Help with CR Cards from a newby please

[Ray Richardson]

I am looking into a relatives merchant navy history and have found the following cards.
Have read about the record cards so understand a little about them, hopefully.

1 x CR10 - not fully completed on his personal details, but with three ships and dates 1919-1920 -Cert 421406
2 x CR2 with different Dis. A. numbers to CR10 certificate number from 1925 and 1927 - DisA number 1015384
They all bear the same name and a close year of birth.

My questions for the experts here.
1) Should the CR10 cert number be the same as the CR2 DisA numbers?
2) Can a seaman register more than once and hence have two records sets in the archive?
3) Does an archive exist for the CR1 cards that I can try and get?

Many thanks for any assistance

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Ray
As far as i am aware of each Seaman has only one Registration Card that is his ID Card. This is different from the ones you mention above though, however still bears the same Discharge Number.

The CR10 and the CR2 , yes this should be the same Number, as his Discharge .

CR1 Cards can be sought after through either Ancestry, or Find my Past, both of which are paid sites!
Any other questions please ask, and we will try and assist where we can
Cheers

What was his Full name please and possibly his DOB.and where from. Thanks

Can you please Upload the Cards you have so as we can look at them!
Cheers

Discharge A Numbers 1 to 1205217 (fiches 1 to 2531) | The National Archives

Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1918-1941 | findmypast.com


Can a seaman register more than once and hence have two records sets in the archive?

Unless some skulduggery was on the move , i doubt that it would be so, however there may have been a possibility that he had been at Sea , left for a while and then Re Applied with different dates of Birth etc ?? Who knows! Strange thins can happen , and in the older days well??? There were many errors made too by the People who entered the particulars of Seaman when joining!

[Ray Richardson]

Hi,
Many thanks for the replies, 3 files attached.

A bit of back story might help.
Robert Claxton may well be an identity he assumed in 1915 to join the army, prior to this he has several convictions for theft and had multiple aliases under his birth name Robert Holt.
In 1919 he deserted the army and I suspect the CR10 card from 1919 is his way to avoid being caught.
In 1920, just after the last entry on the CR10 he married my grandmother.
Tried to rejoin the army in 1921, was caught and discharged from the army.
The CR2 from 1925 and 1927 under the same number are probably another registration?
In 1927 he abandoned my grandmother and we can find no solid trace of him in the UK or commonwealth countries, Claxton is a fairly common name, especially in Norfolk.
Needless to say I do not have his 'Blue Book' with his journeys in.
Robert Chas- Merchant Seaman.jpg
Robert Claxton MN-1925.jpg
Robert Claxton MN-1927.jpg
Anything you can tell me helps build the picture of his interesting life!

[Doc Vernon]

135234		1135234	1913	SAN SILVESTRE	6233		V1913	#634	Eagle Oil Tpt Co Ltd	GBR London
135234		1135234	1913	SAN SILVESTRE	6233	1930	V1913	#634	Eagle Oil & Sg Co Ltd	GBR London

The above Ship is the one shown on the Card!
Seems he was a naughty Lad in his times, not unlike a lot of us anyway, many got up to some strange things, this includes me too LOL

As you see his ID Number is different, as were all Seamans ID Cards. These were at times used for Travel to various places, and let you in as did a Passport!

Ships on the CR10 Card

43318		1143318	1906	DORA	2662	1919	V1906	#229	British Govt	GBR London
143318		1143318	1906	DORA	2662	1921a	V1906	#229	European Sg Co Ltd	GBR London

122848

1122848

1906

SHEAF FIELD

1533

V1906

#739

Sheaf Steam Sg Co Ltd

GBR Newcastle

143043		1143043	1919	WAR PERIDOT	6661		V1919	#1959	British Govt	GBR London
143043		1143043	1919	WAR PERIDOT	6661	1919	V1919	#1959	Canadian Pacific Railway Co	GBR London
143043		1143043	1919	BOSWORTH	6661	1920	V1919	#1959	Canadian Pacific Railway Co	GBR London
143043		1143043	1919	BOSWORTH	6661	1928	V1919	#1959	H.M.Thomson	GBR London

There are actually only 2 Files attached as the two last ones are the same ??
Cheers

[Ray Richardson]

Apologies here is the other from 1925
Robert Claxton MN-1925.jpg

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for ship data.

The links to https://www.miramarshipindex.nz/ will not let me in without registration.

Will this site show ships journeys, interested to chart where he went as a clue to his location at certain times.

Thanks
Ray

[Doc Vernon]

Ooops! Ray
That again is the same as the others in the other Posts!??
Cheers

The Miramar Index is not for showing Routes etc. And Yes one has to be a Member of that site to get in, it is a Paid site!
For Route Indexes you can apply for the Voyage Records Cards that will be held at the Guildhall Library in London. These Cards will be sent to you on application, plus a Fee that is payable , that depends on how many and what Ships you seek.
Cheers
eg: of a VRC

VCR 001.jpg

Maritime collections - City of London

[Ray Richardson]

Doh!!, a file may be called something but what is actually in it may be different!!!
Remade the file

Robert Claxton MN-1925.jpg

Can I assume the CR10 and CR1 files that exist are all in FindMyPast or Ancestry?
If I understand correctly DisA number1015384 is another registration and a CR1 or CR10 might exist?
Understand not all survived but unsure if FMP or Ancestry only have only copied a portion of them or only have access to a portion.
Found some archives are grinding away at millions of records so more appear each year.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Ray
Yes all the Cards that are available , should be found at FMP. Ancestry has them as well as others. But in all the Cards were over the Yeras set together to make things easier , so all combined now at one Central point. Now that file you give is at last another and correct one LOL CR2

Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Registers of Seamen, Combined Numerical Index (CR1, CR2 and CR10 Series) and Alphabetical Index

Discharge A Numbers 1 to 1205217 (fiches 1 to 2531) | The National Archives


Cheers

[Ray Richardson]

Many many thanks for your help and insight.
Started a couple of new lines of enquiry.
I have requested voyage cards from Guildhall Library that hopefully will shed further light onto my relatives past.

Keep up the excellent work, I will be back with another other MN questions from the family tree.

Ray