Master Mariner James Thomas Cardiff

[louisem]

I am looking for some hints re where to look for further info on an Ancestor’s career at sea.
Name is James Henry Thomas born Cardiff 28/09/1850 died Hong Kong 23/07/1900.
I have found info online re him achieving his Master’s certificate in 1889 and that includes a dated record of his ships from 1878 up until that point. I would like to find his records for the next 10 years but I can’t seem to access any further info.
Any help would be hugely appreciated. I’m trying to write a detailed account of this part of my family for my Mum and her sisters.

[maddys52]

You could try searching newspapers for any snippets of information. With just a quick search I see in Welsh Newspapers Online there are a few items that mention Captain James THOMAS of Cardiff, not sure if they are necessarily your man. eg:
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3230788/3230791/43/ (in trouble in 1892 for not keeping his log books properly)
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3253329/3253330/5/ (marriage notice 1895)
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4333025/4333030/48/ (losing a seaman at sea in 1895)

[louisem]

Thank you so much, this is why other people can help when you can’t see the wood for the trees!  I love Welsh Newspapers Online but for some reason it has never occurred to me to use Captain in the search term as well as the name (and of course the name James Thomas is like a needle in a haystack). I will have a proper look on my laptop later and keep the references to cross reference against any further information. I am sure about his death as he is mentioned on his family gravestone in Cardiff so that gives me a good 10 year window to search.

Thanks again.
Louise

You could try searching newspapers for any snippets of information. With just a quick search I see in Welsh Newspapers Online there are a few items that mention Captain James THOMAS of Cardiff, not sure if they are necessarily your man. eg:
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3230788/3230791/43/ (in trouble in 1892 for not keeping his log books properly)
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3253329/3253330/5/ (marriage notice 1895)
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4333025/4333030/48/ (losing a seaman at sea in 1895)

[hanes teulu]

He's listed on the Welsh Mariners Index - which includes death details

http://welshmariners.org.uk/search.php

[louisem]

Thank you very much. Those two 1850 birth entries are both him. I am impressed they have the death information, that website is amazing, so much research.

He's listed on the Welsh Mariners Index - which includes death details

http://welshmariners.org.uk/search.php

[hanes teulu]

Croeso.
Best of luck with Welsh newspapers - a superb resource.

[louisem]

Thank you, it really is, easy to spend rather too many hours just browsing, it’s so fascinating.

Croeso.
Best of luck with Welsh newspapers - a superb resource.

[louisem]

I have now found his records from 1865-79 which were on Ancestry all along so I am just trying to find his Masters Records from 1889-1900 now.

I have looked at a lot of different sources and it seems that the indexing of the Lloyd’s records has not got to T yet - is that right?
If I went to the Archives in person would I be able to find out more?

[HMac]

The records cover dates 1850 - 1927. Some of the information is included on the back of the certificates, and some documents in a seaman’s folder have not been indexed, so when you find a record, use the arrows to browse surrounding documents to make sure you see all the records available.

You may want to browse through an entire roll since the original folders were sometimes filed in random order. So basically filing mistakes do and did happen
Regards
Hugh