Merchant Navy in Britain pre 1863

[Dramagal27]

I'm still no sure I understand how to do this.

Would the following be my next steps?
..contact the National Archives of Britain.
..ask for a copy of both records (since we're not sure which is the right one).

Would these birth certificates list an occupation of the father?
Would it list the mother's maiden name?

Next, is the reason that I am not finding the birth certificate online because many of the British-held vital statistics are not yet transcribed?

Thanks again.

[lizdb]

I have found 2 possibles for Ann in the index, none for Richard. So that does make me wonder whether "East End of London" is correct, or just a family rumour!

No birth certificates are online, only the index.

If you want to send for the cert for either of the Ann ones I found, then you can do so via www.gro.gov.uk.  Cost is £9.25 and for that they send to anywhere in the world.
When you get the cert(s) you can see if the parents are called Rchard and Ann. If not, then the cert doesnt appear to be "your" Ann.
If the parents are correct, then there is a good chance you have the right one - you can also see the exact date of birth and see if it matches the date you gave.
Once you are sure you have the correct cert, then you can glean more info from it towards your research. Yes it will show mothers maiden name and occupation of father.

[Dramagal27]

My grandfather died in 1944, before I was born, but from the time I was little, I knew my grandfather's birthplace. However, maybe it was the birthplace for his sister and he was born elsewhere, but moved there as a baby. It is possible.

Given that his father had been in the navy, where are the likely ports that he would have ended up in after serving? This may give us a clue about where Richard Jr. was born.

[lizdb]

I guess it could be anywhere in the world!

We need to establish some facts to be a starting point, facts that we can find evidence to back up.

If you are fairly certain that Richard jnr was bn 3 Aug 1863, then you need to search the indexes again to try and pinpoint his birth.

Are you sure he didnt appear on any Canadian censuses after 1870, that give a more detailed place of birth?

Could he have actually been a John Richard Smith?
There is a birth of one in Jul/Aug/Sep 1863, Whitechapel, ref 1c 379

But even on a second look, no Richard Smith in that quarter in East London