Genealogy Chat

Hi there, why I suggested checking the register was often a merchant seaman would turn up in the royal navy and vice versa (my lot do anyway). You can search some of the register on line, just go to National Archives documents on line: You can now search and download the service registers of more than 500,000 seamen who joined the Royal Navy between 1873 and 1923. Below are some points to help you understand more about the Registers of Seamen's Services. Use the links below to jump to the topics you are interested in. Ive never been to Kew - they have tons and tons of stuff - check out first on their site which records you want to see and the references etc to save faffing about when you get there. Have to say as someone who can spend 3 hours at a records office and come away with just one baptism on their note book, Ive chickened out and paid a researcher a few times to search stuff at Kew for me.

Heather, Can you actually check the registers on National Archives, or do you have to visit them in London? I have tried actually getting onto the seamans' register, but not getting anywhere. I'm not too far from London (well about 30 mins train journey), so was thinking of going there in the spring/summer to try to sort out my missing link. Liz

thanks Heather, that's my next port of call. (forgive the pun!) :)

Yep, sounds like Merchant Navy - have you checked National Archives for Seamens register?

It sounds like Merchant Navy to me. Kath. x

Sounds very likely, Suzanne

I've just received a birth certificate, and the occupation of the father is Cook, MN. What does the MN mean? Could it be Merchant Navy? Many thanks, Suzanne