HELP needed with Merchant Seamen records 1800's

[GAYNOR WILKINSON]

My Great Grandfather was John Frimstone, he was a mariner and in the 1871 census, he is listed as a Master mariner. Could anyone advise whether records are available online or otherwise. I am planning a visit to Greenwich but need his registration number.

Thanks
Gaynor

[celia]

Could anyone advise whether records are available on line or otherwise.

No Only the shipping company that merchant seamen worked for have records.They of course in time go to the maritime museum.Then again a merchant seaman could work on any ships.A registration number for the merchant Navy I haven't got any for mine

Celia

[Sue15]

This link may be useful

for the National Archives

http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Merchant_Seaman_and_Shipping_Records

Good Luck
Sue

[Romilly]

This link may be useful
for the National Archives
http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Merchant_Seaman_and_Shipping_Records
Good Luck
Sue

I find this site very difficult to navigate:-(

I am trying to locate a Seaman's Pouch for William James Wilson, (1860-1934). I think that he was in The Merchant Navy from 1874- 1890 (Approx). I just seem to get to lists, & can't see how to search from that Link...

Romilly

[Sue15]

I am no expert regarding Merchant Seaman's records and have gone round in circles myself. Looking at this further in the "textbook" of Family history "Ancestral Trails" by Mark Herber he writes

"from 1857 until 1913 the principal records of merchant seamen are the crew lists for each ship. You threfore need to discover the name of a ship upon which an ancestor sailed in this period in order to search in the crew lists or other records at TNA"

Ships Masters - the examination of- are recorded in BT 115. Certificates were granted on passing the examination- also long service could achieve a certificate of competency. BT125 is the register for these certificate from 1854 to 1921 for hóme trade ships. BT125 for foreign trade ships.
(extracted from Ancestral Trails by Mark Herber)

Again Mark Herber writes " The National Maritime Museum holds many of the Masters and mates application for these certificates. You need the certificate number from TNA documents.."

The only way to find out for sure if any of this is online is to email National Archives - in my opinion!

I hope this helps

Sue
 

[Yorkslass]

Hello Gaynor,

The records of Merchant Seamen at the National Archives are not online - maybe some day, we hope!

It's a case of going to Kew and searching through them, on microfilm.
I've been a couple of times and been successful, but I'm afraid at the moment, that's the only way.

If your ancestor was a Master Mariner, as Sue said, there should be a record.  However, one of my ancestors said the same of himself on the censuses, and I'm afraid he must have promoted himself, because I've never found him!

Romilly, the same applies to your search - nothing online yet, but again, there are thousands of records at the NRA - here's another link that tells you "how to" - but it means a trip to Kew.  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=128#4

Good luck,
Yorkslass

[KarenM]

Hi Gaynor,

Some of the records are actually in Canada at the Canadian Maritime Museum in Newfoundland. 

http://www.mun.ca/mha/

In 1966 the National Archives in London [Public Record Office] took the decision to discard part of the “Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, the Agreements and Account of Crew and Official Logbooks” for British Empire vessels from 1861 to1913. The decision met with considerable opposition from archivists and maritime and labour historians; these records were considered to be a valuable and largely untapped source of information on seafaring labour and the shipping industry in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Eventually, through the co-operative effort of a number of individuals, the disposition of the Crew Agreements was settled, with the bulk of the records being transferred to Memorial University's Maritime History Archive (MHA).


Karen

[Romilly]

Thanks for the tips Sue & Yorkslass!

Romilly

[GAYNOR WILKINSON]

Thank you everyone for your input on this subject. I am a little scepticle about my ancestors 'Master' position as entered on the census and Greenwich and Kew are a long way from North Wales. So, unless a trip to London pops up, I may have to leave things as they are, or I could try emailing National Archives as suggested by Sue.

Thanks again

Regards,
Gaynor