Merchant Seaman records 1840s - help with information in document

[jonwicken]

Dear Rootschat,

I am looking at a merchant seaman record for William Thomas Bastian, which was made in 1844 for the commencement of the new ticket issue system that began in 1845.

There are details for some voyages for the years, but I have no idea what all the references mean. Can anyone please help?

In 1851 he was in the Dreadnought Hospital in Greenwich and is stated to have last been on the Midlothian, which was presumably that year, but there is nothing in the 1851 column. I believe this was a transportation ship, so is this on another register?

He was last seen in the 1871 census as a mariner but is dead by 1881 and no idea what happened to him. I think he may have died on a voyage, but not found later mariner records for him yet.

Thank you any help you may be able to give me.

Jon

 

[mckha489]

I was told those numbers include a code for the ships name, and a code for the voyage.

But whether there is a master list of codes I have no idea!

[jonwicken]

OK thank you! That makes sense and that is helpful!

Let's see if anyone here knows!

[Wexflyer]

Dear Rootschat,

I am looking at a merchant seaman record for William Thomas Bastian, which was made in 1844 for the commencement of the new ticket issue system that began in 1845.


Jon

As a matter of interest, can you say what the name of these records is/where found?
Thanks

[jonwicken]

Dear Rootschat,

I am looking at a merchant seaman record for William Thomas Bastian, which was made in 1844 for the commencement of the new ticket issue system that began in 1845.


Jon

As a matter of interest, can you say what the name of these records is/where found?
Thanks

Yes they are Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1835-1857 on findmypast.

They give a description and details of length of service, which is helpful.

[Wexflyer]

Yes they are Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1835-1857 on findmypast.

They give a description and details of length of service, which is helpful.

As I feared, doesn't seem to be a source available on Ancestry

[jonwicken]

Yes they are Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1835-1857 on findmypast.

They give a description and details of length of service, which is helpful.

As I feared, doesn't seem to be a source available on Ancestry

Yes, you really do need both sites to make the most on online resources, which of course is pricey. I use ancestry way more than findmypast, but the latter does have some great records but an inferior search capability in my view. I do however like how you can pick a range of 40 years on findmypast, rather than the 10 on ancestry.

[fiddlerslass]

I've just started researching Merchant seamen myself, so am by no means an expert

A good place to start is CLIP, and they have a record which I think is your man:

https://www.crewlist.org.uk/people/crew?target=bastian&SearchType=Exact&initial=w&dob=1811&submit=search

Ships have an official number which you can also search on this website, for example Titanic was 131428. However, the numbers on your document may be port rotation numbers. Here is an explanation


https://www.crewlist.org.uk/about/crewpre1861

I have not used port rotation numbers myself yet! My mariners are a bit later in the 19th century.


Start here for access to all the different databases

https://www.crewlist.org.uk/#top



I found a couple other early records on FindMyPast which I think relate to your W. Bastian; the earliest ship seems to be the Ann Gales which I think was a barque. Sometimes just googling the ships name is useful, as there are several sites eg some covering wrecks,  where you can get a hit.

Now on the record you have posted it is difficult to read the numbers. Some seem to be dates.

I think he was on the Charlotte Jane in 1855

https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/vesselsnum/23285

Hope this helps.

[fiddlerslass]

Jonwicken
Some more about port rotation numbers with examples from records similar to the one you posted,

https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cracking-the-code-of-mid-19th-century-merchant-navy-seaman-service-records/