Death at seA

[Roobarb]

Seems it's only 10% at TNA 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/crew-lists-agreements-log-books-merchant-ships-after-1861/#3-which-records-have-survived

Having said that, I've found quite a number for my own ancestor, perhaps I've just been lucky but worth a try if you can make it down there. They're fascinating to look at too. 

[buckhyne]

Seems it's only 10% at TNA 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/crew-lists-agreements-log-books-merchant-ships-after-1861/#3-which-records-have-survived

Having said that, I've found quite a number for my own ancestor, perhaps I've just been lucky but worth a try if you can make it down there. They're fascinating to look at too. 

I ken it's no your fault but why should I or anybody else have to travel 'down there' to look at crew lists or whatever.
They should be online so that we can all access them.
I noticed this wee snippet:
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.
Why could they no be in SP website or anywhere else easily accessible?

[Roobarb]

It would certainly be nice if they were available online buckhyne but that would be an absolutely mammoth task. The crew agreements are each a sizeable bundle of of documents, although the TNA holding is only a small proportion it constitutes a massive amount of paper.

As far as 'should be online' is concerned, I'm sure we all feel like that about the documents we're particularly interested in but in reality, priority must be given to those that provide information about the greatest number of people to the greatest number of interested parties. TNA holds literally millions of documents, it would be an impossible task to digitise everything.

[buckhyne]

Fair enough but why can't they be offered to genealogy sites like SP or FindMyPast.
They would surely be a nice little earner.
Anyway thanks for your help
.

[paulsplace2009]

Hi Everyone

Just an update...

Through a poor law record, I now know that Edward died / drowned in or around October 1871' information which I got from a poor law record...

Still can't find anything on Marine Death Register or Minor records... so looks like I may need to rely on newspapers ....

Any thoughts?

Many thanks

[buckhyne]

Hi Everyone

Just an update...

Through a poor law record, I now know that Edward died / drowned in or around October 1871' information which I got from a poor law record...

Still can't find anything on Marine Death Register or Minor records... so looks like I may need to rely on newspapers ....

Any thoughts?

Many thanks

That's what I did, it's the only way.

[paulsplace2009]

What would be the best paper to search for this kind of thing? This family we're based in Glasgow,, thanks

[buckhyne]

What would be the best paper to search for this kind of thing? This family we're based in Glasgow,, thanks

I added my newspaper attachments just as you posted.
Your ancestor was a merchant seaman just like my ancestors.
There is no hard and fast rule as to which newspaper to look at.
I suppose any newspaper would print the death if they thought it newsworthy.
If the family were from Glasgow then I suppose the Glasgow newspapers would be a good start.

[LizzieW]

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.