Devon families to Bermuda in 1880's.

[Debbda]

Good evening.

I have trying to track why and when my relations left Devon and went to Bermuda, ending up working in the Dockyard around 1881.  Their future wives joined them from this area in Devon and married in Bermuda..

a) Samuel Weeks b 17/6/1859 Kingskerswell, lived in Tormoham (1871 census) (m Mary Balkwell Cann b 1859)
b) William John Godfrey b 21/1/1860 Torquay, lived in Tormoham (1871 census .) (m Julia Ann Jarvis Clapp b 1867)

Has anyone else got relations who did this move?

Thanks,  Debbie

[t mo]

hi Debbie
it could be that they had been working in the dockyards in England and moved for a better life to Bermuda as Britain had both army and navy presence in Bermuda and the west indies as a whole around that time but a lot of those postings weren,t the paradise they thought as disease was rife out there due to the swamps and mosquitos .
regards
trevor

[Debbda]

Yes, could have been in Navy. William Godfrey kept a diary and said he went into the Bda Dockyard as a labourer when he was 21. (Bermuda didn't have swamps and few mossies by the way.) I need to find out if the Dockyard holds records of their workers. Any idea if the RN over here would have those?

He continued in the dockyard to become a "writer" but lived in his own house.

[crimea1854]

Hi

It looks as if William and possibly Samuel were in the RN, although the date of birth for Samuel differs from the one given in your post:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D6646119
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?discoveryCustomSearch=true&_fn=Samuel&_ln=Weeks&_no=&_pl=&_sdb=&_edb=&_ser=ADM+139&_ser=ADM+188&_col=online&_dt=R&image1.x=57&image1.y=19

'Writer' is a naval rate (rank). If you do order William's service record, I would be interested to know if he was serving on HMS Invincible in 1882?

Martin

[Debbda]

MANY thanks Martin. Getting William Godfrey's service record has made my day! He served 2 days with Duke of Wellington Feb 1881, Griffin from 15 Feb 81-30 July 81;  and Urgent 31 July- 9 Aug 81;  Griffin 10 Aug on. Then shore job.

His rating was D 3 C (?) Can you tell me what that is?

I will have to recheck Samuel Week's dob.

Again, thank you. Debbie

[crimea1854]

Debbie

I believe that he was a Domestic 3rd Class, then Domestic 2nd Class, and would have worked in the Officers Wardroom. I have checked the 1881 Navy List and this has HMS Griffon being recommisioned in Bermuda on 8th March 18(?) - the date is right on the fold!

You might also be interested in the following:

https://images.nationalarchives.gov.uk/assetbank-nationalarchives/action/quickSearch?keywords=bermuda&newSearch=true&quickSearch=true

Martin

[Debbda]

Thank you so much for sorting these bits out for me.  The family are overjoyed!

Debbie

PS Still not convinced about Samuel Weeks so will persevere in double checking dob etc.

[cjfry]

Doesn't really add much to the topic, but an interesting coincidence. In a former job I had reason to travel to Bermuda several times. On one occasion I took my video camera and was taking film of the island. I happened upon a large marker from the 1800's in a graveyard. I think it listed sailors from the fort who'd died of disease. On the same side was a Fry (my surname) and a Crowe, my mother's maiden name.

[cjfry]

Opps! Forgot to mention I'm from the Culmstock, Devon Fry's