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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: deebee47 on Thursday 29 December 11 20:43 GMT (UK)

Title: Merchant Navy
Post by: deebee47 on Thursday 29 December 11 20:43 GMT (UK)
My Great Grandfather, William Ernest Hogarth BLOIS served as a Master Mariner in the Merchant Navy most his life. He was born 1867 in Wivenhoe, Essex. I know of only three ships he worked on, Lady of Clennel in 1913, Rainbow in 1915 and Sorcerer in 1921. I would love to know more about this man, so any advice, help would be much appreciated. I have tried certain ancestry sites but to no avail.

Deebee47
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: Roobarb on Thursday 29 December 11 21:09 GMT (UK)
Deebee, I'm no expert on this but from my own experience I think the only way to find sustantial Merchant Navy records is to visit the National Archives. You do have a good start on this as you already have information about the some of the ships he worked on. Crew lists and ship's logs are held at TNA.

The Crewlist Index Project site may help:
http://www.crewlist.org.uk/

I'm sure some other Rootschatters will be able to advise you, there are some very knowledgeable people on here.

Good luck  :)
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: bearkat on Thursday 29 December 11 21:10 GMT (UK)
Some Merchant Navy records are on Findmypast.
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: pembsgal on Thursday 29 December 11 21:12 GMT (UK)
I used find my past to get merchant naval records, also the national archives have some.
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: Roobarb on Thursday 29 December 11 21:13 GMT (UK)
Just checked, your William Blois has a record on Find My Past crew lists for 1891.

Forgot to say, welcome to Rootschat!  :)
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: deebee47 on Thursday 29 December 11 23:38 GMT (UK)
Thanks so much for all this so far.
I have managed to get a little information from findmypast, but not much at all.

Thanks again everyone

Deebee47
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: Roobarb on Friday 30 December 11 00:31 GMT (UK)
Seaweed is something of an expert on this, perhaps he'll be able to help when next online  :)
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: seaweed on Friday 30 December 11 01:10 GMT (UK)
I have a lead on him
BLOIS, William Ernest Hogarth b. Wivenhoe 1866  Certificate 002725 London 1908 Steamships.
A little late in the evening but I will get back to you.
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: bowman on Friday 30 December 11 09:10 GMT (UK)
Hi, a quick makeover for him

Bowman
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: deebee47 on Friday 30 December 11 09:28 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the makeover Bowman. He looks better already.

And look forward to hearing from you seaweed if there is more on the info you have.

Thanks

Deebee47

Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: OLDSEADOG on Friday 30 December 11 09:50 GMT (UK)
You could try www.shipsnostalgia.com a LOT OF  GOOD INFO IS available there


Best

Ex M.N.
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: seaweed on Friday 30 December 11 20:20 GMT (UK)
Nice touch, Bowman.

Deebee 47. Could you tell me what information you have had from FindMyPast. Also where did you get the information he sailed on  LADY OF CLENNELL, RAINBOW and SORCERER.
His certificate of Competency and Service was number 002725 he passed in 1908 in London
This record should be at the National Archives at Kew.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=3903191&SearchInit=4&SearchType=6&CATREF=BT+123%2F2
This should give details of his entire seagoing career as a Master and Mate.

NMM Greenwich should have the original certificate when he passed the examination. I understand they are closed to enquiries until March  2012.

Another source would be Lloyd's Captains register held at London Metropolitan Archives Try this reference Ms 18568/1-15B as he appears not to have and records in Ms 18567/1-87
Read this very informative leaflet
http://217.154.230.218/NR/rdonlyres/52B4EE6E-839D-49C3-9E98-6979248D6FBF/0/50LLOYDSOFLONDONCAPTAINSREGISTERSANDRELATEDSOURCES.pdf

I have found the whereabouts of some crew agreements. Would you be interested in these?
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: deebee47 on Friday 30 December 11 20:39 GMT (UK)
Hi Seaweed.
The information from FindMyPast is shown on the attached dated 14 may 1928. I also gathered the crew info you advised me on.
The three ships, Lady of Clennel, Rainbow and Sorcerer are from the attached, although not to clear a copy that was sent to me years ago.
I also have a poor copy of a part certificate that shows dates of passing as 1904, 1907 qnd 1908.
I have nearly completed my book but would love to get more info on my Great Great grandfather so any crew agreements or anything would be most helpful.
And I shall follow up your suggestions. If you fancy a look at the online book let me have your email and i will link it.

Many many thanks Seaweed.

Deebee47
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: seaweed on Friday 30 December 11 21:54 GMT (UK)
I am coming to the conclusion that he became a Specialist.  A Master of rich men's steam yachts. Official number 112803 ARPHA (which is given on the CR2 card) was owned in 1928 by the RT Hon W E Guinness and registered in Cowes IOW.
Are there any numbers on the back of the CR2 card?
I note you have recieved a reply on the SN board. The information posted is freely obtainable from "Ancestry" The vessel mentioned there, KALLISTO was also a steam yacht.

Did you look at the Crew lists on FindMyPast. He is listed on there for a voyage in 1891

Crew agrements and logbooks are always indexed via O/N

Crew agreement 1921 SORCERER official number 144908
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=144908&txtfirstdate=&txtlastdate=&txtrestriction=&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=15&image1.y=15
112803 ARPHA 1928
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=3177894&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2C112803&accessmethod=0

148596 KALLISTO 1929
http://www.mun.ca/mha/holdings/viewcombinedcrews.php?Official_No=148596

No crew agreements for the date in question
LADY OF CLENNELL
 RAINBOW 108728 1915
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=3177063&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2C108728&accessmethod=0
Title: Re: Merchant Navy
Post by: deebee47 on Saturday 31 December 11 10:53 GMT (UK)
Hi Seaweed
This is all helping to get a good picture of his life at sea.
There was nothing on the  back of that card by the way.
I will dig into the references you have forwarded me and see what happens.
I have tried to get some pics of these craft he worked on but to no avail.

Thanks again

Deebee