Genealogy Chat

Hi doing research for my and my fiancees family trees. Was wondering if people new what trades there may be records in existance for. Obviously army records we know about, but have never sought any. Amongst the numerous labourers in each others trees we have gamekeepers, sailors, mariners, shipwrights and a master undertaker. The shipwright was in London in 1841 and 1851 though it described him as super anuitant shipwright at Portsmouth Docks in 1851 so can't understand why he was in London. I would like to put more personal things to names in the trees so would love to be able to get some career notes on people that had better jobs in our shared tree so any advice would be appreciated.

Mariners records are kept at Kew, they can be researched at Kew but there are no documents online. The category for mariners, coastguards amd suchlike are found in the Admiralty papers. (ADM prefixed documents) Military records are split between Kew and the relevant force (Army/Navy etc). The dates of service dictate where the records are. Medal cards for servicemen can be downloaded from the national archives. Many occupations required an apprenticeship so they can be worthwhile pursuing through apprentice records. It is quite feasible to try looking for wills that may have been left, anything pre 1858 should be at Kew and most can be downloaded over the internet from the national archives website for £3,50. Post 1858 means you have to apply to York Probate Office, cost is £5 which includes a search and copy of a will but if no will exists they keep your money to pay for the search.

It is worth looking to see what they have on sites like British origins and findmyfamily formerly 1837 online. I am not sure what is where but I have seen apprenticeship records, teacher's registrations, medical registrations (doctors). Cambridge graduates are on ancestry - and I am sure other people can come up with other lists.

Thanks, are mariners military, silly question, but i wasn't sure. Yes I suppose apprenticeships might be worth a look. Can't see any possibility of getting to Kew or London though so that may have to wait. The will thing might be worth checking out though, didn't find any on the online section

Mariners record are usually taken to mean Merchant Mariners of which only 10% survive through TNA. Some more survive through Newfoundland and you would need to google search 'Newfoundland +Merchant Service' to find out more. Royal Navy(To include Coastguard) and Army are researched at TNA with a small amount on line, again google search TNA for more info. Gamekeepers/Apprentices are usually researched through local CRO of interest to you along with the estate records for which they worked. Use the website A2A in conjunction. London Apprentices are researched through Guildhall Library with some online info and CD's available to purchase. Printers are researched through St Brides Library in London Doctors can be researched via the Annual List of Doctors Lawyers can also be researched via the Annual lists Famous people can be researched through the 'Dictionary of National Biography' and' Who Was Who.' London Gazette can be used Online for Service Personnel and Business Bankrupties.Google Some special Army Museums and Army Schools have their own army records. Shoemakers are researched through Northampton Museum. Google Google search 'Undertakers+Genealogy' and will give you a lot of info on that career The following website will fgive you much info on Shipwrights http(://)www(.)shipwrights(.)co.uk/ (Remove brackets) Very few wills online. There are a few pre1858ish at TNA and if you google a county of interset +Wills you will com up against a few on line this way, but Most Wills/Administrations will be found in CRO's of own use or post approx 1858, through the various Probate Offices throughout the country. Try the following website for that: http(://)www(.)lawontheweb(.)co(.)uk(/)basics(/)probateoffices(.)htm (Remove brackets) There also the Gibson Guides Books that relate to Occupations that tell you how to find out more. These Guides can be found through TNA and Family History Societies. There are many other careers to follow. Have you tried google searching for other career interests? Janet

Nudge for Jonathan. Does this info help? Janet

A good site to find people is Historical directories which profide lists of tradesmen in each village. It also usually names the local clergy and gentry. Anne

Thanks all for the help, will look at the websites suggested and try googling the words as per Janet's message. Have tried the historical directories page before, which is good