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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: SnowyHog on Sunday 06 July 25 11:24 BST (UK)
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Hello,
I was wondering if anyone could help with deciphering the attached writing. 7th box across. Its from a birth certificate in 1843, of Henrietta Pulling. I believe her Dad was in the Royal Navy, and may have died shortly there after as his wife remarries in 1845. I cant find anything on the GRO as of yet. Her father was called Henry Pulling. He is listed on pay musters, but no further info after 1842 I think.
I can make out Seaman and possibly HM and then what looks like H something and what looks like a word begining with L underneath.
Thanks in advance.
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possibly:
Seaman
H.M. Steamer Cormorant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Cormorant_(1842)
Boo
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Many thanks for that, that looks like it could be it alright. I never would have thought of a Steamer.
It was sent to the Pacific, so if anthing happened to Henry it was probably far from home, but word got back, as his wife remarried.
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26 November 1842: Morning Advertiser
Woolwich
The Cormorant steam-vessel has had her engines fitted by Fairbairn and Co., and left for Sheerness on Monday.
29 April 1843: Hampshire Advertiser
The Cormorant, steam ship, Commander Gordon, is fitting out at Chatham...
8 May 1843: Sun (London)
Portsmouth
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Gunnery seaman were on Wednesday sent to the eastward in the Meteor steamer, for the Cormorant steam rigate, and the Castor and Curacoa frigates.
24 May 1843: London Evening Standard
Portsmouth
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The Cormorant steam frigate, Commander G. J. Gordon, fitting at Woolwich, is ordered to this port, previous to her departure for foreign service.
8 June 1843: Globe
The Cormorant steam-frigate, Commander G. J. Gordon, is rapidly completing her equipment at Sheerness. She will have in her armament two new pivot guns, 42-pounders of 84 cwt. each, with two 68-pounders of 65 cwt. each. It appears, that the 42-pounders weigh more than the 68 by a ton each, but the eficiency of these guns consists in their construction, by which they are enabled to send a shot to a much greater distance. It has been proved that a shell from the 42-pounder is equally efficient as a shell from the 68-pounder.
15 June 1843: Morning Herald (London)
The Cormorant steam-frigate, Captain Gordon, has been ordered to come up from Sheerness to Woolwich, to embark Mr. Adams and his suite, who is proceeding to South America in a diplomatic capacity. The Cormorant is a new vessel, one of Sir William Symonds’ building. She appears a perfect picture on the water, and is a beautiful specimen of a war-steamer. She is quite ready for sea, having been ably and efficiently fitted in the detail of her equipment under the immediate superintendence of the experienced officer who commands her. She is fitted with Mr. Holdsworth’s water bulk-heads, similar to those in the royal yacht.
10 July 1843: Sun (London)
PORTSMOUTH, SATURDAY, JULY 8.—The Cormorant steam-frigate, Commander Gordon, arrived yesterday from Woolwich, and sailed this morning at daylight for South America, touching at Plymouth.
17 July 1843: Sun (London)
The Cormorant, steam frigate, for the Brazils and Pacific, is detained at Plymouth, and will require at least 10 days to make alterations for the comfort of her crew, it having been found, in going round to Plymouth, that from some mal-arrangement, the heat from the engine-room was oppressively injurious to them.— Some system of ventilation is to be tried to alter the inconvenience.
24 July 1843: Hampshire Chronicle
The Cormorant steam ship. Commander Gordon left Plymouth on Sunday, direct for Rio de Janeiro, having on board Mr. Adams, Special Minister to Buenos Ayres, and dispatches for the Commanders in Chief. The Fisgard, Capt Duntze, sailed on Monday for the same destination.
2 December 1843: West Kent Guardian
The Curacoa, 24 guns, Captain Sir Thomas Pasley, bart., is at Rio de Janeiro. It is reported in a letter received bere from her, dated the 17th of September, that she is ordered to cruize round the Horn of the Southern Ocean. Her Majesty's ship Fisgard, 42 guns, Captain J. A. Danbye, is also lying at Rio de Janeiro, refitting preparatory to her going also round the Horn. The Cormorant steam-vessel of 6 guns, Commander G. T. Gordon, is at the above harbour: she has completed taking in her coals, and sails also for the same destination.
22 April 1844: Morning Herald (London)
The Cormorant, steam-sloop, Commander Gordon, arrived at Callao, from Arica, on the 6th January.
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From the Royal Navy allotment books available on FindMyPast there are 3 relevant entries for the period 1835 - 1845: two in the name of Able Seaman Henry Pulling and one in the name Quartermaster1 George Henry Pulling. Both of these men marry someone named Emily in Kingston Church, Portsmouth on 17 October 1837 and since there is only one marriage recorded which fits, namely Henry Pulling to Emily Westcott Qtr 4 1837 Portsea Island Vol7 Page 224, they must be the same person.
In the first entry dated 1 August 1836, able seaman Henry Pulling serving in HMS Bonetta (launched the previous year) makes an allotment to his mother Charlot Pulling then living at 13 Eden Row, Portsea.
On 21 March 1838 able seaman Henry is now part of the crew of HMS Royal George (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Royal_George_(1827)) and makes a new allotment in favour of wife Emily then living at 46 Abercrombie Street, Landfort, Portsea.
On 1 September 1842 quartermaster George Henry Pulling now serving aboard HMS Excellent (presumably the renamed HMS Boyne (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Boyne_(1810)) then a training ship located in Portsmouth Harbour) makes a new allotment of £1 4s per month to his wife Emily living at 1 Garrison View, Landfort, Portsea.
There is no mention of his subsequent service in HMS Cormorant, but since he already had an allotment in place, I don't think this is significant.
1. Quartermater here denotes a helmsman, a senior seaman below the rank of petty officer.
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his wife remarries in 1845.
Assume she describes herself as widowed - there is an index of deaths at sea or abroad have you checked for him on that?
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Thank you all so much for the information provided, it has helped paint a fuller picture of Henry Pulling.
I am not sure if the GRO go back that far, or the death could have registered in Chile, there is a dissenters cemetery where the ship would have been based, and there is supposedly a Royal Navy vault in the cemetery.
All the Children where born in Abercrombie St, 1838, 1840 and 1843 possibly at no1. Henry is described a Seaman and Mariner. Henrietta's birth has the most information thankfully, although Charlotte my Great x 2 Grandmother has RN Seaman I think as fathers occupation on her marriage cert, but he is not listed as deceased.
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Dissidents Cemetery https://g.co/kgs/QSX7Q8t
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A George Pulling was granted a China Medal for service in First China war on the ship "Larne" during 1840-1842.
Not sure where the George came from, as his name was Henry.
I also read, there was no continuous service then, so after every voyage, you where paid off, and this could have made a difference with paperwork not all in the one place etc.
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I cant find baptisms for the children just yet, just in case their fathers occupation may have been given.
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(George) Henry Pulling was Emily's third husband. She was born Marsh/Mersh, married Robert Westcott in 1830. Robert died aged 40 in 1834 and was buried in Portsea Cemetery.
I see she outlived her fourth husband too.
I think Henry's parents were William and Charlotte. Charlotte died in 1859.
(Apologies if you already have this info)
Nell
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Emily is described as 'sailor's wife' on the 1841 census.
I can't find any baptisms either :(
Nell
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In the absence of any death or burial notification for Henry, it may be worth consulting the Cormorant's logs at TNA. Unfortunately they only cover the period from 18 April 1843.
The first one covering the period 18 April 1843 - 5 July 1844 is here (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1466993) but it not digitised. Should you need it, the next in sequence, covering 6 July 1844 - 15 Jan 1846 is here (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1466994).
No surgeon's logs appear to have survived for the Cormorant during that period.
There is also a supplementary ship's log for the Cormorant here: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2626251. I have no idea what details it might contain.
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A George Pulling was granted a China Medal for service in First China war on the ship "Larne" during 1840-1842.
Per the allotment records, he was indeed on the Larne in 1841. The record lists the date of his marriage to Emily. I mentioned that in one of your previous threads:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=853937
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https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12676955
You may have posted the wrong reference. The above concerns William John Love - subject of another thread.
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Thanks Andy - here's the correct link: https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=853937
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I wasn't aware of that other thread. I see that you had already posted all the information from the allotment books, Shaun. That's the problem with starting duplicate threads on much the same topic.
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Thank you for all your repiles, I know far more than I did before.
I think I mentoned in my first post Henry was mentioned in Pay musters, but I forgot to include the link from 4 years ago, which then as now I appreciate.
I am sure as more records are digitalised it should hopefully help find ancestors who are tricky to find, or help to cross reference.
I have found it strange no death certificate, but maybe he was at sea, or in another country, but hopefully there is a paper trail.
Abercrombie street was demolished it appears during bombing in WW11.
Emily Mersh/Marsh was married to a Mr Westcott, Pulling and Cantle I think, surving them all.
If i get any more information I will be sure to post here.