Friday 28 September 2012

FMP Merchant Navy and Military indexes on FamilySearch

FamilySearch has added more indexes to FindmyPast collections on its site at www.familysearch.org. The new collections are for FindmyPast's Merchant Navy records from 1835-1941, as well as the Chelsea Pension and Militia records found at www.findmypast.co.uk.

I've been researching a particular merchant naval man called Fleming Bishop, and a quick search found three entries. I've already seen the records on FMP, but here is how FamilySearch portrays the result:

Name: Fleming Bishop
Event type: Military Service
Event year range: 1845-1854
Event place: United Kingdom
Birthplace: Fife
Birth year: 1825
Film number: 1482506
Digital folder number: 004584960

Military service? The collection states "This collection includes Merchant Navy Seamen records held at The National Archives. The contents of the records vary, but they usually include name, age, place of birth, register ticket, ship names, and dates of voyages. These records come from The National Archives' record series BT112, BT113, BT114, BT115, BT116, BT119 and BT120." In fact, the recent addition of records to Ancestry on merchant seamen provides considerable detail on his movements, including a handwritten account of a vessel in his care as master which sank near the United States, from which he had to be rescued. No mention of any shots fired in anger at any point!

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

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