Genealogy Chat

need a passport when travelling to other countries? How else would they enter port?

Don't think so. What period are you talking about?

I didn't think they would. I just thought about it now to be honest. I have several ancestors who went to see but was looking at someone in my tree who was an AB seaman in 1861.

The first U.K. Passport was not issued until 1915

Ron
www.genealogyprinters.com

Thanks Ron :-)

Googled and found this:

In 1858, passports became a standard document issued solely to British nationals. They were a simple single-sheet paper document and by 1914 included a photograph of the holder.
The British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914 was passed on the outbreak of the First World War. This introduced, in 1915, a new format, a single sheet folded into eight and containing a cardboard cover. It included a description of the holder as well as a photograph, and had to be renewed after two years.

So did seamen need any identification when they landed abroad?

Just trying to establish if there are any documents that may have existed to verify if he is the same one in my family. He seems to fit the age and place of birth.

I seem to have lost most of the family after 185 so just trying to see if there are other clues lying around lol

PS maybe some time before I will be back to reply.

Hi, I've been looking for details on my grandfather who was in Merchant Navy Royal Navy and Naval Reserves. I thought, like you, he'd need a passport. Apparently not. They were issued with a travel warrant when they were going to sea.

Doesn't mean he didn't have a passport. You can find that out by contacting disclosure of information in the UK. po box 215 peterborough PE1 1QQ tel 01733 888242.
good luck

Thanks Margaret :)

I will look into when travel warrants began.

Travel warrents were not a means of identification or were issued in leiu of a passport and simply were permission to travel to or from home to their home port (usually by train) A warrant would be exchanged at the railway station for a train ticket. with the Navy picking up the bill for the ticket costs.
These days RN personnel do need a passport (although in reality they are rarely checked - after all if you arrive on a big grey ship flying a white ensign there is every possibility that you are British)

Thanks Colin :-)


so does anyone know back in 1860, would able bodied seaman need identification?

Obviously not - he'ld certainly not need it if he only sailed between UK ports, e.g., Liverpool-Dublin, London-Newcastle, etc.
As a Brit, he'ld have right of entry to all British colonies, e.g., British North America, Australia, NZ, India, etc.
Even aside from that, I don't think people were that bothered - note the UK didn't keep any passenger lists from Europe.

Hello again, just wanted to mention that I got my grandfather's joining paper for the Merchant Marine service at the national archive at Kew. They keep a lot of naval records there. It does depend on what time you are talking about but they might be worth a call.

It didn't tell me a great deal about him in the end I'm afraid but did confirm his date and place of birth and had a great picture of him on there aged about 18. I think some records are more complete than others though. Worth a look there.

Thanks everyone.

Margaret, that is certainly worth looking into.I will see what I can find out. Thanks again.