Where to start with Royal Navy research?

[rosie99]

I am wondering how accurate Elizabeths description of William Henry's father was, presumably she was the one that registered the birth 

ADDED Was there an address on that birth certificate

[Ashtone]

I don't see a William Reville/Revell onboard the HMS Centurian in the 1861 census. It was docked in Hamoaze, Devon at the time.

[Paul5]

I am wondering how accurate Elizabeths description of William Henry's father was, presumably she was the one that registered the birth 

ADDED Was there an address on that birth certificate

Yes, the address was Adelaide Street and the mother was the one who registered the birth

[Paul5]

I don't see a William Reville/Revell onboard the HMS Centurian in the 1861 census. It was docked in Hamoaze, Devon at the time.

I suppose he could have moved ship or it's all made up and this person was never in the RN!

[Annette7]

There is a record of a William Revill in British Royal Navy and Royal Marine Service & Pension Records on Find My Past.   He served from 1833 until 1874 - lists his various ships but seems to be a bit of a gap from 1859 to 1863.   If I'm reading it right looks like he was a Petty Officer in 1859.   

Alas, no details of his age or where born.

So, the man appears to have existed and was alive in 1874.

Annette

[rosie99]

That looks really promising Annette  . 

There is a small download available on TNA website (FREE if you register) for a William Revell that gives date of birth 22 Feb 1813 at Portsmouth.  It has one entry showing Asia 1 January 1873 - 1 July 74 but no other clues to indicate that it is the same person

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6586142

[ShaunJ]

He served from 1833 until 1874 - lists his various ships but seems to be a bit of a gap from 1859 to 1863.   If I'm reading it right looks like he was a Petty Officer in 1859. 

He was posted to HMS Asia from 1859 to 1861. Asia was the HQ ship for Portsmouth at that time so he could have served on various ships.

The record is also on Ancestry:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/9050/images/42474_1831101456_11491-00098

Seems to have been an AB who served as a supernumary Petty Officer at that time. Posted to HMS Asia again from 1866-1874 which sort of ties in with the other record:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/60522/images/43283_adm_188_19-0235

The only census entries that tie in with all this are for a William H Revell born Portsmouth circa 1813 who had a wife and family in Portsea (William Henry Revell married Margaret Kevern in 1852).

[Paul5]

The birth of a Wiilam Henry Revell, mmn Gibbs, was registered in Plymouth, Dec Q 1860. ( GRO Index)
I can find no record of a William H Gibbs born at this time and place to match the entry on the 1861 census.

Added.
GRO Index. Death. Catherine Gibbs. June Q 1865. Plymourh. Age 0

That's the right person - that's the birth certificate I quoted in the original post.

[rosie99]

Thank you Shaun, I was hoping that you would explain it for us 

I had also wondered about the married William H Revell whose wife Margaret was born in Devonport