Peter Watson Navy Record?

[emfranky]

According to the 1881 census record, my ancestor, Peter Watson, was a (Sea?) Mate on the HMS Druid. His birth date is 2 year out on the census record, but I'm sure it's him. Does anyone know where I would go to find his Naval Record (if there is one to find - I can't see anything on The National Archives)?

As always, any help will  be greatly appreciated

[ShaunJ]

I don't think that's a Royal Navy ship. It's a merchant vessel out of Sunderland. Not HMS.

[emfranky]

Thanks, do you know where I could find more information about the ship?

[ShaunJ]

If you look at that 1881 census page, you can see that there were engineers and firemen in the crew, so it must have been a steamer. 

Go to the previous page and you get a lot of information about the ship:

- She is a coasting steamer with schooner rig
- Ship number 54824
- 473 tons
- Registered in Sunderland, where she was on 27 March 1881 before sailing to Harwich

Note also the name of the master, Richardson. That helps in searching for newspaper reports of the ship (search for Druid, Richardson or Druid S or Druid 473).

[Sc00p]

That Peter Watson on Druid would appear to be Peter Henderson Watson b 21-July-1929 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQYP-LX9.  The ships crew list for 1881 gives details about the crew and 1881 voyages. It can be viewed on-line (free!) by searching for Watson/Peter/Druid here: http://www.mun.ca/mha/1881/crews1881.php (see last entry page 2).  Are you sure you are researching the correct Peter Watson as you state the his age is incorrect by 2 years.

[emfranky]

Ah, I think I may have the wrong Peter... woops! I'm terribly sorry to have wasted your time, but the links were great for confirming it. Thank you for all your help