STRAY/WARD marriage 1816

[nikkithomasnikki]

I was too eager to look into that but dont worry I will make use of the subscription I am sure

[Little Nell]

John was a superannuated rigger at the time of his death.  He had worked in the dockyard at Portsea and was apparently owed money at the time of his death. See this record here:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9941508

He was recorded as a mariner in the register for his children's baptisms.  He may no longer have been in the Royal Navy.  The 1841 census is quite specific for others in the area when they are in the Royal Navy - it says Navy in the occupation column. 

I wonder if he stayed ashore for a steadier income.  Also he cannot have been away at sea for long periods of time given the age gaps between his children.

From your Devon thread, I see that the sailor who was at Trafalgar was likely to be the son of John and Agnes.  John junior was baptised in 1776 and I see that John and Agnes had a son named Philip - just as John and Mary did in Portsea.  It seems a working hypothesis that the Devon man is your John Stray, but was not good at remembering how old he was.

Nell