thomas williams Royal Navy

[pritchardgeo]

looking for a service number or any record that contains it of Thomas Williams who was born in 1814 in Falmouth. he marries Jane Nicholson in 1837 in Stoke Damerel. and on this record it says he is over 21 and late of h.m.s Viper.
in 1861.he is living with Jane in Monument st Stoke Damerel and is a Greenwich pensioner. i know this may be difficult sorry!!. Brian

[Bookbox]

There were no service numbers in the RN until Continuous Service was introduced in 1853. There was no guarantee of continuous employment before that date. Men were given a ship’s book number when they signed on a vessel, and they were signed off at the end of the voyage. They would then have a different number on the next vessel on which they served.

What exactly is it that you’re trying to find out? If he was a Greenwich out-pensioner there should be plenty of records.

[pritchardgeo]

oh. i didnt know that. i was hoping to find something like a service history. i see thats not going to be possible. it said he was aboard viper. and i thought i may have been able to find the ships he served on. or anything to build on really. thank you for looking. Brian

[Bookbox]

A service record will have been compiled to determine his eligibility for a pension. There are plenty of records, but they're not all online.

You could try FindMyPast for starters. You may have to look through a lot of Thomas Williams records to find the right one, because they're not well indexed.

[pritchardgeo]

o/k. thank you for your reply.will do that. Brian

[heywood]

Do any of the children’s birth certificates mention the occupation/residence of Thomas?

[pritchardgeo]

yes thank you. a son John Charles Williams born in June 1848 in Falmouth to father Thomas Williams Rank or profession -Sailor.
John Charles entered greenwich hospital school around says invited to join 1858. siblings Thomas. Mary Jane. Elizabeth Ann. Harriot and Cornelius. He went on to serve also in the r.n 24631a.
he served aboard royal oak 1864.severn 65.llandrail 67.achilles and caledonia.
read somewhere that our Thomas ie john charles father. "could" have served on the Viper 1837. and Imaum 1844. and possibly Spey 1832. and Impregnable as late as 54/55. thank you. Brian

[heywood]

Thank you. I was hoping they might have the ship of the time.

[amondg]

There is a Thomas Williams Royal Navy on ancestry.  Could be your man.

Look for these dates first joined 25 January 1832 first ship served on Spey
last voyage 2 February 1857 - Impregnable

Age 19 born 1813

His record shows he was on the VIPER 10 May 1835 to 16 March 1837.
(next ship was Tyrian on 1 August 1837)

ADDED
Go to the next page it continues below the entry for James Ashford
Thomas actually served till 1866