Captain Addie was born in Durman, Sunderland in 1818 to Charles Addie and Elizabeth Cox. He was, by the age of 25, owner and skipper of the vessel 'Oberon' sailing out of Kings Lynn. He also held 25% share in a vessel called the "Europe' also from Kings Lynn. He was married at St Paul Shadwell Church in Middlesex in 1840 to Sophia Leach born 1818 in Kings Lynn. They lived in Bridge Street, Kings Lynn and had three children: James T. Addie born 1843, Agnes Alice born 1845 a third child Sara Sophia Leach Addie was born and baptised in March 1847; but died on the 12 December aged 12 months.
In December 1845 whilst sailing from Kallenborg to Hull, some 400 miles from land he rescued the crew of a Danish sloop ('Elenora Pauline') llanding the crew on an island south of the west of Scotland. This act of heroism was rewarded by the presentation of a medel for bravery from the king of Denmark; but unfortunately James did not receive it in his lifetime. He drowned the next year in June 1846 at the age of 27 whilst berthing the 'Oberon' at Archangel in the U.S.S.R. His wife Sophia was pregnant at the time. She received his medal posthumously in 1847. James T. Addie Junior also a sailor was lost at sea in 1865 (aged 22) whilst a crew member of the "Finney Star' which caught fire whilst at sea. He and other crew members took to a lifeboat but were lost without trace.

Christine Hall