Merchant Navy - just one question but I can't get to Kew!

[PAK]

I am researching my wife's family history and have found her ancestor Joseph Allason (sometimes Allison) born in 1801 in Port Glasgow. There is just one question arising from a reference to him in familysearch.org where he is shown recorded under "Merchant Navy Seamen records 1835-1941" although it looks like records only cover up to 1857. I have him in Liverpool in 1851 but no definite record in 1841. If I had sight of the Merchant Navy record I would be able to check dates of his service, identify him and thus distinguish him from others with the same name and approximate age. But it seems that I can only do that by travelling down to Kew (150+ miles from my home) for the sake of a quick check of one record.
So I wondered if anyone on Rootschat either has access to these records (or of course lives around the corner from the National Archives ) and could help.

[Milliepede]

What occupation does he have in 1851?

[Top-of-the-hill]

  Findmypast have some Merchant Navy records.
 Joseph Allison born 9/1/1801 Port Glasgow, ticket number 95052, joined 1816, resides Liverpool when not employed. Possible brother Peter?
  Have you checked the National Archives catalogue? Not sure how much there is about merchant seaman at that time.

[Top-of-the-hill]

  In 1841 Joseph Allison, Seaman, and Mary were living in Lumber St Liverpool.

[PAK]

Thanks for this. Yes it looks like the Joseph Allison born in Port Glasgow is the one in the Merchant Navy records, and shown in Lumber Street in 1841. I assume there is some more data as you suggested a brother?
This actually goes a long way to disprove the idea that this was the Joseph Allison on our family tree. But that's another, more complex story!

[Top-of-the-hill]

  Peter Allison appears next to Joseph in the Merchant Navy record, but checking baptisms, he looks to be from a different family. Allison is a surprisingly common name in the area.