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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: ptdrifter on Sunday 18 August 24 20:02 BST (UK)

Title: Finding a mariner
Post by: ptdrifter on Sunday 18 August 24 20:02 BST (UK)
I have a possible relative listed as a mariner, in the late 1790s to early 1810's. Does anyone know of any resources where I can find out more info on his career and whereabouts?
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: Ashtone on Sunday 18 August 24 20:42 BST (UK)
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/feature/the-6-best-websites-for-tracing-your-merchant-navy-family-history\

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/merchant-navy-ships-records-crew-lists-musters-and-log-books/

ADDED

https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/military/how-find-royal-navy-service-records


Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: ptdrifter on Sunday 18 August 24 21:23 BST (UK)
Thanks Ashtone
I'll shall look at both those links.
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: Bookbox on Sunday 18 August 24 22:24 BST (UK)
Both the links given above are for the Merchant Navy. Bear in mind that your man may have been in the Royal Navy, especially in the period 1790-1815, when England was at war with France.

What sources do you have that describe him as a mariner, and where did he live?
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: ptdrifter on Monday 19 August 24 07:11 BST (UK)
He was called John Baptista Bush. B abt 1766 . He lived in Stepney and Shadwell. He was listed as a Mariner in his children's baptisms and also he appears in Old Bailey records as a mariner. (He bailed the person involved)
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: brigidmac on Monday 19 August 24 09:08 BST (UK)
Check " deaths at sea "

This often includes deaths in other countries

I've forgotten how to find the section but it is on ancestry
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: ptdrifter on Monday 19 August 24 09:15 BST (UK)
Thanks Brigid
I found his burial on 14 Aug 1833 in Wycliffe Congregational Church. I am trying to find his whereabouts in specifically 1815 to see if he could be  the father of one of my ancestors.
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: JMB1943 on Wednesday 21 August 24 18:15 BST (UK)
Bear in mind that “mariner” was also routinely used to describe a coastal fisherman.

Regards,

JMB
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: martin hooper on Wednesday 21 August 24 18:37 BST (UK)
Seaman was the term usually applied to Royal Navy sailors.

Martin
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: ptdrifter on Wednesday 21 August 24 19:22 BST (UK)
Looking at the available sites/records it doesn't look likely I'll find my man. 1815 seems to be too early for enough detail to include names.
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: BushInn1746 on Wednesday 21 August 24 20:02 BST (UK)
He was called John Baptista Bush. B abt 1766 . He lived in Stepney and Shadwell. He was listed as a Mariner in his children's baptisms and also he appears in Old Bailey records as a mariner. (He bailed the person involved)

There is a Baptism of that name in your quote in 1805:-

Father's name minus Bush. Possibly Bush may come from his Mother's side?

Not seen original record, but worth checking?

I'd put the details up, but it is Copyrighted by ...
Copyright London Docklands Records Ltd

Transcribed by f m p

John Baptista Bush
Baptism date given
Age in days given
Father given
Mother given
Home Address given
Church address given
 ----------

See also New Parish Records for London's Docklands
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/new-parish-records-londons-docklands

It might be worth asking the Greenwich Museum / Archives about surviving Muster Rolls, as many Mariners were not in the Navy?

Hull History Centre have a full collection from 1747 onwards, but your chap's vessel would have to have used Hull as his Port.

Each Muster Roll volume is extensive (large and several 100 pages)!
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: ptdrifter on Wednesday 21 August 24 20:21 BST (UK)
Hi BushInn
Yes that's the man, his wife was Mary Ann Dove, the baptism is for one of their sons , also called John Baptista Bush.
The couple had 4 children born and  baptised in 1802 1805 1806 and 1812.  I'm looking for a person born 1815, a Joseph John Bush who claims to have been born in Genoa Harbour in 1815 and by dates and names this family looked worth looking into.
He named one of his sons  Joseph John Anthony Baptista!
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: BushInn1746 on Wednesday 21 August 24 20:33 BST (UK)
I don't know anything about this organisation / website ... but found this on the web.

Looking for information on relatives who emigrated from the port of Genoa

https://www.portsofgenoa.com/en/other-topics/discover-the-port/emigration-history-from-genoa/searching-for-emigrated-parents-from-genoa.html
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: BushInn1746 on Wednesday 21 August 24 20:41 BST (UK)
From Family Search

https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Genoa,_Liguria,_Italy_Genealogy

Civil Registration began in 1796
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Italy,_Genova,_Civil_Registration_(State_Archive)_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records

Perhaps making enquiries to see what other records are held and where.
 ----------

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_aq=Port%20London&_ep=Port&_cr=BT%7CCUST&_dss=range&_sd=1746&_ed=1820&_ro=any&_st=adv

The Muster Rolls in the BT (Board of Trade) Series are incomplete.

There are a few Muster Rolls in the Customs records in the CUST Series, many don't survive.

They will only give an age, but many give an Abode place and a Birth place (town), too.

BT 98 (but none for London Port in BT 98)
They only bound the Muster Sheets they decided to keep at the time, into Volumes.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r/6?_cr=BT%2098&_dss=range&_sd=1746&_ed=1820&_ro=any&_st=adv
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: ptdrifter on Wednesday 21 August 24 20:47 BST (UK)
Thanks for those links I'll look into the ports of Genoa site.
Unfortunately there are gaps in the Family search records , and I can find nothing in 1815.
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: Ashtone on Wednesday 21 August 24 21:02 BST (UK)
When did he Mary Ann Dove?  Have you seen the Oct 1794 marriage?
Bride's name is transcribed as "Cat'e CUZHANNAH"
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: ptdrifter on Wednesday 21 August 24 21:15 BST (UK)
He married Mary Ann in 1797.
Catherine Cuzhannah was a widow when he married her in 1794, and he was a widower when he married Mary Ann Dove in 1797
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: Ashtone on Wednesday 21 August 24 21:39 BST (UK)
I'm looking for a person born 1815, a Joseph John Bush who claims to have been born in Genoa Harbour in 1815

Did he marry twice?  I note wife Caroline (nee Cave) in the 1841-1861 census records.

However, in 1874, his wife is Sarah. As per a highway robbery made on the couple in Feb 1874.

If Joseph and Sarah married you could always look for (or purchase) the marriage record. Just to see who he names as his father.
Title: Re: Finding a mariner
Post by: ptdrifter on Thursday 22 August 24 06:57 BST (UK)
I was hoping to find a marriage after I found that article, but no luck. Not sure if he remarried or not.