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Original poster

Anyone a genealogy expert?

31 replies

mollipops · 15/09/2003 10:35

Hi! I'm trying to trace my family tree which goes back to the UK, but it's very hard from here in Australia!
Does anyone know how I can access Royal Navy records pre-WWI? My great grandfather served in it and I'm stuck - can't get anywhere on the opr site. Any ideas appreciated!

Thanx!

OP posts:
beetroot · 15/09/2003 10:42

This reply has been deleted

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Caroline5 · 15/09/2003 20:56

Sorry mollipops, can't help on that, but the Australian genealogy records seem to be vastly better than the UK ones - at least, there are far more online. I managed to trace dh's Australian family back to 1788 (yes he has 3 convicts in his tree -oops!) just sitting here at my computer! Also the searches in NSW were free - unlike here....

Good luck!

hmb · 15/09/2003 21:01

He should be listed as being on board ship in the census (if he was on board ship at the time), which you can search on line at something like www.census.pro.gov.uk (if you google it should get you there).

Have at try on the mormon website. It is free and they have a lot of the census stuff put on their website. It allows you to serch by country, to cut down the numbers.

I was amazed to find my family on there, and dh's back to the 16 centuary. Have fun looking!

Pimpernel · 15/09/2003 21:02

Would the 1901 census help? There's a vessel search on it.

Original poster
mollipops · 16/09/2003 09:52

Thanks pimpernel, I think I might have found him on the census, at least it gives me a birthplace to start looking as I had nothing but a name and occupation to go on! Can't search on ships as I don't know the name of it...
Thanks again, I'll let you know if it works out! ;-)

OP posts:
Copper · 16/09/2003 17:40

mollipops
I know you couldn't make head or tail of the PRO site, but they do have a leaflet called Royal Navy: Ratings’ Service Records 1667-1923 (go catalogues, information leaflets clicking on the red text each time) which tells you what information exists. Unfortunately unless you can go there (long way to go!) you'll have to employ an independent researcher to find the record and get it copied for you. Reseachers are listed under Starting your research ...

rainbow · 16/09/2003 18:20

try free bmd they are quite good i'm told.

rainbow · 16/09/2003 18:22

freebmd hope this works

Pimpernel · 16/09/2003 18:32

The National Maritime Museum has some information about tracing people through naval records here .

The Mormon site that hmb mentioned also has some links to other sources - there's a link to military information on this page .

colette · 16/09/2003 18:42

I don't mean to butt in but I have been meaning to find out how my great grandfather died for ages(there was a lot of strange rumours at the time according to my mum)Can I obtain a copy of a marriage cert online . This is my starting point as I don't even know his name but it will be on my grandparents marriage cert. Trouble is my mum doesn't even know exactly what district they got married in. Any suggestions . Thanks

Oakmaiden · 16/09/2003 18:57

If you know your grandparents names and when they got married, you should be able to find a marriage cert for them - although a place would make it easier! there is good "how to" information at the Family records site .

Pity poor me - trying to trace my father's line I have a g. grandfather born in Lancashire - parents names Peter Jones and Sarah Lloyd, both born in Wales. And absolutely no more information!!!! I'm on the verge of giving up on that one....

Tinker · 16/09/2003 19:32

mollipops - I think the Mormon site does not include catholics. Not 100% about this but think I might be right since think the Mormons convert, retrospectively their ancestors to Mormon. So, if any of your ancestors are catholic you may not find them on their site (which is a pity, since they have done loads of the groundwork )

colette · 16/09/2003 20:16

Oakmaiden I will have a look at the site- thanks a lot.
Mollipops it's really interesting about the mormons as originally I was going to go to their local records place when I was on maternity leave but never made it. My mum's family are mostly catholic so I may have been wasting my time. It's amazing the information you can get on mumsnet

hmb · 16/09/2003 20:21

Some of dh's ancestors are catholic, some are jewish, mine were baptists and I found them on the mormon website. They do 'baptise' the dead (simplistic explanation no offence to non-mormons) but I don't think they exclude any religious group.

Linnet · 16/09/2003 22:05

Tinker, I have Catholic ancestors who are listed on the Mormons site.

But a word of warning to you all, The Mormons site is not Complete and a lot of their information is wrong. You should always try to verify any info you get from them, well you should do this with any website you get genealogy info from.

My classic example of this is an ancestor who was married and had 5 children they are all listed on the Mormons site then the wife died, her death is listed. The husband then remarried and had more children but the new marriage and new children are not on the site. Also I have other ancestors who were living in the same area at the same time and they are not mentioned at all on the mormons site.

It's all very confusing and frustrating. I'm actually quite stuck with that line as the husband was from Ireland but I have no idea whereabouts in Ireland and have hit a brick wall at every turn.

Sorry I can't help with the question on Navy records, haven't found any ancestors in the navy yet. Good Luck though

Tinker · 17/09/2003 19:44

Interesting about the Mormon site, Couldn't find my grandad or granny though

Finbar · 17/09/2003 20:43

Mollipops

i found a site when I was tracing my Great Grandad which was good - it lists all sorts of other useful links
i'll try and do a nlink for you (first time!)
\linkroyal-naval-reserve.co.uk{}
Good luck

Finbar · 17/09/2003 20:44

Let's try again

\linkroyal-naval-reserve.co.uk{}

codswallop · 17/09/2003 21:00

you are crap at links finbar

codswallop · 17/09/2003 21:01

thats it I hope

codswallop · 17/09/2003 21:01

Bum
I take it all back

Finbar · 17/09/2003 21:10

Why can't I do it?!!
I followed all the instructions and everything!

janh · 17/09/2003 22:09

???

janh · 17/09/2003 22:09

owzat?

Original poster
mollipops · 18/09/2003 07:44

Yay janh! It worked, but not really relevant as it's more WWII records which are held in a different place. I'd still have to fly to the UK to go the the pro! I'm not that desperate, not that I wouldn't love a holiday but the finances don't stretch that far. Need to find a rich long lost rellie and inherit! Thanx anyway!

OP posts:
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