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Archiver > Mariners > 2000-01 > 0949243093


From: Debbie Beavis <>
Subject: [Mar] 20C Merchant Seamen
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 14:38:13 +0000


TRACING 20c MERCHANT SEAMEN IN BRITISH RECORDS

Debbie Beavis

There are NO organised service records of ordinary merchant seamen who
served between1857 and 1913.

Fourth Register of Seamen 1913-1941 (Central Index Register)

If a man served between 1913 and 1940 his details were recorded in the CIR,
also known as the Fourth Register of Seamen. Surviving records have been
transferred to the Public Record Office from the Registry of Shipping and
Seamen. The records are filed in a card index, now viewed on microfiche.
There are several series of cards within this series (CR1, CR2, CR10), each
compiled slightly differently and comprising slightly different information.
You should be able to find discharge number, vessels noted (normally by
o.n. only), a physical description, sometimes a photograph.

Index cards in CR1 CR2 for 1913-1920 have been destroyed, but there is a
separate index covering part of that period (CR10).

BT348 Register of Seamen Central Index Numerical Series (CR2) 1921-1941.

Cards filed in numerical order by discharge number, dates of signing and
lists of ships which may be shown by official number only.

BT349 Register of Seamen Central Index Alphabetical Series (CR1) 1921-1941.

Cards arranged alphabetically by surname. You should find name, place, date
of birth, capacity, brief description and sometimes a photograph.

BT350 Register of Seamen, Special Index, Alphabetical Series (CR10) 1918-1921

These are similar to CR1, and have a photograph of the seaman.

Later records comprising the fifth register (from 1941) are yet to be
transferred to the Public Record Office.

Once you have identified the name of ships on which a man served, you may
be able to locate crew lists and agreements to enable you to compile
information about a man's service during the latter part of the years for
which service records do not exist. The records of Agreements and Crew
Lists are the subject of a separate posting. The Public Record Office has
recently updated the leaflets and the most recent versions are now online
at their website, http://www.pro.gov.uk which give additional information
about what you may find. The PRO's catalogue is now also online at their
website which will allow you to select the records which best suit your
research.

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