RootsChat.Com

Hi Martin. How did I get the info re the naval service? From the time I was little, my mother told me that her father's father was in the British navy and that he learned his trade (shoemaking/cordwaining) there. Unfortunately, my mother has since passed away, so I can no longer learn anymore from her. However, I had been documenting (i.e., writing down what she told me) her family stories for over thirty years. I should tell you that I have spoken to someone who is a senior writer on all things military (a family friend), and he told me that the records for the "ratings" (the lower branches of the navy, correct?) at this time were not as well kept as they were later. Furthermore, my mother told me that her grandfather had entered the navy at age 9 which would have been around 1844. Again, our family friend tells me that they were not allowing young boys into the navy at that time. I am confused. What complicates my research is that an initial search of navy men of the time brought up an incredibly high number of people named, "Richard Smith".

I appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks for this.

Thank you for this. I will try this new avenue of information.

Hello. I grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the same place where my Smith relatives settled in 1870. My great-grandfather was born in 1834 in London (I assume he was born there because that's where he and his wife gave birth to my grandfather in 1863, also named Richard Smith. By the way, my grandfather Richard was a "true Cockney" according to my mom by virtue of his birthplace). Richard Sr. joined the navy as a boy and learned the trade of shoemaking (or cordwaining) on the ship. I know the ship he was on participated in stopping slavery ships and also went to the Crimea.

Because Richard Smith is such a common name, I wonder if I am looking for a needle in a haystack. Btw: His first wife was Anne Elizabeth (the same name as their daughter who was born around 1867). They set out to come to Canada in 1870, but somehow only Richard Sr. and two of his three children made it. I don't know if his wife and other son (name unknown) died en route or prior to leaving. I also think Richard Jr. was a twin, but I'm not sure.

If you were me, where would you go next to investigate further? Thanks for your help.