Migration to SA detail James Hamilton NAISMITH

[cando]

Not a clue but a comment.  Many lads were extremely young when they first went to sea.  Perhaps this is why you can't find James on the 1871 census.

I have just had a look at the 1861 census and don't know if I have the correct family.   Is his father John and Book Agent and mother Ellen both b. Scotland and living in Bishopwearmouth?  Eldest son b. Scotland and James b. 5 years b. Bishopwearmouth and other siblings.

1871 Census  RG10/5004/50/12
Living at 9 West Street, Bishopwearmouth
NAISMITH John  47  Assistant Post officer  b. Scotland
NAISMITH Ellen  47                           b. Scotland
NAISMITH Jane   11   Scholar           b. Durham, Bishopwearmouth
NAISMITH Wm H  4  Scholar                      ditto



Cheers
Cando

[Cymru42]

Thanks Cando - this is the correct family. I tried looking for John and ellen (his parents) in 1871, but came up empty. At least I know they didn't jump around as much a their son seemed to!

Any ideas how I can locate crew from England to Australia c1876, to see if I can find him?

Jacqui

[cando]

Unfortunately many manifests of ships arriving in Australia do not show crew members.

James would  have had to serve an 'apprenticeship' to be a 3rd Engineer.  My grandfather was a ship's engineer but he completed apprenticeship with a engineering manufacturing company on land before going to sea. 

This website lists crew
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/

Ancestry.com.au lists crew but they not identified as such, on database New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922   My grandfather is listed as an unassisted immigrant 31 times between 1900 and 1910 arriving Sydney, when he was an engineer on ships on the coastal runs between Brisbane and Perth.  It is definitely him as my very alert 98 year old father confirmed the names of the ships and added more.

I am sure I have read something about crew lists in Australia.  I will have a search amongst my records.....Oh I can't believe I wrote that....    Will get back to you   I must mention that my grandfather was at sea from 1895-1910 so the information available at that time may be quite different.

Cheers
Cando

[cando]

My father informs me that an engineer would have a Certificate of Service and Certificate of Competency. He would also have a Crew Agreement.

As your ancestor may have been apprenticed/employed by an English shipping co, perhaps you could start your research here.
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/researchers/library/research-guides/the-merchant-navy/tracing-people-crewlists-agreements-logs

There are Crew Agreements at the National Library of Australia on a CD which is available commercially.
and
http://www.nla.gov.au/app/eresources/item/1387

A few more resources
http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=89&c=166

Cheers
Cando