Help with Navy 18th century

[medhist]

I have an ancester, described as a mariner.  In his will dated 1742 he states he is a mariner on the HMS Grafton out of Bristol. The will was proved in 1748 but I cannot find a burial and believe he may have died at sea or overseas.  Is there any way of finding out anything about the HMS Grafton in the early-mid 18th century? I have been told it was a Royal Navy vessel if it has HMS before the ship's name.  I'd like to find out what  voyages it  made and/or engagements it may have been involved in. Also what his life would have been like. Most of the Naval records seem to be 19th and 20th centuries. Can anyone suggest where I could find out more please?  Any info would be gratefully received.
Medhist

[kmart66]

Hi

There were a few HMS Grafton's however there is a little on wikipedia about the ship which fits the dates.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Grafton_(1709)

Kevin

[medhist]

Thank you for that. It looks as though the Grafton was broken up in 1744 so my ancestor may have been assigned to a different vessel between making his will in 1742 and his death in 1748.
Medhist

[seaweed]

There is masses of information  concerning HMS GRAFTON for around the timescale you are looking at. Including Pay books. Muster roles and Captains logs.
You would need to go to TNA at Kew to view.
Just type GRAFTON, the dates you are interested in, and department code ADM to give you an idea. I should also type the name of the person you are searching for just in case.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp
 I may be wrong on this but one thing bothers me. Bristol was not known as a Royal Navy port and it would seem both from Wikipedia and the TNA catalogue that HMS GRAFTON was stationed at the Nore.

[medhist]

Thank you very much for the reference.  It may well be worth a visit to Kew. I thought there must be information somewhere but didn't know where to look. My ancestor lived in Bristol when not at sea.  Would not vessels enter large ports such as Bristol en route?
medhist

[seaweed]

Yes of course it would not preclude HM ships from entering the port of Bristol.
It;'s just a feeling I get from your first post. Mariner rather than Seaman or Sailor,."Out of the Port of Bristol" These are terms associated with Merchant vessels. There were at least two around with the name GRAFTON at that time.
That said, a simple search of HMS GRAFTONs Muster Rolls for 1742 should confirm or otherwise if he was aboard.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=5342307&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CGRAFTON&accessmethod=0

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=5342308&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CGRAFTON&accessmethod=0

Together with her paybooks for the same period.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-84020&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CGRAFTON&accessmethod=0

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-84019&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CGRAFTON&accessmethod=0

[medhist]

Thank you so much for all the information.
medhist