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Archiver > CORNISH > 1999-02 > 0917988550


From: <>
Subject: Re: Merchant Marine
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 15:49:10 EST


In a message dated 2/1/99 9:40:17 PM Pacific Standard Time,
writes:

<<
Is there somewhere where I might learn more about this man? >>

Yes, Ken, there is. I was going to respond to you earlier and was distracted
by something else.

You will need someone to do lookups for you in the Public Records Office,
Ruskin Ave., Kew Richmond, Surrey, England. It is tedious work, so I hired a
genealogist named Graham Davies, who would go to Kew on Saturdays and do
lookups. He was most helpful to me and the price was quite reasonable. At
the PRO they have Records of Shipping for the U.K. from 1786-1854. They have
records of seamen (agreements and crew lists) from 1747-1851. From 1835-1860
masters of any ships belonging to U.K. subjects undertaking a foreign voyage,
and masters of any British registered ships of 80 tons or more employed in the
coastal trade or fisheries, were required to carry on board a written
agreement with every seaman employed including those joining at intermediate
ports.

1835-1844 The registration of seaman was introduced by the Merchant Shipping
Act of 1835. Some changes were made after 1844.

These are some of the classes record listed below:
BT 98 - Muster rolls
BT98 - Crew lists
BT99 - From 1861 to 1938 only a small sample of crew lists are preserved
BT112 - Registers of seamen's service
BT113 - Registers of seamen's tickets

I have only included a partial list of instructional material available.
There is similar material for Masters and Mates. Unfortunately, it was a long
time ago when I found the site and I do not have the URL. You could probably
find it with a little searching. It was through a site labeled something like
"Tracing Ancestors in the Merchant Navy" and it was through a U.K. genealogy
site. Maybe someone on the Cornish-L could give you some help at finding it.

Good luck!
Colleen in California

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