WANTED: pro researcher MERCHANT NAVY

[maclennan25]

hi there,
does anyone know of any good researchers who may be able to go to PRO for me? i live north of Inverness, Scotland and it just isn't possible for me to go there.

i need merchant navy records looking at between 1840 and 1851. also does anyone know if the records would have next of kin listed or a date of death?
my problem is that my ancestor's marriage cert in Inverness (1837) has no parents names, and i cannot find him in 1841 census. he only had 2 children with his wife, the second was born in 1841 and by 1851, his wife is a widow. - and i can find no trace of his death.

sorry about asking all this, but i am completely stuck as to where to go next. -also, have any ideas of how much researchers charge?

thanks,
Lorna.

[trystan]

Lorna,

I've just moved your message to the "For Sale/Wanted/Events" board - hoping that a professional researcher may be able to help you.

All the best,
Trystan
RootsChat Caretaker

[casalguidi]

Hi Lorna

Merchant Navy records (to the best of my knowledge) don't give details of parents or other next of kin - just name, age (sometimes date of birth depending on year), place of birth, ships served on etc.. depending on the year of the record as the system changed a bit during the time you are talking about.  I am not sure about death - it would probably have been recorded in the ship's log if he died whilst at sea.

You might find this information leaflet helpful if you haven't seen it already:

http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=127

Hopefully you should find out when/where he was born though

Casalguidi

[UKfamilyrecords]

Dear Lorna,
                 I am a professional researcher who specialises in military records and I might be able to help you. I have a database of merchant seamen so if you can give me your ancestor's name I will check it for you.

Best Wishes, Michelle

[maclennan25]

Dear Michelle,
thank you so much for trying to help me, i have been stuck on this for so long not knowing what to try next!


my ggg grandfather was John Fletcher. i have no idea when or where he was born, but he married Isabella Fraser in Inverness, Scotland in 1837. unfortunately their marriage cert has no ages or places of birth, never mind parents names

their first son (also john) was born in 1839. i cannot trace them in 1841 census, and their second and last child (william) was born in 1841. in 1851, Isabella is listed as a widow, and as there are no more children, i feel that he may have died early in 1840s.
sorry, i have nothing else that may help. 

thanks again,

kind regards,
Lorna.

[UKfamilyrecords]

Dear Lorna,
                  Unfortunately your ggg grandfather died before my records start, but as these professions run in families I did look for other Fletcher's and found:

Charles Fletcher born 1854 in Strath, Invernesshire Rank: Mate Vessel: Mary  List date: 1/1/1894

Duncan Fletcher born 1875 Invernesssire Rank: Ordinary Seaman Vessel: William Berey List date: 1/1/1892

I know these are too late for you, but do you think that there might be a connection with Strath for your Fletcher's?

Alternatively, I can go to Kew and look through the actual records for John as these give ages and places of birth. There are two sets of records:
Register of Seamen Series II, 1825-1844
Register of Seamen's Tickets, 1845-1854

Sadly, this is a paying service so if you're interested send me a personal message or an e-mail.

Best Wishes, Michelle