James Graham RN seaman 1857 - 1874, coastguard 1874 - 1893

[Joanna Tolhurst]

My Great great grandfather James Graham was a seaman on HMS Minotaur in May 1869 age 25 at Portsmouth when he got married.
I am unable to locate him in 1861 or 1871 or 1881 with numerous variations of wildcards. His wife, my great great grandmother Jessie nee Clarke was at 10 Cecil Grove Portsmouth in 1871 described as a seaman's wife.

By 1876 he had joined the coastguard and they had moved to West Mersea Essex where 9 daughters were born.

In 1891 he is finally in a census as chief boatman coastguard age 46  born Canada British subject.  In 1901 the family is at 38 Goodwood Road Portsmouth where James is a naval pensioner blind age 57 born Kingston Canada.

I'm waiting patiently for his naval record to go onlines at Natiional Archives.  Meanwhile any information about HMS Minotaur would be appreciated.  Is it likely that he would have been on the same ship for a number of years or did seaman move from ship to ship?

[liverpool annie]

Hi Jot

Here's some pictures of the ship!!

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_minotaur.htm

Annie 

[liverpool annie]

1870

Name       James Graham
Birth Year      1834
Age               36
Birthplace   Canada E
Home           Stillwater  Washington  Minnesota
Gender       Male
Roll              M593_12  Image       448

Thought this James Graham may be a possibility!!
Married but no wife with him - looks like working around people working with boats - but I can't read his occupation - maybe you'd like to look yourself!!


Annie

[Joanna Tolhurst]

Thanks Annie.
Since James was on the Minotaur in May 1869, he may well be in the pictures from 1868!!!!
I don't think that could be him in Washington.  His wife Jessie was Portsmouth Hants born and bred, the marriage was in Portsmouth 1869 and she was there in 1871.  I guess James was at sea somewhere since I've tried every possible wild card in the 1871 census.  In 1881 Jessie and the first 4 daughters are in west mersea essex at the coastguard station and again no sign of James anywhere.
I think I may have found his death in Dec qtr 1906 and will order the certificate.  A date of death may lead to an obit. or funeral notice or something in the local Portsmouth papers.
My Nana had a story of James' father having done something to give him the Freddom of America which enabled his children and grandchildren to emigrate.  I know one of James' daughters and her husband went to Canada, and another went to America.
Jo

[jorose]

The Times, Monday, Oct 03, 1859; pg. 7; Issue 23427; col E
- a note that the officers and crew of the Minotaur, at Sheerness, have changed over to the Cumberland, all the officers recieving their new commissions to the latter-named ship.


Who was his father and what was his father's occupation on the marriage certificate?  Kingston is in Ontario, there is a Kingston Branch of the OGS:
http://web.ctsolutions.com/ogskingston/

[Joanna Tolhurst]

James' father was also James Graham, and on James junior's marriage certificate in 1869 he was a silversmith.
I haven't yet found a James Graham silversmith in 1871 or 1861.
My Nana always said that her grandfather had come to Portsmouth from Scotland.

[Joanna Tolhurst]

Found service record from 1872!!

Date and period of CS engagement - 26 April 1872 10 years 19887B
I presume this means that James joined the navy in 1861 and that 19887B will lead me to the record of service prior to 1872 in ADM 139 at national Archives.

Place of birth is confirmed as Kingston Canada, 27 June 1843

Ships served on:
Hercules 1 Jan 1873 - 31 March 1874
Penelope 1 Apr 1874 - 15 Apr 1874
Penelope coastguard 16 Apr 1874 - 21 May 1889
Hotspur coastguard 21 May 1889 - 30 June 1893

[casalguidi]

Hi JoT

A service record from 1872 would indicate that he joined the Royal Navy in 1872 .............. for a period of 10 years

I am not sure what the 19887B is?

Casalguidi

[Joanna Tolhurst]

checked on the national archives website again:

"It is important to note that if a man entered before 1873, he will have an additional service record in the series ADM 139, which is not online. Also, some men may have in effect have two accounts of service within ADM 188; firstly in the register and then continued in the Continuation Books ('new register'). We have linked these together, so both are attached to the same man's entry. "

" If the serviceman entered before 1873 the entry may also have a CS number and their earlier record of service will be in ADM 139 ."

19887B must be this CS number.