Genealogy Chat

Hi Heather, Yes it is true what you say - am just quite disheartened at present as it has been a long search with no information on him being found . Victoria Hi Peter, Over here in Sth Aust he was listed as a steward on his marriage cert and death cert. Listed as a mariner on one of his children's birth cert. Thanks Victoria

If he left for oz in the latter part of your date range he could of paid his own way or been some form of offiicial for any number of organistions. What was he there it could give you a clue.

Victoria, dont cast aspersions on your poor ancestor! He was very likely at sea for the census nights. Only ships in port were recorded.

This is another useful site for you: http://www.angelfire.*com/de/BobSanders/Site.html (remove asterisk) Christine

Hi, Thanks for your replies. The trouble is this ancestor wasn't a master .....in later years he was working as a steward. At some stage he set out from Middlesex England and came to Sth Aust. I really wish that he had stayed in England with the rest of his family! as I am not getting anywhere trying to trace him. I only know he is on the census for England 1871 (aged 10 years) His family is on the 1881, 1901 but he is not. He reappears in 1888 married in Sth Aust. From 1871-1888 he is missing....maybe he was in goal? goodness knows. Victoria

Wendy, is it possible to do a search of Surnames?? I might be on the wrong page.

I have many ancestors who went to sea. In the early 1800's they were apprenticed at aged 14 or 15. You need to look at Lloyd's register of shipping which records the ships and masters. [try in google] Masters had to be registered in 1850 when the Mercantile Marine Act came into force. If your ancestor was an ordinary seaman, that is more difficult. What do you know of them, and where? PS I know that one of my ancestors, usually correct in the info he gave, lied when he joined the Royal Navy in 1875. He gave d.o.b. 1st Dec 1859. I have his birth certificate [ I only questioned this because his parents married Oct 1860]. His birth cert shows he was b. 1st Dec 1860. This suggest to me that boys had to be 15 to join up, so he lied!

If you know who they married, you can look for the wife & family in the census.

Victoria here is a great site that may lead you in the right direction http://rmhh.*co.uk/mariners.html Christine (remember to remove the *)

Hi, Has anyone had any success in finding their ancestors who were seamen. At what age would a boy/man go to sea? The period between 1871-1888 are the approx years I am looking at. Appreciate any suggestions... Victoria