Genealogy Chat

Thanks for the advice. I have asked for help from folk on the Cheshire list and while we have not found Eddie Dean, we have put a few other pieces of my jigsaw together. I have also written to my American cousin to see if there is any other info. I will get to the bottom of this if its the last thing I do!! Oh as to the sailor suit, I am pretty sure it was not a school thing. As a lot of the family had fishermen backgrounds its quite possible he was in the navy, but also i think there was a training ship in the Mersey so thats another avenue to persue! Thanks again

Hello Barbara, just a thought could you not ask someone to look at the naval records at Kew for a certain period of time or give them a ring to see what they could suggest! They are very helpful. Eileen

I wonder if, as Jane suggests, he was wearing "naval uniform" for the photograph. The only time hatbands had only "HMS" on them was in wartime, so if the ship was sunk by enemy action it could not be identified by wreckage etc. At all other times it would show HMS followed by the name of the ship. I don't think there were any wars on at that time ? My great grandfather was on HMS Impregnable in 1901 & the Census shows him as such, with all his fellow sailors. I have checked the list & can't see your relative there. Pat

Hi Rosemary the mystery continues as in 1891 Thomas was 10 months and living with an aunt and uncle in Hoylake. The father was in the marital home in Rock Ferry and the mother disappeared off the face of the earth. She died in Eastham in 1892 but searches of the 1891 census for there have not been helpful. And of course there is no sign of Eddie Dean. I do know that Samuel Deans brother lived in Aston Cheshire, and that his wife was the cousin of Ada the mother. Eddie is not living with them in 1901, but I have not yet looked at 1891 for that area as my library only has the Wirral records. The boy in the photo I have is in a sailors suit but he has one of those faces so he could be anything from 14 upwards to 30! The picture was taken in Chester at State Studio 15 Foregate Street Chester if that means anything to anyone?

HI Allan I just spotted the vessel choice in the 1901 and hit search but to no avail. After looking at births, I am guessing he was born in 1885 so would have been in the navy proper. I should have put seaman in the title realy, but my brain was stil asleep when I post! I've tried Eddie and Ed and E with no joy. Its a shame as I am doing this for an old lady in America. All she has is a photo of this man and a note her mother wrote that he was her uncle. Even though its not my mystery, I have spent months trying to discover if this man really existed! Does anyone know if there is a site that helps you trace people in the navy? Barbara

Barbara You can search for ships on both the 1881 and the 1901 census providing you know the name of the ship. Edward would have to be older than 14yrs to be in the Royal navy. From your description he would not be more senior than a Petty Officer but more likely to be a seaman at that age. (Able seaman or Ordinary seaman). It could be a school uniform he is wearing or Sunday best. Children were often dressed as little adults at this time. Allan

I am going mad trying to find someone I am not sure even exists. I have a picture of him in a naval uniform, just the usual sailor boy suit and on his hat it says HMS though sadly nothing more. If you were in the navy when the 1901 census was taken place, how would you be found? Would you still show up or is there another place you have to look for these people? Hi name is Edward Dean and I have been told he is older than his brother Thomas Dean who was born in 1890. I have a feeling he is a half brother as his father was a widower when Thomas mother married him in 1889 Thing is Toms mum died in 1892 and so Tom is living with family in Hoylake in 1901 while his dad is on a farm in Cheshire. I realise this is more of a trying to find but if other people might be looking for chaps in the navy, then its a tip as well. Can anyone give me a clue as to where to look?