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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Gloucestershire => Topic started by: lengramar on Thursday 08 June 06 14:39 BST (UK)

Title: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: lengramar on Thursday 08 June 06 14:39 BST (UK)
Hi,

I could do with some help, does anyone know where I can get information for an ancestor that was on board this ship. The details I have are his name was Thomas Fethney b. 1878 in Manchester and apparently sent to the training ship about 1890/1891 as he appears in the 1891 census aboard the vessel as "under detention". I have information about the ship and why it was moored of Portishead but its this individual I'm looking for.

Any info that anyone can supply would be great.

Regards,  Graham
Title: Re: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: Arranroots on Wednesday 21 June 06 17:20 BST (UK)
Hi Graham

sorry you have not had a reply to this.

Is there anything you can add that might help us?

Thomas FETHNEYs seem to be thin on the ground in the 1881 census and none of the variant spellings looks even close.  It sounds as though he must have been destitute or naughty to have been on the ship, so if you could determine where he was in his younger youth, it might help come up with the reason for his detention.

Have you tried to obtain the records quoted on this site?

http://www.missing-ancestors.com/formidable_industrial_school_ship%20Portishead%20Info%20page.htm

Records    PRO 45/9898/B18641    1869-95 - PRO 45/9532/41970  1895

Hoping to help

kind regards, Arranroots  ;)

p.s. Another site mentions:

Quote
Surviving records of BTS Formidable and the National Nautical School have been deposited at the Bristol Record Office .

Title: Re: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: Arranroots on Wednesday 21 June 06 17:33 BST (UK)
Hi Graham

Thanks for your PM

Can you explain how this man is connected to your family?  I am beginning to wonder if it is a made-up name, LOL!

A  ;)
Title: Re: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: liverpool annie on Wednesday 21 June 06 17:50 BST (UK)


As a lot of young men went on to be in the Royal and Merchant Navy - you might want to try this - worth a look - maybe you can try different spellings !!  :)

The Royal Navy service records 1853-1923 (date of enlistment)

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/

and you get date & place of birth from the index search

Annie  :)
Title: Re: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: Billiejo on Wednesday 21 June 06 17:53 BST (UK)
Is there any navy records after 1923 and if so where would one look?
Title: Re: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: liverpool annie on Wednesday 21 June 06 17:56 BST (UK)


Hi Billiejo !

This has links explaining how to obtain more recent Service Records for Army, RAF, Royal Marine and Royal Navy personnel.

http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/service_recs/service_recs.htm

Annie  :)
Title: Re: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: sooty126 on Tuesday 29 September 09 11:59 BST (UK)
Hi I can Help I have access to the records of the nautical school and I am also the administratr for BTS Formidable on Multiply
sooty126
Title: Re: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: Arranroots on Tuesday 29 September 09 13:14 BST (UK)
Hi Sooty126

Welcome to Rootschat - we love to have new members and especially those who offer help in their very first post!

I hope that the OP will get back to you soon but meanwhile, feel free to look around and if there's anything we can help you with please shout.  There's an Armed Forces board which might be of interest, even if you aren't doing your own family history.

Kind regards, Arranroots  ;)
Title: Re: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: davew on Sunday 04 October 09 00:46 BST (UK)
Wasn't there a training ship for young offenders around Bristol  called the Formidable,as I have a relative who was naughty and was sent to it sometime around the 1890's he was from Cheshire,I did see a list on the internet with names of the people on board,can't remember if it was a census list and sorry can't remember the link  .
Title: Re: "Training Ship Formidable"
Post by: lizb on Sunday 25 October 09 13:08 GMT (UK)
http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/formidable.htm

http://www.trainingships.royalnavy.co.uk/formidhistory.htm

The Training Ship Formidable was a ship for detained youngsters.

The first  link shows a picture and details of when it was at Bristol in an earlier period and lists the boys on it.
The second gives a more general history.

Boys, often quite young and sometimes from good families, were sent to these shops for trivial reasons, often just to keep them off the streets and make sure they got some sort of education. I had a relative in Bristol who was sent to the training shop Akbar for 5 years in 1900 for being part of a gang of boys who stole a tin of condensed milk.

It's interesting the social history this research turns up.

lizb