Genealogy Chat

Edward Tillson/Tilson b.1806 Boston, Lincs, d bef.1871 is listed on the 1841 census as a Mariner. How do I find his ship or details of his sea service. I've searched many Seamens websites but don't know how to make the 1st link. Many thanks Lyndy

Bear in mind that 'mariner' was used for pretty well anyone on a ship/barge. Most of them were simply deck hands who often appeared as labourers on other censuses. The only ones that you *may* find anything about were 'Master mariners'.

I was lucky I found my grt grt grandfather on a ship in the 1871 census, According to my grandmother he sailed round the world 3 times but never went to the Isle of Wight despite living in Portsmouth because the weather was foul the day of the trip! Kim

At the period in which you are interested, he may well have had to have a seaman's ticket. This was like a passport. It provided a brief physical description, whether the man could read and write, when born and where. The records also gave details of the ports he sailed from, length of voyage, and it is suspected that some of the numbers relate to the ships sailed on. At the least, it would state whether the voyages were coastal or long distance. This system was hugely beaurocratic and only lasted a few years. The records survive at the National Archives at Kew