Sailors at sea during Census

[busyglen]

I have been trying to trace my husbands gt. grandfather John Peters, born in Devonport, Devon 1856 (and entered RN in 1871), on the 1881 Census.

I have him on the 1891 as a Coastguard in Kent, and from then on, but cannot locate him on the 1881 at all. I have looked at the Navy ships in Port, and could only find one John Peters, which doesn't have much info and I don't think that is him. What was the criteria for men at sea? Were they ever listed elsewhere, or did they disappear from the face of the earth during Census times? |shakehead

He was married at this time to Ann ? born Devonport, and she had three daughters from a previous marriage. Elizabeth, Alice and Bessie? I found her on the 1881 and she was shown as wife of seaman.

I should be grateful for any advice.

Glenys

[Jo Simpsons]

I've just had a quick look and there is a John Peters on board a ship, Foam, in 1881. It doesn't give an age or place of birth, it says "doesnt remember these particulars" !

Jo :)

[Trish]

I've just had a quick look and there is a John Peters on board a ship, Foam, in 1881. It doesn't give an age or place of birth, it says "doesnt remember these particulars" !

Jo :)Jo, I'm curious -- since I can't find my master mariner ancestor on the 1891 census and have assumed that he is at sea. Where are you looking? What sources are there for mariners at the time of the censuses? |help|

Trish

[Jo Simpsons]

Hi Trish,

I looked on Ancestry in the reidence section, Royal Navy. The desrcription for the vessel, Foam, says, station, Cape of Good Hope and West coast of Africa,position of the ship at midnight Sunday April 3rd 1881, anchored off Elmina.
Jo

[busyglen]

Hi Jo,

I am almost certain that is the one I found, will have to look at the 1881 CD again. But....the LDS transcription doesn't show `doesn't remember'. The spelling was suspect too as several of the crew were shown as Krooman!!

I doubt very much that John Peters would have forgotton where he was born and his age, as he was presumably married and living with Ann at this time, (although I haven't been able to find a marriage yet). His first born son John was also born in Devonport, Devon so I still feel that this is not`he'.

Oh how I wish I could get somewhere with at least one of my lines! |banghead|

Thank you for looking Jo, it's much appreciated. Do you know if there are other ways of checking ships at sea other than via Ancestry? Or...would the Ancestry details be complete for 1881 ships at sea, in which case I've lost him!!

Glenys

[Jo Simpsons]

It does say Kroomen on the census, I have sent you the census page! LOL

I'm not sure how complete ancestry is but it also follows from lds discs. Perhaps they were having a laugh :confused:
Not for you though!
Jo :)

[busyglen]

Thanks for that Jo.

Oh well, I didn't think for one minute that I'd actually found him! |banghead| but thanks anyway for trying. :)

Glenys.

[Jo Simpsons]

This site may be of help

http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/UKCensuses.html

Jo :)

[busyglen]

Thanks Jo,

That has at least clarified the situation regarding the 1881 which is what I am interested in. I have come to the conclusion (rightly or wrongly) that the John Peters I am looking for was wrongly enumerated, ie. name spelt differently. When I have time (WHEN) I will have to trawl the Navy CD and look for a likely candidate. I feel so sure that the one we both found, wasn't the right one. He was quite a knowledgeable man, so I can't see him not knowing how old he was or where he came from. |shakehead

What fun I am going to have. |woohoo|

Glenys