Navy Records for William WHEATLEY

[Lee Ross]

My 5x GGrandfather William Wheatley was born 5th Jul 1782 in London to William Wheatley and Elizabeth Lardant.

Family history has him joining the Royal Navy as a Petty Officer around 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars, but I haven't been able to verify this yet. Does anyone know where I could look for records to confirm this?

I do know the following about his career though:

• He is listed in the ‘Royal Kalendar, and Court and City Register for England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Colonies’ as working for the Office for Stores and Slops as a ledger keeper (1811, 1812) and warehouse clerk (1818, 1819, 1820)
• And then apparently as Superintendent in Charge of Ropes and Twines - unverified
• From 30th Jan 1821, he was the Navy Office Librarian at Somerset House (1825, 1827, 1828, 1831) found in the ‘Royal Kalendar, and Court and City Register for England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Colonies’ and Navy Board Officials 1660-1832 - J. M. Collinge

Any help would be appreciated!

[groom]

Family history has him joining the Royal Navy as a Petty Officer around 1798

Wouldn't he be a bit young to do that aged 16?

[Lee Ross]

That's what I thought but maybe he lied about his age? Maybe it was feasible for teenagers to join the navy at lower ranks at that time? Maybe he joined later and the dates are wrong? Not sure.

[rosie99]

Welcome to rootschat

It often helps us if we can work backwards. 
Was William still alive after 1840, if so does he appear on census. 
Who did he marry & when.

Rosie

[Lee Ross]

Hi Rosie

William died on 14th Apr 1832. Same year the Navy Board was abolished and all of the functions were merged under the responsibility of the Board of the Admiralty.

He married first Ann Williams on 16th Oct 1802. She died in 1823. William remarried on 22nd Aug 1827 at St Mary-at-Lambeth to Harriet Tudor.

[chasbaz]

A very good site to go to get expert naval help is:  http://www.nelsonandhisworld.co.uk/forum/.  Very friendly and well-informed.  Also search TNA where many admiralty records are kept under ADM:.

[Lee Ross]

Hey chasbaz,

Haven't had much luck with TNA yet but haven't come across  http://www.nelsonandhisworld.co.uk/forum/ - going to give that a go! Thanks so much