Genealogy Chat

Are there CD's available covering the census years that has ships of the men serving in the Royal navy. Alot of my ancestors were in the Navy and usually not in port. I know ships in Portsmouth are in the LDS 1881 census but am interested in 91 and 1901, especially the 1891 census.

Nudge. .....I'm sure someone must know the answer to this.Joan

I'd like to know about the Royal Navy as well. Did it say in the census' if the man was in the Navy?

There are certainly in-port 1901 census records - I know' cos a gt-uncle's-generation cousin is recorded there. I think there's actually a ships section of you look at options. You search for the name in the usual way - i.e. with as many wildcards as you can get away with and then, if it doesn't come up at first, trying to imagine how someone with only moderate knowledge of English, the British Isles, or our local (rather than world) history, would read 19th century copperplate script. Christine

nudge

Hi guys, I too am trying to find Naval Records. My Dad was in the RN from c1943 until completing his service, and as he died when I was almost 3 yrs old I'm particularly interested in finding out anything to do with him. I first of all tried the National Archives, and clicked on a link to someone on there, as I couldn't find records for 1939. He wrote back to me and suggested I contact the MOD, with all the information I have (very little) and request a 'kinship form'. He said that once that was completed, and they had written to me with his service dates/ships etc., to contact him again, and he would be able to find diary entries etc. In fact, this is what it said exactly: "MOD will probably ask you to complete a ‘kinship’ form and I believe that they will release WW2 personal records to surviving next of kin. Their response should include a detailed list of dates, ships and places where your ancestor served during WW2. From the MOD reply, I can then follow the events and find copies of the unit’s war diaries which is information that is not available in MOD." I did this, and the MOD sent me the relevant forms, but you have to pay £25 before they will search, and this fee is non-refundable even if they don't find any records. They told me that for the years I'm interested in there are very few ships etc listed, and so I may not get very much at all back. Nevertheless, I am going to pursue it, when I get some money! <geez, this lark is SO expensive> If you would like to write to the MOD the information is Ministry of Defence NPP(ACS)1A(1), Room 1067 Centurion Bldg, Grange Road Gosport Hampshire They were very prompt in replying, but I included a SAE for them. If anyone wants to mail me directly, I'll scan what the letter from them says exactly, and send it to you as it's quite lengthy. Good luck, and if any of you find a Thomas Melchisadech Allen, born 1924, Born Crook, but living in Stockport when he joined up, serving as a Leading Seaman from c1943, then please get in touch. best wishes Ri

OH, BTW, HOW do you find the Navy on the Census? Ri

If you're researching Navy folks - or any other maritime info - you might find this site useful: http://www.angelfire.*com/de/BobSanders/Site.html (remove asterisk) It has LOTS of links and general info. there's this: http://www.nmm.ac.uk/memorials/AdvancedSearch.cfm and this (which I haven't actually used, but was recommended on one of these threads) http://www.shipsnostalgia.*com/ Christine