David Owen

[nessie12]

I am looking for some information about David Owen born in Anderston, Glasgow in 1826 he was a sailor with the Navy and he was last seen in 1855, he was bound for New York from Glasgow but was never heard of again by his family 

He had returned from the Crimea and had worked in 1854 at the Franklin Furnace in New Jersey USA as a joiner.

He was known to have been on board the steamer "James Watt" that was chartered to the British Navy

Any suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated

[crimea1854]

Hi

I'm not sure that the man in America is the same as served on HMS James Watt. I say this because the Crimean War only started in 1854, and there is a navy service record for a David Owen, born Glasgow, 6 July 1826, who signed up for continuous service in March 1854. If you have not already done so, it might be worth purchasing this record to confirm (a) if this man served on HMS James Watt and (b) if he had prior navy service, and what the dates of this service might be. What is interesting is that the Baltic Medal roll suggests that the man on James Watt may have 'Run' - deserted.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7539563

Find my Past, in their Merchant Seamans records have the Ticket for a David Owen with the same date of birth as the man on the above naval record, which shows that prior to 1849 he had served 9 months with the Peruvian Navy.

HMS James Watt was not chartered to the British Navy, but originally ordered as HMS Audacious a 91 gun battleship, but was re-ordered as a screw battleship in 1847, and launched in 1853.

Martin

[nessie12]

Hi Martin

Thank you for the info.

Yes this is my David Owen, he was born 6th July 1826. I have found he had a leave of absence to visit his father but when he returned to his vessel he got on board another vessel that had come from or was going to New York and he thought that he would be punished because of this 

and was not heard from again

[nessie12]

where would I find the Baltic Medal Roll please?

[crimea1854]

This is available as a free download from the National Archives website, link below. The roll is arranged alphabetically by surname letter, and then by each ship.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details?Uri=C974991

Martin

[loobylooayr]

Hi Martin

Thank you for the info.

Yes this is my David Owen, he was born 6th July 1826. I have found he had a leave of absence to visit his father but when he returned to his vessel he got on board another vessel that had come from or was going to New York and he thought that he would be punished because of this 

and was not heard from again

Hi Nessie,
Just wondering, you say David Owen was not heard from again. So where do you have the information from that he boarded another ship either coming from or going to New York and that he was worried he would be punished?   
Looby

[nessie12]

Their is a family trust that gives the information from his brother James. 

It is difficult to decipher as all hand written

[nessie12]

I have looked at the Baltic Medal Roll is it that there is a "R" next to his number that suggests he was missing/ran?   

thanks

[nessie12]

I am still trying to find out what happened to David Owen after 1855. I just wondered what happened to deserters/runners in that day and age if the were caught? Would there be a record of a sentence somewhere or would it be possible for someone to just disappear, change names etc?