Can you help solve a family mystery?

[mutthouse]

This is a long shot but just maybe someone can help me or at least point me in the right direction.
I am doing my family tree, we have lost alot of family members in the last couple of years and I decided to try and find out as much as I can about those we have left, this concerns my Grandads Grandad :-
James Braithwaite Brown born approx 1882! So quite a long way back.
He was given the braithwaite part of his name (family legend bit here) because of an act of heroism, there is reputed to be links to new zealand (I have found a James born there, braithewaite is part of his first name rather than surname and his father is william (correct) and is a sheep farmer), could any of it be true?
I have been googling ships that wrecked in and around new zealand but it is like looking for a needle in a haystack with no real clues to help me.
I do have James' marriage certificate which does confirm his father's name as William, his profession as a Seaman in the Merchant Service in 1906, his was married in Poplar, London to Clara Beatrice Samuels. The rumour is that he jumped ship to do it but again we have no proof.

Two years later in 1908 he had a son, Edward, his job title at the time is listed as Ship's fireman.

I apologise for the rambling nature of my first post and will be grateful of any help you can give me in finding some answers to this family mystery

nic xx

[mutthouse]

Does no one have any ideas?

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

Does no one have any ideas?

Hi.Mutthouse, I really cannot see this enquiry going anywhere unless you can come up with a few more details. This website is full of very knowledgable old salts who could help or at least point you in the right direction. But unless you can come up with names of ships or service records I'm afraid it is pretty well hopeless. Sorry to throw cold water on your search because I know how frustrating these genealogy searches can be.
Pete

[Keith at Tregenna]

Sir, I do have to echo much of what fellow member Pete Leonard (Bruno) has said.

But initially offer you an apology, this to the effect of not answering sooner, I notice the date of 30th November 2010, On reading all it seemed to be familiar and can only guess that I had read the post and meant to return.

Fairly often, the enquirer holds many of the keys and often we research and pass on info, only to be told "we knew that" if your willing to liaise, will do all pos to aid and assist, as Peter says we would need every scrap of info. Also, there are no guarantees, with luck we could strike lucy early, may take some time, or even find little.

I am puzzled by some already and would ask more.

Hopefully, a few of the chaps on site, may also assist, so please continue to assist us to assist you.

If needed, I could e.mail you and sort out some of the finer details.

I would try and work with you.

Intrigued K.

[mutthouse]

Keith any help would be gratefully recieved, the problem I am coming up against is the name, on his marriage certificate his father is William Brown.
Rumour (thats all I have unfortunately) is that the braithwaite came to hime because of some heroic act either by James or by William we have no way of knowing. William is listed as a Sheep Farmer on James's marriage certficate so it is looking likely that James being in the merchant navy is the receiver of the honor.
Rumor also tells us it was linked to New Zealand and as yet I can find no conclusive proof either way.
I did find a record on ancestry of a James Brown of the right age on HMS Warspite but again no way of proving thats the right James Brown (why oh why wasn't he called frodo baggins!) given how many there are in records.

Please feel free to message me as this is something I would really like to try and clear up before too many years pass.

nic xx

[Keith at Tregenna]

Have recieved tonight an e.mail regarding this request, will look further tommorow, would love to help the inquirer further, if anyone else can assist, your help woulld be welcomed, will report back ASAP.

K.

[DeepSea]

Unfortunately there are no surviving Merchant Navy service records covering the years 1857-1918. The only hope of finding any sort of service record is if he was still at sea after 1918. Theses records are held in what is known as the Fourth Registerof Seaman's Service. The original files are held at Southampton at the following address

Southampton Archives,
Southampton City Council,
South Block,
Civic Centre,
Southampton,
S014 7LY.
Tel: 023 8083 2251
Fax: 023 8083 2156
E-Mail city.archives@southampton.gov.uk

This office is open Tuesdays to Fridays 9.30am to 4.30pm, with one late evening opening each month. There is no charge for a personal visit. Alternatively enquiries for information from the records may be made by post, e-mail or fax but there will be a charge for this.

[mutthouse]

Thank you for that DeepSea, I will give them a call. I know he is listed later on on his childrens birth certificates as a ships stoker so it might just be possible that he was still working for the MN. He was listed as living is Poplar so would that be a reality?

If anyone has any ideas about where else I can search particularly relating to the heroic act that gave him the name 'Braithwaite' again rumoured around New Zealand - I have been googling my fingers off but haven't come up with anything yet maybe someone smarter can point me in the right direction.

Thank you all again for your efforts

nic xxx

[Graham Payne]

DeepSea
you continue to amaze me with your knowledge of the MN, keep it up, well done.
Graham

[Keith at Tregenna]

Suffering illness, but will return ASAP.

KEEP POSTING ANY UPDATES AND / OR NEWS

K.