Genealogy Chat

I've had a lot of help and success with tracing ships so many thanks to all those involved, most of whom I emailed my thanks directly, but now know I should also reply to my thread!

I have managed to trace one of my relatives on the crew list of various ships 1918-1925 on Ancestry.

I you want to post or PM the details I will have a look for you.

Hi

This is quite a complicated area but it is possible to not only trace the ships but also the crew lists and logs for the merchant navy.

Details of the ships, particularly its Official Number, can be found from the "Miramar ship list". Just Google this.

With the Official Number you can find out where the crew lists are, try the Maritime History Archive in Newfoundland first. Next try the National Archives at Kew. Search the "Catalogue" with the Official Number. For years ending in 5, they may be at Greenwich at the Maritime Museum.

It is all difficult to start with but I traced back my grandfathers records for over 20 years and other peoples from previous generations in the 1800s.

Please email me if you need more info. You can retrieve information from each of these souces, by paying for it, unless you can get there. I go to Kew occasionally but not to Newfoundland.

David

All that advice is brilliant thanks, I will try and look into the websites later today once the kids are in bed! I do know most of the companies the vessels were owned by or built by so feeling quite positive now that I may have more success. I will let you know the outcome

Vicki

Have you tried www.theshipslist.com or www.red-duster.co.uk for merchant ships -if you can establish the shipping company he worked for you can then go to the company website-for Royal Navy try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of Royal_Navy_ships

Even though you don't want to go to London, it's still worth checking out the NA guides:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp?WT.hp=Research%20guides%20A%20-%20Z&j=1

Dear Victoria

Have you tried contacting:

NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM

PARK ROW
GREENWICH
LONDON
SE10 9NF

0208 858 4422

www.nmm.ac.uk

Also, do you subscribe to www.findmypast.com.
They have information about vessels and crew lists.

You could visit the site and see what they can offer.

Best wishes
xx

You could try googling them by 'class'.
Don't ask me what that is - but I know there are different 'classes' (I presume types) of ship!

Hi does anyone know if it is possible to trace a ship without going to the archives in London? I know a number of my ancestors were Captains of ships and have the ships names, a couple I have managed to find through google but some of the others are proving more dificult, any advice would be welcomed

Thanks