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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: montie on Thursday 17 July 14 01:46 BST (UK)

Title: Merchant Seamen reported voyages - what do the figures mean?
Post by: montie on Thursday 17 July 14 01:46 BST (UK)

Does anyone know the meaning of the figures in this? are they coordinates? I admit I am lost...

thanks in advance for your help

Title: Re: Merchant Seamen reported voyages - what do the figures mean?
Post by: Geoff-E on Thursday 17 July 14 09:26 BST (UK)

Don't the columns have headings?

Title: Re: Merchant Seamen reported voyages - what do the figures mean?
Post by: crowsfeet on Thursday 17 July 14 09:47 BST (UK)

Hi
Columns are:
year
Reported voyages
divided into 2 columns - in & out

Some of the figures will refer to the date of leaving port, but I don't  know all the rest of the info

Regards Crowsfeet

Title: Re: Merchant Seamen reported voyages - what do the figures mean?
Post by: crowsfeet on Thursday 17 July 14 09:49 BST (UK)

Unless it is the registered no. of the vessel?

Title: Re: Merchant Seamen reported voyages - what do the figures mean?
Post by: Ray T on Thursday 17 July 14 13:09 BST (UK)

My guess would be the registration number of the vessel, the date the seaman signed on and the date he was subsequently discharged from the ship.

Title: Re: Merchant Seamen reported voyages - what do the figures mean?
Post by: hsfam on Thursday 17 July 14 13:27 BST (UK)

This might be useful:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/merchant-seamen-RGSS-register-abbreviations.htm

And this:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/merchant-seamen-registers-1835-1857.htm

Title: Re: Merchant Seamen reported voyages - what do the figures mean?
Post by: seaweed on Thursday 17 July 14 19:18 BST (UK)

If you could post the complete document as an attachment or give us your mans name and date of birth so I can look at it in its entirety via FindMyPast, I then may be able to give you some kind of guidance.
Details in the  link http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/merchant-seamen-registers-1835-1857.htm are somewhat confusing to say the least as they have port rotation numbers and port numbers the wrong way round!
All I can tell you at this stage is most the ships he sailed on seem to be registered in the Port of London.