RootsChat.Com

Hello
I'm posting here to see if anyone may be able to help me.  I'm wanting to look up some records at Kew however I live in Australia.  I have sent 3 emails to people on the TNA "suggested" list of professional genealogists.  I am very happy to pay, sadly only one of the three people have replied and that person said they are no longer doing business?
I'm trying to find the service records of a Merchant Navy Seaman.  I am enclosing the correct volume/s to be checked:-

BT 382/1938
Wickenden A L to Wiggans G F
1941 Jan 01 - 1946 Dec 31
The National Archives, Kew

and also as he continued in the Merchant Navy after WW2

BT 382/3040
Whorlow A H to Wiggett V G
1941 Jan 01 - 1972 Dec 31
The National Archives, Kew

The name of the man I am looking for his service record/s is 
Victor James Wickens  (name could be spelt Wickins)
His date of birth - 10th March 1926 - London - Poplar
Date of Death  - 11 April 1994 - Lewisham

I would be so appreciative if anyone could help me out.  I'm happy to pay and I'm also happy to reciprocate in any way for anything that may be required here in Australia not available online.

Once again thank you for taking the time to read my request.
Cheers
Janette Griggs -  Beautiful day down under "not too hot - just right"

Hello
I'm not sure if I should be here or one of the other areas - I couldn't see where Merchant Navy info should be located.
I'm wondering if someone could tell me if a Merchant Navy man from London ended up here in Sydney Australia in 1945 where would I start looking for his details, ships he was on - any in formation about him.  There is a definitive time period during 1945 that he would have had to have been in Sydney. I'm just curious if I can get details of merchant navy records.  I have tried Find My Past but these only go up to 1941.  I found his Uncle - with the same name but 1941 would then made this person 15.  Was 15 too young to go into the Merchant Navy during war time?
Any clues would help and make me happy
KInd Regards
Janette

Hello
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for my question.  My great aunt's husband according to their Australian marriage certificate (1921) was born in Birmingham in 1892,  Basil Bernard COWAN he states his father was Marcus Cowan, occupation Tailor and mother was Matilda Reggel(l). I have found Matilda on the 1891 census with her father and mother.  She married Morris Cohen in 1895. I think Matilda's parents were from Poland and Matilda may have been born in New York?  Could the name Cohen be used interchanged as Cowan ?  Was this a common thing that may have happened?  I am finding it difficult to find Basil Bernard Cowans birth.  Any help would be appreciated

I’m trying to find how my 2 x great grandfather came to Australia. 
My 2 x G grandfather John Edwin Allen was born in Woolwich Kent in 1834, & baptised in St  Mary Magdalene Church Woolwich 27/7/1834.  John Edwin’s father was a gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery and the baptism certificate states he resided in the Artillery Barracks at that time.
John Edwin – age 6 appears with his family on the 1841 census under the surname ALLAN, father James mother Elizabeth, siblings Thomas, Susannah, Jane and Elizabeth.  I cannot locate John Edwin on the 1851 census only his parents and younger sisters – residing Willesborough,  Kent.
John Edwin married Mary Maling in Parramatta, Sydney Australia 6/2/1857.  John Edwin died in Parramatta in 1862 and the cert. states he had been in the colony for 14 years.
On the 12/2/1857 John Edwins family arrived in Sydney on board the “Hindostan” – his father James, mother Elizabeth, sisters Jane and Elizabeth. Eldest sister Susannah was also on board the Hindostan as a married woman – Mr & Mrs Joseph Chanelor.  John’s eldest brother was in the Royal Regiment as a Trumpet Major, but joined the family in Sydney about 1868.
I have searched shipping records coming into Australia and cannot seem to locate John Edwin Allen entering as he would have only been about 14 or 15. On the passenger details of his parents coming into Australia in 1857 it states under relations in the colony column “Son – John Allen residing with Mr. Tait”
Parramatta seems to be the area in which they all resided for some time.  John married Mary Maling in Parramatta in 1857  and her parents were in Parramatta as well.  There is very little details on John Edwin and Mary Maling’s marriage certificate – stating “No Parents” for both parties ?? maybe this is understandable as a baby was born just 4 months later.
John Edwin Allen had only been married 6 days when his parents arrived in the colony, he stated on his marriage certificate his occupation was a Servant and they were married in the Church of Scotland.  Researching the name Mr. Tait I found a Rev. Tait was at the Church where John Edwin got married although his marriage was performed by Rev. Taits predecessor James Coutts.
Can anyone suggest any “schemes” that may have offered passage and employment in Australia during the period  1847 – 1850’s.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my request.