Looking for advice tracing my grandfather, Alfred John Ransley, born at sea

[vida04]

Hi all

I'm trying to locate my grandfather's (Alfred John Ransley) birth certificate. He was born at sea in January 1880 on a ship bound for South Africa from the UK (unfortunately I don't have the name of the ship  ). I'm at a loss as to where to start looking. Can anyone suggest where is best to start?

Thanks in advance

Vida

[groom]

Welcome to Rootschat.

I'm afraid he isn't coming up on the All UK, Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths at Sea, 1844-1890.

[davecapps]

The Ships List states only one ship to South Africa in 1880

http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/passengerlists/index.htm

Have you got his death record from SA in 1937?
What documents do you have?
Saves people doing things twice.

Dave

[Girl Guide]

Below is a link to Alfred's death certificate on Family Search:-

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-Y3Q9-2PT?i=1125&cc=1779109

Images 1126 and 1127

[davecapps]

Database - 
South African Passenger Lists
http://www.eggsa.org/cgi-bin/dosearchArrivals.pl

Ship's Passenger Lists Hamburg to Africa incl South Africa (they sometimes went via Southhampton)
http://www.safrika.org/schiff_en.html

[davecapps]

got to this page and order by date.
Scroll to 1880 - Happy hunting

http://www.eggsa.org/arrivals/voyages.html

[josey]

Welcome from me too 

What documents do you have?

When you've come back to us with this info vida04 we can help a bit more; for instance, do you have his marriage record? And do you have another source for his birth date other than the death certificate [on which the age is only as accurate as the informant's knowledge]? Do you have a baptism and know the nationality of his parents?

[vida04]

Thank you for all the replies.   Much appreciated.


My grandfather Alfred John Ransley was born on a ship in January 1880  on route from UK to South Africa. He then settled with my Great Grandfather in South Africa    His Father was John Ransley


To answer the questions posed:
What documents do you have ...........  Only my grandfather's death certificate and a photograph of his gravestone
Do you have his marriage record ......................... No.. My grandfather married in South Africa 
Do you have a baptism and know the nationality of his parents?     ........      Nationality of his father was British born in Kent, this was recorded on his death certificate

The only source of date of birth was from the death certificate

I would appreciate any help

TIA                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

[josey]

I think then that we have to consider the date of birth as 'flexible'.

I found 3 John Ransley Kent births 1840 - 1865 that could be possibles for Alfred's father.
Births Mar 1855   
Ransley    John        Sheppey    2a   577     [see below]
Births Jun 1856 
RANSLEY    John Charles        Cranbrook    2a   450    [see below]
Births Dec 1863 
RANSLEY    John Oliver       Cranbrook    2a   536
maybe worth following these up on censuses to see if they disappear before 1880 [when Alfred's parents would have been at sea]

and 2 marriages 1860 - 1880 sadly no middle names
Marriages Mar 1870   
Bartholomew    Mercy        Ticehurst    2b   97   
Harmer    Zebulon        Ticehurst    2b   97    
Hayward    Harriet        Ticehurst    2b   97    
RANSLEY    John        Ticehurst    2b   97    
Marriages Dec 1872 
Ransley    John        Maidstone    2a   923    
TOMSETT    Maria        Maidstone    2a   923
Do any of these women's names ring a bell with Alfred's known siblings children?

ADDED: John Ransley born Sheppey appears in 1881 RG11; Piece: 124; Folio: 26; Page: 8 so unlikely to be at sea ca 1880
John Mansfield   30
Emma Mansfield   34
John Ransley   26 b Sheppey boarder, police constable
John B.J. Robinson   21

John C Ransley appears in 1891 in Bromley RG12; Piece: 630; Folio: 14; Page: 21 so unlikely to be at sea in 1880
John C Ransley   35 b Hawkshurst Kent, gardener
Sarah Ransley   32 b do
Elizabeth M Ransley   6
Helen S Ransley   3
Marriages Jun 1882   
Martin    John        Cranbrook    2a   1128    
RANSLEY    John Charles        Cranbrook    2a   
REED    Sarah        Cranbrook    2a   1128    
THORN    Hannah        Cranbrook    2a   1128

This may be John Oliver's death
Deaths Mar 1931   
Ransley    John O    67    Camberwell    1d   1122
He is probably with grandparents on 1871 RG10; Piece: 1046; Folio: 8; Page: 9
James Watkins   64
Harriett Watkins   58
John Ransley   7 b Cranbrook grandson
& in South Norwood in 1891 RG12; Piece: 594; Folio: 135; Page: 6
John Ransley   27 poulterer's asst [fish] b Flimwell
Agnes Ransley   28
Bertie Ransley   7
Harry Ransley   4
Nellie Grace Ransley   2 6/12
Margart Knight   65
Ernest Ledger   16
Fredk Finch   25

THis was all to see if there was a John Ransley with an occupation likely to take him to sea....