The rest, approximately 70% of the crew lists and agreements for 1863-1938 and 1951-1976, were transferred to the Maritime History Archive in Canada.
These aren't online, does that mean I have to travel to Canada to access them.
If you know the Official Number of the vessel the crew member sailed on then they will look up the details for you at a cost (which is quite expensive) see www.mun.ca/mha/holdings/searchcombinedcrews.php.
I understood that the only reason the records are at the Maritime History Archive in Canada is that TNA wanted to destroy them and the Canadians stepped in to preserve them. So I guess we should be thankful for small mercies.
I believe that is correct and I am grateful for small mercies.
But in reality these records are gone.
How many of us know the names of any of the ships our ancestors worked on.
The one thing I am grateful for is my ancestors seaman's ticket.
I can't remember where I found it - either FindMyPast or the Crew List.
But it has a wealth of information.
His birth in Wemyss, Fife is not in the O.P.R.
He was born (according to the census) circa 1827 but the seamans ticket gives his birth date as 9th January, 1827.
He was 5'5" with brown hair, hazel eyes and his complexion was dark.
He also had an anchor tattoo on his left hand.
He was issued his ticket at Leith in July, 1847.
A wee bit of paper but with lots of info.
Brilliant!
