I also have a seaman ancestor who seems to have fallen off the face of the earth. I wonder if you can give me some help?
His name is Samuel Connis born in Glasgow on 1st March 1854.
He was a stoker in the Royal Navy. I have a record of ships he sailed on from 1875 until the last one, Lord Warden in May 1882. I got this from the Nat.Archives.official no.93503.
The only record I can find after this was his son's birth cert. in 1887 which says he is a merchant seaman. He went to sea after this and was never heard from again. I cant find any record of his death, would there have been a record if he had jumped ship? His family never knew what became of him. Hoping some one can help me with this as it has been a brick wall for me for years now. marzipan