RootsChat.Com

England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cornwall => Topic started by: mrs.family on Wednesday 25 January 23 20:16 GMT (UK)

Title: Cornish seamen
Post by: mrs.family on Wednesday 25 January 23 20:16 GMT (UK)

hi,
I've come across some family who moved  to Cornwall and became variously *coastguards * Royal Navy personnel *master mariners.
Could some kind soul point me in the direction of a Cornish seaman's list or somesuch? If it exists?
Although I'm used to dealing with Welsh mariners, Cornwall is new territory for me......
many thanks Elaine

Title: Re: Cornish seamen
Post by: Wayne N on Wednesday 25 January 23 20:48 GMT (UK)

There are a few mariner resources here:
www.opc-cornwall.org/Structure/resources.php

eg:
British Army & Navy Baptisms in Cornwall 1814-1879
British Army & Navy Marriages in Cornwall 1730-1919
British Army & Navy Deaths of Cornish-born
Masters & Mates Certs for Cornish-born men 1850-1927
Royal Navy Registers of Cornish Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 and Naval Officer & Rating Service Records 1802-1919 (large file)
Merchant Seamen deaths WW2
Royal Naval Reserve Casualties 1730-1960 (Cornish Districts)


Also searching the Royal Cornwall Gazette might be worth a look, if you know the seaman's name
Here's an example of one transcribed on opc-cornwall.org, but you would probably be better off using British Newspaper Archive (maybe FindmyPast?) to research all the entries in the Gazettes

https://www.opc-cornwall.org/deaths/gunwalloe_death_unidentified_seaman_1869.pdf

Title: Re: Cornish seamen
Post by: mrs.family on Wednesday 25 January 23 21:44 GMT (UK)

That's great, many thanks Waynenort!

Title: Re: Cornish seamen
Post by: Little Nell on Thursday 26 January 23 21:30 GMT (UK)

Not just specific to Cornwall, but coastguards can be traced through the Establishment Books and related items at the National Archives.  Many of the files have been digitised and are available free to download (be warned - they are very large).  Check out the Research Guides on the website here:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/coastguard-officers/
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/coastguard-records/

This one will help you with the digital microfilm records.

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/free-online-records-digital-microfilm/

There is also an index for coastguards and their families in the census here:

https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/Coastguards

This is often useful for checking where the coastguards went for their various postings by listing the birth places of the children.

Nell

Title: Re: Cornish seamen
Post by: mrs.family on Friday 27 January 23 08:25 GMT (UK)

Thanks Little Nell,
I've started checking TNA but not got far - this will energise me!
 Elaine