Merchant Navy assistance

[Franlynch]

I have the following information for my Grandfather Thomas Harty,
Tom Harty was born 1889 In Ringville, (Ring) Dungarvan, Co. Waterford on 16th June 1889.  He joined the Merchant Navy at age 16 and jumped ship in Boston between the years of 1904 to 1907.  Tom was naturalized in Boston when he was in his 30’s.  When WWII broke out, he returned to England and joined the British Army with the Dorsetshire Regiment. 

I found 2 ships records containing details of Thomas and his sister Hannah but am unable to validate the first one as the information does not tie in with details given to me by my aunt who unfortunately has passed away. 

1.      SS Cymric from Queenstown to Boston, arriving 29 Sep. 1910

Harty, Thomas, age 20, single, laborer, nationality - British, race - Irish, last permanent residence - Ballinacourty, Ireland, nearest relative in country from whence he came - father Wm., Ballinacourty, Ringville, passage paid by brother, never in US before, going to join brother John, 23 Park, Charlestown, 5'7" tall, fresh complexion, dark hair & eyes, born Ringville, Ireland

Harty, Hannah, age 15, single, servant, last permanent residence - Ballinacourty, Ireland, nearest relative in country from whence she came - father Wm., Ballinacourty, Ringville, passage paid by brother, never in US before, going to join brother John, 23 Park, Charlestown, 5' tall, fresh complexion, fair hair, brown eyes, born Ringville, Ireland

2.      Tom is also registered as making another trip back to the US in 1919.  Tom sailed into New York and this ship manifest reads “British soldiers returning to former residence having left after August 1914”.

I want to find out more information about Thomas' time in the Merchant Navy but don't know where to begin or where to post; any help appreciated.
Fran

[doddsie4]

       Fin.. ... Past has Merchant Navy Records.     But you would need to pay a months sub of £9 .95 to see them.    (I don't think I am allowed to say the name of the site)   ... Anyway, I typed in the name and someone of that name (Thomas Hart, born 1889)is there, and he is from Waterford.     His discharge number was E789.    Series number BT349

      You can see the bare details (above) for no charge, but if you want more,  you have to pay.

         

[rosie17]

This might help you with your first ship record this looks like him in the 1901 census Ireland Ballynacourty South Ringville Waterford
William Harty age 45 ,Margaret 40, Thomas 11, William 9, Patrick 9. Hannah 7, Julia 5
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/waterford

[Franlynch]

Thank you doddsie and rosie - I feel quite rude using your 'user name' but that's all I know so once again, thank you.
Fran

[doddsie4]

       The Cymric was torpedoed 8th May 1916 and sank the following day with the loss of five lives.
If you haven't already tried Ships Descriptions, you could have a look at a little free information about the ship there.      You can also click on "Ships Crew" and type in his name but for this there is a fee.

[seaweed]

No central personal Merchant navy service records were kept between 1857 and 1913, the personal records for the period of WW1 have been destroyed. So it follows that FindMyPast have no records of him as a merchant seaman.
The records you have found re  SS CYMRIC are details from a passenger list. Nothing to do with Merchant Navy service records. So forget the CYMRIC link for now. I assume that the manifest you have from 1919 is also a passenger list.
So how do you find details of his possible MN service between 1904 and 1907. With great difficulty I am afraid unless you have the name of the vessel he jumped ship from in Boston.
I understand Ancestry.com have manifests for vessels entering the port of Boston between 1904 and 1907 but it will be a long search to find him, not least because persons under 18 years are sometimes infrequently recorded on British Crew Agreements.
http://stevemorse.org/cgi-bin/boat.php?series=&rollStart=&rollEnd=&monthStart=1&yearStart=1904&monthEnd=12&yearEnd=1907&boatkind=starts&boat=&offset=1&pageSize=50&database=bost

[rosie17]

There is this record for a Thomas Harty in the Us Residents serving in the  British Expeditionary force year of birth 1889 Ireland ..Seaman single address 6 . Syerague ? St Boston Mass residence 16 Feb 1918 ? ...Don't know if this is same person ?
Is this the record of arrival 29 June 1919
Thomas Harty age 29 single occupation b/maker lists his father W Harty co Waterford going to Boston Mass; ship Orduna

[seaweed]

Do we know for sure that Thomas Harty jumped ship in Boston in 1904-1907. The passenger List for CYMRIC 1910 says this was his first time in the US.
rosie17's last post gives Thomas Harty as a seaman in Feb. 1918. Just wondering if he was a member of the US Mercantile Marine rather than British Merchant Navy.

[Franlynch]

I have only seen these responses now, thank you so much.  I need to check my settings to see why I didn't get notified but appreciate all your input.  Will review and revert asap, thanks again
Fran