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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: AmandaP on Tuesday 30 May 23 01:05 BST (UK)
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I am after advice for researching a merchant sailor please. My great x 4 granduncle was indentured as an apprentice mariner in New South Wales, Australia in 1801. The term of his apprenticeship was four years. We have traced him working out of Port Jackson (Sydney) up to the end of 1810. I have found newspaper records of him (or someone with the same name) first as the captain of the Violet docked at London Warf in 1815, then as the commander of the Sterling, pin pointing the week of him changing his employment. He carried out three voyages from London to Quebec, Canada, with the Sterling being wrecked in a blizzard at the end of 1816 at the start of the voyage back to London. I would like to know do records exist for London for merchant sailors in London during this period? If so where are they held and how do I access them?
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I am after advice for researching a merchant sailor please. My great x 4 granduncle was indentured as an apprentice mariner in New South Wales, Australia in 1801. The term of his apprenticeship was four years. We have traced him working out of Port Jackson (Sydney) up to the end of 1810. I have found newspaper records of him (or someone with the same name) first as the captain of the Violet docked at London Warf in 1815, then as the commander of the Sterling, pin pointing the week of him changing his employment. He carried out three voyages from London to Quebec, Canada, with the Sterling being wrecked in a blizzard at the end of 1816 at the start of the voyage back to London. I would like to know do records exist for London for merchant sailors in London during this period? If so where are they held and how do I access them?
Providing the name and information of him would help.
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How would that help?
I have asked what records exist, where they are located if they exist, and provided the background for the type of records I am looking for.
This is not a look up request so the name is not relevant.
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The National Archives at Kew hold an organised and detailed series of records on merchant shipping as part of class BT, but most of these records commence after 1835. You seem to need earlier records, and I don't know what sources there are for that. You could try looking in the TNA on-line guides about merchant shipping.
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As captain/master they can be tracked through the shipping reports of the period. What papers do you have access to (Trove apart)? Do you have access to The National Library of Australia - which has a range of English newspapers (Gales/The Times).
The National Archives has been mentioned and there are records on FindMyPast which reflect the NA (as mentioned pre 1835 a bit limited).
Are you familiar with Lloyds Register/Lists - again for master/captain only?.
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Have spotted him on the Sterling - notice surname spelled differently on one report.
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The National Archives at Kew hold an organised and detailed series of records on merchant shipping as part of class BT, but most of these records commence after 1835. You seem to need earlier records, and I don't know what sources there are for that. You could try looking in the TNA on-line guides about merchant shipping.
Thank you, yes, my time frame makes it a little more difficult. I have been working through Lloyds List and Lloyds Register at maritimearchives.co.uk. I have been wondering if this might be the best I am going to get..
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Your search doesn't lend itself to popping a search key into an engine and out pops lots of lovely hits for "your" rellie. It's going to have to be teased out.
Had a peep at FindMyPast merchant seamen's records and 3 sailors of that name - but not yours by age.
I've identified your rellie and started checking the on line newspapers. However, where I was working this PM. had very poor response times but now back home and revisiting. Did you find only 1815/1816 references? Sure I spotted 1814 and possibly 1813. So which papers are you checking (FindMyPast/BNA?).
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As captain/master they can be tracked through the shipping reports of the period. What papers do you have access to (Trove apart)? Do you have access to The National Library of Australia - which has a range of English newspapers (Gales/The Times).
The National Archives has been mentioned and there are records on FindMyPast which reflect the NA (as mentioned pre 1835 a bit limited).
Are you familiar with Lloyds Register/Lists - again for master/captain only?.
Thank you, yes, I have been using all of these. I have exhausted Trove, I am actively using Lloyds via maritimearchives.co.uk, which is where I got the information from for the second half of my post in partnership with the newspapers on findmypast.com. I have spent hours upon hours in person looking at old documents at the NSW State Archives and the NSW State Library.
I guess I should have been more specific in my original post. I am really not expecting to find the details I need online. I want to know if anyone is aware of record collections held by an archive, library, museum etc that would have more detailed information for mariners during this period. I have not found a suitable listing on the National Archives (UK) or London Archives. E.g. I am aware that the London Archives hold papers for the East India Company (not who my guy was employed by) that are not available online so I am hoping someone knows if the equivalent exists.
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⚠️ I appreciate that people are well meaning but I must stress that I am simply asking if people know of specific collections of records relating to London mariners. Please do not waste your time trying to do my research.
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As captain/master they can be tracked through the shipping reports of the period. What papers do you have access to (Trove apart)? Do you have access to The National Library of Australia - which has a range of English newspapers (Gales/The Times).
The National Archives has been mentioned and there are records on FindMyPast which reflect the NA (as mentioned pre 1835 a bit limited).
Are you familiar with Lloyds Register/Lists - again for master/captain only?.
I guess I should have been more specific in my original post.
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As captain/master they can be tracked through the shipping reports of the period. What papers do you have access to (Trove apart)? Do you have access to The National Library of Australia - which has a range of English newspapers (Gales/The Times).
The National Archives has been mentioned and there are records on FindMyPast which reflect the NA (as mentioned pre 1835 a bit limited).
Are you familiar with Lloyds Register/Lists - again for master/captain only?.
I guess I should have been more specific in my original post.
Yes, I was being “polite”. My original post explicitly states what I am asking…
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As captain/master they can be tracked through the shipping reports of the period. What papers do you have access to (Trove apart)? Do you have access to The National Library of Australia - which has a range of English newspapers (Gales/The Times).
The National Archives has been mentioned and there are records on FindMyPast which reflect the NA (as mentioned pre 1835 a bit limited).
Are you familiar with Lloyds Register/Lists - again for master/captain only?.
I guess I should have been more specific in my original post.
Yes, I was being “polite”. My original post explicitly states what I am asking…
Strange - i thought I had cancelled my response - hence the response carries no message on my part.
i wasn't searching to provide you with info you already knew. As mentioned earlier I was looking for info to tease out any reference to your rellie outside his trips. Hence did not mention name tho' easily found from info posted. The 4 year gap twixt Trove 1810 and "apparent" appearance in London 1814/15 is intriguing.
Pl do not respond to this post.