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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: kargil on Sunday 04 May 08 21:59 BST (UK)

Title: 1871 naval census
Post by: kargil on Sunday 04 May 08 21:59 BST (UK)
any help here please?
Have found out that the reason I cannot find one of my relatives in 1871 is that he, George Bentley, was a bandsman onboard HMS Rattlesnake in the Ashanti War.

The George Bentley awarded the naval medal had the following particulars. Born in Canterbury on the 10 of December 1839. (This confirms the George Bentley recorded in the Army Chaplain’s Registers as having been born at Canterbury.) Enlisted into the Navy on the 26 of October 1866. His height was 5’ 6”, dark complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair, and his trade, that of a Musician. He served aboard the “Flora” until the 2 of May 1869 and then in the “Rattlesnake” from the 3 of July 1869 until the 25 of March 1874, when he was “Discharged ashore, paid off.” His rank was Bandsman and his number 667343. His conduct was shown as “very good,” and being in possession of one G.C. badge.

Would a census have been done on a ship??? Would his wife be with him onboard? (I can't find her 'at home')

Anyone able to help?
Title: Re: 1871 naval census
Post by: PaulineJ on Sunday 04 May 08 22:07 BST (UK)

Census only done if the ship was overnight in a UK port.

Pauline
Title: Re: 1871 naval census
Post by: kargil on Sunday 04 May 08 22:11 BST (UK)
Aaah - I see!
Thanks a lot for your quick reply.
Title: Re: 1871 naval census
Post by: Kymbear22 on Friday 18 March 16 12:59 GMT (UK)
There was a Census completed for HMS Rattlesnake, a George Bentley is on the list/#2/Bandsman. My Great Grandfather was an associate of George's and is #1 on that list.

Census record: GBC_1871_5784_0125 HMS Rattlesnake.jpg
Title: Re: 1871 naval census
Post by: stanmapstone on Friday 18 March 16 13:27 GMT (UK)

Census only done if the ship was overnight in a UK port.

Pauline

From 1861 the Royal Navy were issued with special naval schedules, both in home waters and abroad. From 1871 the returns for naval vessels at sea or in foreign waters are at the end of the record series, those in British ports are at the end of the household returns for the registration district in which the port lay.

Stan
Title: Re: 1871 naval census
Post by: stanmapstone on Friday 18 March 16 13:43 GMT (UK)
HMS Rattlesnake starts at RG10 Piece 5784 Folio 75 Page 1 and George Bentley is on Piece 5784  Folio 79 Page 10 transcribed as George Bensley on Ancestry. http://www.rootschat.com/links/01hab/

Stan