purchase or purchases of my said Vessel or any part thereof. And I hereby further declare that it shall belawful for them or him to reimburse themselves or himself allcosts charges damages and expenses which they or he may sustain expend be at or be put unto in or about the execution of the aforesaid Trusts or in relation thereto. And also that each of them my said Trustees shall not be answerable or accountable for the Acts deeds or defaults of the other of them but each for his own Acts deeds and defaults only neither shall they or either ofthem be answerable or accountable for any loss that may arise in the aforesaid trusts or any part therof unless the same shall happen by or through their or either of their wilful neglect or default. In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Duckering the Testator have signed this as and for my last Will and Testament on the eighteenth day of Febraury One thousand eight hundred andforty seven.
Signed by the said Testator Thomas Duckering
as and for his last Will and Testament in
The mark of
the presence of us who in his presence at
his request and in the presence of each Thomas X Duckering
other have hereunto subscribed our
names as Witnesses (Two signatures)'
'On the 18th October 1847 William Pate and William Thomas Capps (called herein William Samuel Capps) the Executors within named were duly sworn and also made oath that the whole of the Personal Estate & Effects of the Deceased, at the time of his death did not amount in ? to the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Pounds, Before me (Signature) The Testator died on 22 Feb.1847.'

William Reade is lodging with her and he is a millwright born in Nottingham. (Daniels)

Wills. Elizabeth died 30th October 1886 at Boston. Proved by Robinson D. of Boston, Master Mariner, the son of the sole Executor. Estate 378 10s. (Michael)
The will of Elizabeth Duckering.
'This is the last Will and Testament of me Elizabeth Duckering of Boston in the County of Lincoln, Widow. I bequest unto my neice Sarah Croft the whole of my plate for her own use absolutely. I bequeath unto my two sisters Rebecca, the wife of Thomas Hotchen of Salmonby and Ann the Wife of George Croft of Woodhall the whole of my linen and wearing apparel equally. I give devise and bequeath unto my dear son Robinson Duckering now residing in Australia All my Real and Personal Estate of what nature or kind so ever to hold the same Real and Personal Estate unto my said Son Robinson Duckering his heirs executors, administrators and assigns. But in case my said Son Robinson Duckering shall not return to England in my life time then and in such case I give devise and bequeath all my Real and Personal Estate unto my two Friends John Seedam of Boston - aforesaid Foundryman and John Tasker of Boston - aforesaid Blacksmith Upon trust that they my said Trustees shall when they shall deem it expedient absolutely sell and dispose of my said Real and Personal Estate by public auction or private contract to the best purchaser or purchasers at or for the best prices that can or may be fairly had or gotten for the same or any part or parts thereof & call in & receive all and every debt and debts sum and sums of money that may be due or owing to me at the time of my decease. And I do declare that the receipt and receipts in writing of my said Trustees or Trustee for any monies payable to them or him by virtue of this my Will shall be an effectual discharge for such money and that the persons respectively to whom such receipts - shall be given shal not afterwards be bound to see to the application of the monies therein expressed to be received or be answerable or accountable for the misapplication or non application thereof. And I direct that the monies to arise from the sale of my said Real and Personal Estate and from the rents and profits thereof until such sale shall (after payment of my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses and all charges and incumberances upon or affecting my Real Estate and the costs, charges and expenses of carrying out the trusts of this will) be paid to my said son Robinson Duckering and in case of his death without issue then the whole of the said two Sisters Rebecca Hotchen and Ann Croft share and share alike to whom I do hereby give and bequest the same accordingly and in case of the death of either of them my Sisters before such legacy shall become payable then I direct the share of her so dying shall go and belong to the children of her or them so dying share and share alike or to such of them as shall be living at the death of their Mother or who shall have left issue so living such issue to take the share which the deceased parent or parents of such issue would have taken if living. And I do hereby declare and direct that my said Trustees shall be charged and chargeable with such monies only as they respectively shall actually receive by virtue of this my Will and that they shall not be answerable for any in voluntary losses or for the acts, deeds or defaults of each other. And that it shall be lawful for my said Trustees to retain and allow to each other all costs, charges and expenses incurred in the execution of the trusts hereby created or in relation thereto. And lastly I do hereby appoint my said son Robinson Duckering - Executor of this my Will and in the event aforesaid I appoint the said John Seedam and John Tasker joint Executors of this my Will In Witness whereof I the said Elizabeth Duckering the Testrix have to this my last Will and Testament contained in this one sheet of paper only set my hand this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and sixty.'
'Signed by the said Elizabeth
Duckering the Testrix in the
presence of us both present at
the same time who at her
request in her presence and the markin the presence of each other Elizabeth X Duckering have hereunto subscribed our of names as Witnesses the same
having been read over to the
said Elizabeth Duckering
previously to her signing
the same.'
W.G.Phillips Mary Lamming
'Proved at Lincoln the fifteenth day of January 1887 by the oath of Robinson Duckering the son the sole Executor to whom Administration was granted. The said Robinson Duckering having returned to England in the year 1862. The Testrix Elizabeth Duckering was late of Boston in the County of Lincoln, Widow and died on the thirtieth day of October 1886 at Boston aforesaid. Gross Personal estate £78 10s. Rice Waite& Morris, Solicitors, Boston'
' I do hereby certify this to be a correct copy Lincoln 20th January 1887.'

1886. Probate, Duckering, Elizabeth, Personal estate £78 10s. 15 January. The Will of Elizabeth Duckering late of Boston in the County of Lincoln, Widow who died 30 October 1886 at Boston was proved at Lincoln by Robinson Duckering of Boston Mariner the son the sole executor.

St Botolph Church Parish Register Boston, Lincolnshire records: Marriage solemnized in the parish of Boston in the county of Lincoln in the year 1828, Thomas Duckering, a bachelor of this parish and Elizabeth Marshall, a spinster of this parish were married in this Church by Licence this sixteenth day of March 1828. See copy