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Hello again John,

I have just followed up on info in your reply to my posting by searching for Trafalgar Medal Rolls and discovering the www.forces-war-records.co.uk/ site. 

There were two James Wilsons on HMS Tonnant at Trafalgar!  One was an Ordinary Seaman whose birth info is consistent with my ancestor.  The other was the Landsman whose Allotment Declaration says he deserted in 1809.

Even if I am unable to delve further into my James' career, thanks to you my mystery is solved.

many thanks,
Marna

I originally posted this to the Armed Forces Resources Board in error.  My apologies to the moderators...

I'm hoping someone can help me make sense of Royal Navy records pertaining to my ancestor James Wilson, baptized at Brixham, Devon in 1787. 

His children's baptism records (beginning in 1819) identify him as 'Lieutenant, R.N.'.  In a notice in the Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette of 1871, his eldest daughter is referred to as 'the daughter of a deceased lieutenant R.N. who was at Trafalgar'.

National Archives data base of men who served at Trafalgar identifies James Wilson, age 20, born Portsmouth, Ordinary Seaman, serving on HMS Tonnant.  Allotment Declarations at findmypast for 1802/3 have James Wilson, Landsman, on Tonnant, but deserting in March 1809.

I can find no passing certificate or other official documentation of him as a Lieutenant.  However in the 1861 Census his widow is a Naval Pensioner and in 1871 another daughter is on the Compassionate List.  I believe he died between 1833 and 1838.  His father had also been a Lieutenant in the Navy, according to the father's death certificate.

Could a man who deserted in 1809 have subsequently re-enlisted and become a lieutenant? 

Thanks in advance for any insights or comments,
Marna

Hi Liz,
Thanks for getting back to me.  I am in Canada, so have to rely on online records, those I can access otherwise, and the 'kindness of strangers'!  Rootschatters like you are amazingly helpful and generous.  Thanks for telling me about the CD; I'll follow up on it.

Marna

I have a marriage noted for Henry Adams (d 1763 in Barcombe) and Elizabeth Smith (d 1751 in Barcombe) in Plumpton on 15 September 1722, but cannot now find my source or a record.  Hoping someone can provide verification, please?  With thanks

Hello,
I hope someone can help me make sense of the Binding records I've found for Robert SOPER at findmypast.  He appears in two records as being bound 04 May 1733 at Twickenham. One (Source: Binding Records 1692-1949) shows Master Thomas Soper and a free date of 18 April 1760.  The other (Source: Reassignments 1688-1908) shows Master William Wadbrook and that he was bound to 26 May 1737.  I would assume that the second record is the original given the 1737 end date, but why is it in Reassignments?  Re the other record, doesn't a free date of 1760 make for an awfully long apprenticeship?

Sorry if I am being dense here; I would appreciate any insight please!

thankyou