Genealogy Chat

how do i obtain merchant seaman's records dating back to the 1880's . Thanks in advance

hi, im trying to find those kind of records as well, hope somebody can help you and then maybe you will tell me lol kate

Just giving you a nudge, as I'd like to know too!! Paula x

Melvyn Merchant Seamens Records are held at the PRO, indexed in BT141. There is an absolute mountain of stuff! Good luck Marjorie

Hi, Excuse my ignorance. But PRO ?Public Records Office .... BT141. Could someone give me the website for this? I have the same sort of question....re finding a seamans tickets. Thankyou Victoria

Hi, You have to visit Kew and find the documents for your self. The reference tells you which category you need to search. You look through the indexes then make a note of the exact reference for your man. Then you order up the document. I got my gt grandfather's ticket there a couple of years ago. Gwynne

The records are in the PRO now renamed TNA, (The National Archive) There is a useful leaflet which you can download from TNA web site (try links section in GR) you do need to go to Kew but you also need to work out how to use and search the archive first as it is quite complicated. Pam

This is a link to The National Archives website www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ If you click on Research, education & online exhibitions, a drop down menu will appear. Click on Research Guides and then Records Research Guides at the next page. You will get an alphabet, click on M and you will find guides to: Merchant Seamen: Abbreviations Found in the RGSS Registers Merchant Seamen: Interpreting the Voyages in the Registers of Seamen's Tickets and the Alphabetical Registers of Masters Merchant Seamen: Interpreting Voyage Details in the Registers of Officer's Services Merchant Seamen: Interpreting Voyage Details in the Registers of Seamen, Series II Merchant Seamen: Medals and Honours Merchant Seamen: Officers Service Records 1845-1965 Merchant Seamen: Records of the RGSS, A Guide to Research guides Merchant Seamen: Registers of Service, 1835-1857 Merchant Seamen: Sea Service Records 1913-1972 Merchant Shipping: Crew Lists and Agreements After 1861 Merchant Shipping: Crew Lists and Agreements, 1747-1860 Merchant Shipping: Registration of Ships, 1786-1994 Good luck!! nell

Ignore the link on the GR links page - it is embarrassingly out of date. There is heaps of stuff on merchant seamen.......... just not for every period. 1830s - 1840s is heaven on earth: you can find out masses, but the system was to cumbersome for its own good and I *think* for the period you want it is very hard work. There is a book by Chris Watts and his brother: 'Tracing your Merchant Seaman Ancestors' (or similar title) which is absolutely brilliant.

I hope people find what they are looking for it has helped me thank you all

Sorry if I confused anyone with my reply - but it will always be the PRO to me! There are three closely written pages of references(in the Dictionary of Genealogical Resources in the PRO) to anything and everything that a Merchant Seaman could have done, or not done, but I cannot find a specific reference to Glasgow. There appear to be some Scottish Records of pensions paid to Merchant Seamen. I think it is a case of wading through the catalogue and working out what might be of interest to you - good luck! Marjorie

Just to confuse everyone - Local Records Offices (if you know the district they worked/lived in) have some Merchant Seamans discharge 'tickets' from WWI. About 3 generations of my family lived and worked in Southampton, but I only manged to get my gandfather's (and his best friend's) tickets. They've got lovely pictures of them in best bib and tucker too!!! Having said that, they DID have some earlier ones, but they were more a 'lucky dip'. If your relly was there - you were lucky lol maggie