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 Royal Naval Seamen (1873-1923) ADM 188
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| swamprat |
Posted on 25/01/2008 10:22
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 New Member  Posts: 1 Joined: 25/01/2008 |
I just found a treasure trove of information, online at the National Archives, Kew, London. Originally, with some help from Tony Daly, I knew my G. Grandfather, Edward Gillespie, was stationed at Keel and Ringsend. I also knew he was born in England and his date of birth. So I tried the Online Documents facility at Kew. Using the Advanced Search facility at ADM 188 and entering just Surname and Forename - eureka! For £3.50 I downloaded a single A4 sheet detailing my GG's service record from when he entered the Royal Navy in England as an Able Seaman in 1878 until his death at Ringsend, Dublin Coastguard Station in 1907. Even the colour of his eyes! What a find! Hopefully this info. may be of use to others.  |
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| annieoburns |
Posted on 31/01/2008 16:11
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New Member Posts: 6 Joined: 10/05/2007 |
Thanks for that tip! I got three references that looked promising but of different chaps with same name. The clue is in the date displayed on the free search result. It is of enlistment rather than retirement. Lovely to see actual copies of hand written form. My ancestors would have been pre 1873. Will those be available in time online? Sure is easier that taking a trip to Kew! Anne |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 31/01/2008 17:02
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 Administrator  Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Anne If I can just correct you, the date displayed with the free search is the date of birth, not date of enlistment or retirement. However, you have to treat this date with a degree of caution, because it can be out by a few years for a whole raft of reasons. Martin |
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| annieoburns |
Posted on 04/02/2008 23:01
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New Member Posts: 6 Joined: 10/05/2007 |
Sorry Martin, yes I was not looking too clearly at the records I got, once I realised they were the wrong persons. I knew the dates looked wrong and hoped they might be pension dates. Anyone know if earlier records might be made available in same format? Anne |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 05/02/2008 11:19
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Anne There are earlier records in the ADM 139 series, but these are not yet online, although I have noticed that they are beginning to appear when a general catalogue search is done. This series of records date from 1853 to the start of the ADM 188 series in 1873. The drawback is that for a mans service to be recorded in ADM 139 he had to sign-on for a period of 'Continuous Service', but the option still remained for him to just sign-on in one ship for the duration of it's commission (generally about 3yrs), he was then free to leave the navy. Many men followed this route and entered the merchant navy after their period the RN, where the pay and conditions were better, but perhaps returning to the RN when they were unable to get a berth in a merchant ship. It therefore follows that in this circumstance no official record of service exists, and a man's career has to be traced from ship to ship - not an easy task. Other than that, the other series of records is in ADM 29. These apply when a man made an application for a pension. Regards Martin |
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