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 Thomas Seaward
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| lindsey back |
Posted on 29/01/2011 06:03
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 New Member  Posts: 2 Joined: 29/01/2011 |
Thomas Seaward (born 1822ish) was a coastguard in Youghal where I believe he married Margaret Ahern. They returned to Brook, Isle of Wight where Thomas was a coastguard. He died 'discharged due to death' in 1859 aged 37. I am trying to make the Irish link and establish whether he died during coastguard duties or from natural causes. My cousin and I (he in England, me here in Brisbane Australia) are delving into the Seaward family. Can anyone help with my particular queries? The site is excellent and I have enjoyed getting some background around how my Great Great Grandfather might have lived and worked. |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 29/01/2011 10:37
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 Administrator  Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Hi Lindsey, and welcome to the Forum. You say in your post that Thomas worked as a CG in Youghal, but I can find no evidence of this from his record. He originally appears to have been nominated to the CG Service in 1851, from HMS Lucifer, with a posting to Brook on the Isle of Wight. Having checked the Navy List, in 1851 Lucifer was stationed in Queenstown, which may account for the Irish connection. I would suggest that you ask your English based relative to visit the National Archives at Kew, and consult Lucifer’s Ships Description Book (ADM 38/8479). This would not only tell you when and where he joined the ship, but would provide a physical description, information on his marital status, and a list of all his previous RN ships. If he had served on her for some time, I would then look at her Log Book to trace her movements – in 1849 she was off the Coast of Africa. He does appear to have made a pension application in March 1859 (ADM 29/60/362) for service from 17 November 1841 to 25 Feb 1859. Ordering a copy of this document would provide his service history, but little other information. Turning to what we do know, Thomas did die in 1859, this is confirmed by his CG record. However, it looks as if he had just been discharged, or was on the point of being discharged (ADM 175/7 pdf 304 of 792). To establish the actual cause of death your best bet is to order a copy of his Death Certificate. Having looked at the index for BDM this appears to be the Oct-Dec Quarter of 1859, Isle of Wight, Vol 2b Page 347. What is not shown on his record is his return to the navy during the Crimean War. Because of a manpower shortage some 2600 CG entered the navy, with most serving with the Baltic Fleet. Thomas was one such man, serving on HMS Caesar; his Baltic Medal was sent to South Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight in 1857. One piece of useful information taken from Caesar’s Ship’s Description Book is that he gave his place of birth as Sherborne, Dorset, and was 33 in 1854 when he joined the ship. Hope this is of some help. Martin . Edited by crimea1854 on 29/01/2011 11:26 |
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| lindsey back |
Posted on 11/02/2011 01:06
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New Member Posts: 2 Joined: 29/01/2011 |
Hi Martin. Thank you so much for your information, you have given me so much that we had no idea of. It has taken some time to get a timeline together between my cousin in UK and me and between natural disasters on my part and decorating on his! I have managed to find a record for Margaret Ahern's baptism in the county of Cork. there is only the 'bit in the middle' between birth and marriage to Thomas Seaward. Would you mind telling me if you can what the HMS Lucifer would be doing off the coast of Africa, I guess those documents you mentioned will tell us if he was indeed aboard. I have tracked him in the 1841 Census as being in Kensington London and I am thinking he was maybe waiting to join the navy. The Crimea connection is facinating and I am reading up on the war etc. I have a copy of the document that states the Medal was sent to Yarmouth, is it possible to get a copy of the medal? The Isle of Wight Historical Society has given me the District and reference for his death at Brook. Do you know how I would go about finding his burial place, would it be on the death certificate (name of church etc). He lost a daughter of 2 years and his wife Margaret died also on Isle of Wight. Once again apologies for my tardiness, your information was 'beyond the call of duty' and has made our task so much more interesting and human. Thank you |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 11/02/2011 08:24
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Hi Lindsey I'm really pleased the information was of interest. You do perhaps need to understand that, prior to 1873, joining the Navy was not as we now understand it. Before this date a man was free to move between the Royal and the Merchant Navies. He might sign on for the duration of a RN ships commission then, when paid off, sign on to a merchant ship. It is therefore possible to find gaps in a mans service record. So maybe he worked on a coastal trading ship to London, was unable to get another berth, so signed on to a RN vessel. On your question about West Africa, the Navy vigorously pursued anti-slavery patrols in the area. For each slave taken the men received a bounty, hence the enthusiasm for the work. Many of these released slaves were repatriated to Freetown in Sierra Leone, which is why the town got its name. Copy Baltic medals can be bought cheaply off Ebay, but medal collectors frown on these. Since this particular medal was issued un-named it is possible to buy an original example, from a dealer, for around £180. On your last point, I'm afraid that the Death Certificate will provide no information as to where Thomas is buried. Your best bet is to see if the local Family History Society has recorded Monumental Inscriptions for the local churches, and if his grave features. Please do come back and let us know any further findings. Regards Martin |
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