family history help please

[Cath Richardson]

Hello. I have a relative who was a captain in the merchant services (navy?) around 1840's. I only have his birth date (1812) and rough death date. I know he was born in Woolwich so presume he may have worked from London City port until his death in 1846. How can I find out further details, eg which ship he was on, how he died, etc. No records f his death appear on Ancestry. Thanks for your help.

[Cath Richardson]

Thanks for the welcome Marian. His name was Frederick Grant

[Doc Vernon]

Only person with that name as Master of Ship and near that date of Birth is

GRANT

FREDERICK

1808

TRURO, CORNWALL

MASTER

71468

LIVERPOOL, 10/10/1851

BT124/14, image 191, row 5

But wrong place of Birth ???? Will keep looking though.

I cannot find any other so far, so the only other thing is to possibly look at the Aprentices Records for the Years he may have taken up a Course.
The Link is here but its a hit and miss , so up to you.

Apprentices' Names: A - Z | The National Archives

Another Avenue is to try the Southampton Maritime Archive where they hold many Original Records of Seaman.
Central index of Merchant Seamen (southampton.gov.uk)

[j.sabourn]

I should like to point out to those trying to trace long lost relatives of service on British ships. 1. That I believe everyone should be aware is that the master did not have a discharge in his discharge book, even if he had one, and I would of thought the only way of tracing him would of been on the ships Certificate of Registry where it appeared. 2. If trying to trace through his certificate number , the fact that he had a masters certificate does not mean he was a master of a ship , it is a necessary qualification if one wants to be one , but by no means, means he was one. JS

[Cath Richardson]

Thanks very much for this. I'll take a look at the links you sent.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for that. Yes I did read in a book that although someone was traied to become a captain it doesn't mean they actually served as one.

[Cath Richardson]

Thanks so much for this Marian. Yes we think that Frederick & Marian were not married. on his son Fredericks' birth certificate it says that his father has died so assume this must be sometime between Feb and Nov 1846 (conception and Fred jnr's birth). I have tried searching for Marian but apart from her marriage to Charles Webber & her death nothing comes up. Andrew Fox is my brother so no introduction needed thankyou!! I wonder where Kirkdale is - Scotland I guess? What is Gores directory & what is the date of this entry please?