Genealogy Chat

Please can anyone help? Is there a separate census of sailors who were at sea when the 1861 census was taken? I have a relative whose 1862 marriage certificate says he was a mariner but I can't find him on 1861 census so I presume he was at sea [he is on the 1871/ 81 census so he does exist]. Is there any way I can track him down if he was at sea? I'd be grateful of any help anyone can give Thanks MC

A naval vessel is regarded as sovereign territory, which is why some famous documents have deliberately been signed aboard a ship. Therefore the census was taken on board ship the same as on land. This does not apply to merchant ships though. Who are you looking for? Maybe we can help?

As I understand it in 1861 a census was taken on all British merchant ships in port or at sea, whether in or outwith British territorial waters. The census form had to be handed in when the ship returned to a British port. These records are available. Suggest you seek further advice from GRO or GROS depending on where you stay. I think these records can also be purchased in CD format. Denis.

I've found Seamen on the 1871 Scottish Census but none on the 1861 - yet, that is! They were on a ferry sailing from Aberdeen to London and the census record was 'filed' in Dundee. From newspaper ads on the sailing I have the date the ship left Aberdeen (at 6pm), the next port of call was Dundee so I expect the census was done then. It was interesting as the Captain and crew of the ferry were listed first, then all the passengers, then the sailors who, although also passengers, are listed together. Wonder if they travelled 'third class' or something? Have you looked on Scotlands people? Christine

I have two brothers on a fishing vessel in harbour in Yarmouth in 1861. One is also listed as being at home in a Norfolk village with his widowed mother, his wife and their two children. The other chap's wife is on her own, listed as 'fisherman's wife'. I also have lots of 'fisherman's wife' women with no sign of husbands at sea or on shore. I think census only applied to those in harbour, otherwise the census would take forever to compile, waiting for ships to come back to Britain.

Oops! Double checked and found it was 1871! But I clicked on 'view enumeration district' for the vessel I found my ancestor on. It was an official form which stated that the census was taken on 2nd April 1871, and that the form must be filled in on morning of 3rd April and handed in to port as soon as poss - in this instance on 12th April. It also gives info about the vessel's use, tonnage, home port etc. nell

List of vessels in 1861 census on Ancestry here: http://content.ancestry*co.uk/Browse/list.aspx?dbid=8767&path=Misc+Ships+at+Sea+or+Abroad.Vessels

Thanks very much everyone, I am new at this so bear with me, I tried the link to vessels at sea but I don't know the name of his vessel. All I have for certain is his marriage certificate 13/11/1862 at Boston Parish church when he was 24 , father Thomas [also a mariner]. He married Ellen Wrigglesworth and they both appear in the 1871/1881 census, still living in Boston, showing him born in Lynn, Norfolk, he is now a fisherman. Mary Whetton on the records board kindly did me a search for him on the 1841/1851 but he wasn't there [nor were his parents]. I have sent for a birth certificate for him on the flimsy evidence I have and hope it's my William. I sent for the only William Hall born in King's Lynn about that time but how else can I be sure it's the correct one as i have no mother's name. Sorry this has turned into a huge ramble but if anyone can help further I would appreciate it. This game is difficult to play !! I'm taking a break now as my brain is cotton wool with all the info you gave me. See you later mc

I have tried all my Family History books links etc and can find no Specific Sailors' Census, but I am slightly puzzled as to why there should be a special Sailors' Census. If sailors were on board ship there was no escape, and they were all there for the duration of the voyage unless one fell overboard or 'jumped ship'! The Captain of every vessel that went to sea, kept strict Ships Logs for every day of the voyage, so there was no real reason for a separate Census. These 'Ships Logs', assuming they have survived the rigours of time, will be found in various places, and you may have to search in more than one place for the one you are after. This will assume that you know the name of the ship that your ancestor was on. Some will be at TNA (The National Archives) and some will be found at Royal Naval Museums in London, Plymouth, Portsmouth and other places. Some will be found at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and some may be found at the Imperial War Museum. Many Merchant Seaman ships logs may well be found at Newfoundland and I suggest a google search for that, in fact a google search for all these places may help you more. For those sailors who were in 'Home Waters' ie around the shores of the UK, on Training Ships, Ferries, Fishing vessels in 'Home Waters', Shore based ships then these will come up on the various census, provided the captain completed the forms!. The 1881 Census CD has a special Royal Naval section and Scottish section which can be accessed separately. However, I understand that these 2 sections of the 1881 Census, which are on the CD, are not available on line through the Family Search(.)org website. However, I see you do already have your ancestor on both 1871 and 1881 Census. The following website has information about Training Ships between 1756 and 1945 and includes the 1881 census records on training ships, plus how to find further records for these vessels. www(.)workhouses(.)org(.)uk(/)trainingships Janet

Ancestry has lists of Merchant and Royal Navy ships on censuses under the title 'Misc ships at sea and abroad' If you know the name of the ship but can't find who you're looking for you can access the whole crew this way. Unfortunately if you don't know the name of the ship and can't find your ancestor listed then it could take a while to check every ship. Sheila

Bernie My Great Grandfather was in the RN and in Uruguay at the time of the 1881 census and the ship is listed on Ancestry Sheila

The following website has some useful guidance on the subject: http://www(.)mariners-l(.)co(.)uk/UKCensuses(.)html Denis

Thanks again everyone I have no idea of his ship's name, or even if he was at sea . It was just that he doesn't appear on the censuses. I will start investigating the many tips and hope I get lucky!! Thanks again Molly