Genealogy Chat

Can anyone tell me how I go about trying to trace a ship that was lost at sea. I have the ships name and approximate year of its demise, i also know the port of registry but just cant seem to trace it. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

dont know what years or ships you seeking, but you could look at site


http://www.cyndislist.com/ships.htm

george

Have you a Name and year...?

If it was a Royal Navy Ship try www.naval-history.net it gives names of casualties and notes of service mainly for the 1st world war
there are also some records For Irish merchant seaman 1918 -1921 at www.irishmariners.ie

and for Welsh seamen at www.welshmariners.org.uk

Have you tried Googling the ship's name?

Have you tried Googling the ship's name?

Let us have the name of the ship and i will have a look for you and the date.
thanks

Thanks everyone. Yes I have tried googling the ships name but have found nothing. The ship was a merchant ship, a brig, it was constructed 1839 in Greenock and the port of registry was Glasgow and J. Walker was the owner. The ships name was WOODSIDE. My Grandmother was born in march 1895 so he must have been alive at conception in mid 1894 but was stated as being deceased on her birth certificate. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if I take a while answering but trying to fit this in between 3 jobs and a family.

There seems to be a possible file on the ship at the National Archives, Kew: BT 110/87/20

Jaqueline ....What was your grandfathers name..?

Hi Erin, My great grandfathers name was Jesse Wooderson and he was born 1863 in Folkestone Kent.

SHIPPING DISASTERS
Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Monday, January 14, 1895; Issue 8003

Loss of A Brig And Nine Lives.
A telegram received on Saturday at Folkestone from Cromer leaves little doubt as to the fate of the brig Woodside of Folkestone,one of her boats having been picked up. The Woodside left Sunderland on Dec.20,and has not since been heard of. She carried a crew of eight and was bringing home a Dover sailor who had been discharged from Sunderland Hospital after illness.
..................
I don't see any articles which name the crewmen...just that the captain was named Milton.

Maureen

Thank you so much Maureen for finding that report for me I have spent numerous hours trying to learn anything about my great grandfathers death. Once again thank you so much. jackie

Hi Jackie,
Very welcome. Just so sad! Here's an earlier article:
THE COLD IN SOUTHERN EUROPE
The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Wednesday, January 9, 1895; Issue 17710.
Supposed Loss of Three Vessels
But the faintest hopes are now entertained of the safety of three traders with the Wear-the brig George of Southampton;the brig Woodside of Folkestone;and the ketch Elizabeth of Goole. The two former were bound to Southampton and Folkestone respectively with coals,and the Elizabeth to London with bottles. They sailed on the 21st December,just before the severe gale,and have not since been heard of. The crews in the aggregate would number from twenty to twenty-two.

Maureen
P.S. Not sure they got the sailing date correct in that article.

Maureen you are a godsend I dont know how to thank you enough. jackie

I went to the National Archives yesterday and looked up the deaths at sea record for Jesse. Will email with the result

David

Anyone trying to acquire a death certificate for someone lost at sea might find this useful:
Go to "Find My Past":
http://www.findmypast.com/welcome.jsp

** Click on the 'births, marriages & deaths' tab and scroll down to deaths.
** Click on 'Deaths - British overseas 1761 - 1994'.
** Then in the event category scroll down to 'GRO Marine Deaths Indices (1903 - 1965)'. For each year you look at you'll need a single credit.

You need to know the name of the deceased and an idea of the year of his/her demise, but it's worth a look.

Linda

David,

So kind of you to do that.
(I'm forever agog at the generosity of the GR members).

Maureen

DaveatHove.
Wont you post the details here?. We are all curious