Genealogy Chat

One of my Norfolk sailors is away from home in 1851,1861 and 1871 census. In 1861, he turns up in port at Hull, so check all refs for the names. If they were actually at sea in 1851 they would not be recorded, but would be if on shore or in a harbour, but perhaps not in Norfolk. Jay

Seems that I will have to visit some churchyards and have a look. Jennie

Hi, Deaths at sea like my gt gt gt grandfather are not certified unless a body is found. Some deaths at sea are recorded at Kew but not my John who was commemorated on his wife's gravestone in Lowestoft thus - Sacred to the memory of John Tyrrell who was unfortunately drowned during the gale May 28, 1860 aged 63 years. Gwynne

There are various accidents on a website http://www.ean*co*uk/Bygones/History but do not always give names. Is it possible to find out about deaths at sea-other than the dreaded certs. Jennie

Interestingly, my dad told me a story he must have got from his dad, born Norfolk 1876. His dad was one of 8 brothers. 5 of them became policemen in London and the reason was that the only occupations available in Norfolk at the time were ag labbing, which didn't pay well and was in decline, and fishing. Their mother didn't want them to go fishing as she had lost her father and several brothers in a fishing accident at sea. Now, the thing is, the mother was an illegitimate only child, who as far as I know didn't know who her father was and certainly didn't have any brothers. So I assumed it must be another set of relatives, but have not found that any of my fishing lot died at sea or in an accident. I am wondering if it was just an accident involving a lot of members of the same family (though not ours) which put gt granny off the idea. nell

If they are in port they will be recorded, but generally not. I have several Norfolk fishermen who are not on the census, but then again, I have a chap recorded twice on the same census - once on his fishing vessel in port at Yarmouth and once at home with his wife & children!

Thanks, that accounts for half the men in Yarmouth then! Jennie

Hi, Fishermen at sea were not recorded in the 1851 census. Gwynne

I have Robert Balls in 1841census born 1833 and John Balls 1839 in Yarmouth Can't find any of the family in 1851. It is thought that Robert senior died in a fishing accident, therefore Ann Balls may have remarried by 1851. The two sons were fishermen, so-if they were at sea on census night would they be recorded please? They are there again in 1861. Jennie

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