Genealogy Chat

This is probably a stupid question BUT - Does anyone know if the crew of a ship registered in England, would be on the census's even if at sea? I have a rellie who seems to disappear for half his life, so wondered if this was the reason!

I think the crew is only listed if the ship is in dock. nell

Thanks Nell - I thought that this was probably the case! No chance of finding him then if he was at sea :-( regards Allie x

Allie I was lucky, but I thought I was seeing double. I have an ancestor registered on 1861 census at home AND on a fishing vessel in port. I suppose both places were worried he'd be missed off. So I don't actually know where he was on census night. I assume he was on the boat and his wife put him down as being at home as he was the Head of the Household. It makes up for his father who kindly is away from home in 1841 and 1851 (supposedly a railway labourer, though goodness knows which railway as he's nowhere to be seen) and then conveniently dies in 1858. nell

Hi Nell Your'e lucky - I can't even find a death for mine! Am trying Ellis Island etc but not much luck so far - if he was ship's crew he wouldn't supposedly have entered through there! Thanks Allie x

Hi Allie, I had one chap who is present in 41, 51 & 61 and then disappearded without a trace - no sign of him in 71, 81 or 91. Last week he turned up in 1901. He was then aged 71 and had a Prussian wife, a son allegedly born in Russia and a son & daughter both born in Germany. Interspersed amongst those 3 are another 2 daughters born in London. Have checked & rechecked the 3 missing censi and there is no trace of any of them, so it really does seem that they were all out of the country at the time census was taken. Thank goodness he made it to being 71yrs old! Jay

Hi Janet Your story gives me hope! It just goes to show that our ancesters weren't neccessarily stuck in the same place all the time! My Gt Grandfather was a 'cook' so there was the possibility that his services would have been required on board a ship, which could explain his disappearance. Unfortunately I can't find my man on the 1901, but I live in hope he will turn up somewhere..... Allie x

I know how you feel I have the same problem with someone born approx 1870 stated on his sons birth cert as ships cook but have great trouble tracing any further details of him. It's a pain...no marriage details either! (Probably the same chap!)

Royal Navy ships were listed at where the ship was stationed if they are abroad. One of my ancestors was in Monte Video in 1881 which was covering the SE coast of America. Sheila