At sea finding the birth, death or even marriage of one of your ancestors? Well perhaps the event did actually take place at sea. A new book from the Society of Genealogists will help guide you through the myth and fact of what records there are to help you discover the truth.
The book starts by looking at what records were, or should have been, created recording births, deaths and marriages, aboard British Merchant ships (including colonial ones), passenger ships to the UK, and Royal Navy ships. Pitfalls and special cases such as events in territorial waters, and those related to army personnel are also examined.
Subsequent chapters identify what records has actually survived, for what period, what they contain, where they are to be found, and how they are arranged. These records are to be found mainly at the National Archives and at the four General Register Offices covering the British Isles.
The book also summarises details of the provisions which a number of colonial administrations - particularly in Australia - made for the recording of events that took place at sea. There is a good section on subsidiary sources, which may throw up information not otherwise available, be this from newspapers, gravestones, wills or occupational records.
The book concludes with a search strategy and appendices to aid your research.
Contents:
List of Figures
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Some Warnings!
Terminology
Introduction
LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS
Introduction
Births and Deaths
- Civil Registration
- British Merchant Ships
- Passenger Ships
- Royal Navy Ships
- Special Categories
Marriages
- Merchant Ships
- Special Licences
- Royal Navy
A Cautionary Tales!
MERCHANT SHIPS
Introduction
Muster Rolls
Log Books
Crew Lists
Consular Records
Return of Births and Deaths (B&D1) Forms
Casualty and Death (C&D) Lists
Wages and Effects of Deceased Seamen
Inquiry Reports
Passenger Lists
- Arrivals
- Departures
- Other Countries
Medical Journals
Wreck Reports
REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF SHIPPING AND SEAMEN
Introduction
Wages and Effect of Deceased Seamen (1798-1889)
Registers of Births and Deaths and Sea
- Introduction
- Seamen: Deaths (1886-1890)
- Passengers: Births (1855-1889) and Deaths (1854-1890)
- 'British Nationals': Births (1875-1888) and Deaths (1875-1891)
- 1891 onwards
World Wars 1 and 2
Registers of Marriage at Sea
Supporting Material
Items Reported to Local Officials
ROYAL NAVY
Introduction
Log Books
Muster Books and Pay Lists
Bishop of London's Registry
- Marriages (1842-1889)
- Baptisms and Burials
ADMIRALTY
Introduction
Deaths in Service (1787-1878)
- Dead Men's Wages (1878-1809)
- Ratings (1802-1878) (NAMR: Series AF and EC)
- Officers and Civilians (1830-1860) (NAMR: Series ED)
World War 1
- Officers (NAMR: Series AG)
- Ratings (NAMR: Series AH)
Medical Department Registers (1854 onwards)
- Killed or Wounded in Action (1854-1929) (NAMR: Series FA_
- Deaths Other than by Enemy Action (July 1900-Oct 1941) (NAMR: Series EY)
- Deaths: Ratings, World War 2 (1939-1948) (NAMR: Series EZ)
- Deaths: Officers, World War 2
Royal Marines
Naval Chaplains
Miscellaneous
REGISTRARS-GENERAL OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES
Introduction
England and Wales
- Marine Registers
- Overseas Registers
- Scotland
- Ireland
- Colonial
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Other Former Colonies
United States of America
SUBSIDIARY SOURCES
Introduction
Occupational Records
- Merchant Seamen
- Royal Navy
- Royal Marines
- Civil Servants
Baptisms and Burials
Graves and Memorials
Memorials
Wills
Censuses
Newspapers
Other Official Records
SEARCH STRATEGIES
Introduction
Events Covered by UK Law
- Birth and Deaths
- Marriages
Still Can't Fine Them?
- Births and Deaths
- Marriages
Appendix 1: Location of Agreements, Crew Lists and Log Books
Appendix 2: Registers of Births, Deaths and Marriages (compiled by the RGSS)
- Births (1854-1891)
- Deaths (1852-1893)
- Marriages (1858-1883)
- Births (1891-1960), Marriages (1854-1972), and Deaths (1891-1964) at Sea - BT 334
Appendix 3: Abbreviations Used in RGSS Registers
Appendix 4: Useful Addresses
- United Kingdom and Ireland
- Overseas
Appendix 5: Reference and Bibliography
Index
