Genealogy Chat

hi
any tips were to look for someone who was a master mariner for p&o on his death cert it says chief officer in the p and o steam packet company he died 1882 age 41 so it would be about 1860+ are there any records etc?
thanks for looking
karen

n

Karen, have you tried googling?

Not that I know how to, it's just what everyone seems to suggest in these kinds of queries!

And I didn't want you to feel you were being ignored :-)

Bee.

Google "p&o", or p&o steam packet" ........... or any other version you can think of!!


You might be lucky.



Have you looked on all censuses to see if you can find him? Just in case he was at home or in home waters when the census was taken.



sylvia

The Guildhall Library (Manuscript Section) in London has some Lloyds records of captains from 1851 onwards.

First why not write to P & O as they may well keep historic records.
The Chief Oficer would have been the Mate and almost certain to have had a Master Mariners Certificate. You can view the Lloyds Shipping Registers at the Guildhall Library in the City of London. Only one problem here is that they only hold a selection of Merchant Mariners records the rest are in Newfoundland. You can send for details to Canada but it comes at a price.

thanks for all your input i really appreciate your help
i did try googling but couldnt see anything helpful i see him in 1851 census then 1881 but he died 1882 so he must have been away inbetween,found his marriage and death but want to fill in were he was in the rest so i think writing to pand o is a good start thanks karen

You might try the National Archives Kew for his seaman's records...he is just old enough to come into the online ones I think
What was his name and place of birth...I'll have a look if it helps having more than one pair of eyes.

Good luck
Joan

thanks joan
he was frank cumberland he was born in waltham abbey essex about 1842 he died in 1882 in southampton
thanks karen

Have you tried a search in the immigration section of Ancestry? Frank Cumberland comes up several times on New York Passenger Lists. I don't have worldwide membership so can't look at the images but have noticed in the past that crew are listed not just passengers.

Yes, I was going to suggest that - my OH'sGGF was crew on liner ships and he comes up on 36 crossings - mostly to New York on the immigration lists!

You can find those on the free trial for three days at the moment- no card details required all UK and US records.

Just go to the following address:

http://landing.ancestry.com/popularmedia/hs1.aspx?landingpage=3DF_nc&o_iid=32618&o_lid=32618&o_it=32845

birth
Frank Cumberland 1841 Apr-May-Jun Edmonton Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex

The following is taken from TNA site for those of you researching Merchant Mariners.

Seamen / women 1858-1913:

The National Archives The Catalogue

There was no central register of seamen. It may be possible to find something from crew lists or log books (BT 99), but we only have a 10% sample of those.


Research guides Merchant Shipping: Crew Lists and Agreements, 1747-1860

Merchant Seamen: Agreements and Crew Lists after 1861

Maritime History Archive The rest are with the:

Maritime History Archive
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St John's, Newfoundland
Canada, A1C 5S7


The above dates are for a lot of people, and yes you may be lucky to be one of the 10%. Unfortunately there is a chance that most people are going to be equally unlucky being in the rest of the 90% category researching their mariner ancestors who are NOT in the Navy.

Also found the following website below which states that if you:

Know the ship's name and official number?
If you do know the basic information about the seafarer's vessel, the next step is to track down the crew lists for that

http://www.crewlist.)org.uk/findingoncrewlists.html:

10% are at local record offices (ROs) or archives

10% are at the National Maritime Museum (NMM), Greenwich

10% are at The National Archives (TNA (formerly PRO)), Kew

70% are at the Maritime History Archive (MHA) in Newfoundland

I cannot say I have found Greenwich useful for the ordinary ship/boat but is very good for major ships and battles.

Website below for Newfoundland Maritime Archives.

http://www.mun.ca/mha/index.php


Janet North London Borders

thanks for all your input
karen:))

I wouldn't swear to it, but on doing some research on my g grandfather who according to my gran was a steward on P & O liners, from 1885 - 1930ish, I found out some of the boats he was on were originally owned by a company known as the American Line, which either changed name or was taken over by P & O.

maggie

Karen
Sorry didn't find him on the National Archives. website..but it might be worthwhile going to Kew, or asking someone whose going to have a look for you. Joan

I am bookmarking this for later as I have a rellie who worked for P&O in the 1930's.

Diana