Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I have been to the National Archives Record Office at Kew all day today. I tried to obtain the seaman's pouch for my Dad, Walter Roberts. I supplied reference numbers that you good folks had given to me at Olympia. They ordered the thing to be produced and I sat there for over an hour and a half. When I politely repeated my request, first I was told that I couldn't have it and then I was told it did not exist. They explained to me that seamens pouches were not retained prior to 1913. Then they said that the retention of them had been resumed in 1972. I explained about my Dad but I was told that if he had served prior to 1913 AND was still in service after 1972 then he would have retained his pouch and that it could be available for viewing for service continuing after 1972. I am confident that I have got that correct but it still amounts to my Dad's pouch not being available. HOWEVER, there seems to be a person called Walter Roberts, born 8th March 1902, the date given by my Dad on his Form CR 10. I have been told that this is going to be copied and sent to me. Another aspect is that if the seaman is still alive a sizeable portion of information will not be released. I had taked a copy of my Dad's Death Certificate and reluctantly thay accepted it. Yet again I wonder if they will spot that he claimed to have been born in 1902 on his CR10 but the death certificate shows his birth as 1903

I have been to Southampton and a coloured copy of my Dad's CR 10 is going to be posted to me.

Although I am slightly confused I think I understand what has been going on. My pleasure at Southampton was marred because I collected a Parking Ticket.

If this is of any assistance to anyone it might save them some of the frustration I experienced.

Hi Phil

God you sounds like you have had a hell of a time, doesnt sound easy at all..trying to get these documents..my Grandad was in the Merchant Navy and his two brothers ..dont think i will bother...happy with all the ships hes been on as we have all his log books..

xx

Hello Colette,

Thank you for your reply. I sometimes wonder why I ever started this business - What are "log books" and where can I look for them? More 'Parking tickets' by the sound of it.

Phil

Sounds like you had a lot of problems there Phil, I hope what you finally get is worth the trouble.

On the National Archives website there are a lot of research guides on many subjects including Merchant Navy. I suggest you have a look at them - they are downloadable. I think you will find them helpful in your search for information.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/reco ... isting.htm

Hi Phil

Its his seamans record book they have various books from year ? to year ?

Hello again Colette,

Thank you again for the information and picture of a log book. I am delighted to see that it contains a photograph of the holder. I have just been informed by the good folks in Canada that, not only are they sending me crew lists of the ships my Dad sailed on but they are including a LOG BOOK. That is more good news. The cloud that has now appeared is a telephone call from the National Archives at Kew that they do not have a seamans pouch for Walter Roberts, it is for William Roberts. Still, clouds have silver linings. I am rapidly learning some of the frustrations that all of you good people must experience in your researches. Never mind - we will keep on 'til the end of the road.

Phil

Good Afternoon to you Hilary,

My apologies to you because I missed your message for a moment. Now I have taken your advice and will be spending 'many an hour' digging into the NAR website you mentioned. Thank you very much for it.

Phil

Hi Phil

Good News after all your efforts..


What years was Walter at Sea to and from...my Grandad also called Walter haaaaaaaaaaa started abt 1932 when he was 16..he sailed to Canada..he was on The Canadian Paciffic Liners /Empress of Australia etc...

My dad paid tribute to his father on this web site, dad worked on the Railway here then in Liberia West Africa..his section on his father names all the ships he was on..just wondering if maybe the two Walters SHIPS CROSSED so to speak and they worked together..

http://www.derbysulzers.com/birkenheadships.html

Also who did you contact in Canada re books..?


xx

Hello Colette,

To start with I doubt if the 'paths crossed'. My Dad was born in Bangor, North Wales in1903. The only time frame that I know about his seafaring life came to my notice when an article appeared in a newspaper from the area he lived in in Essex. It related to him and my mother going for a holiday for their Golden Wedding anniversary. He remarked to the news paper people that he had been in the Merchant Navy until his marriage in 1922. Since I have researched my mothers side of my ancestry I have now started on my Dad's side. Him being Welsh with a name like Roberts doesn't have lot going for him so I started to probe his seafaring antics. When I went to the genealogical event at Olympia I was introduced to Tanya McDonald of the Memorial University of Newfoundland, (tanyas@mun.ca). She explained to me that she had access to Crew Lists. I was able to supply the names of three ships my Dad had sailed on and she has done the rest back in Canada. Because I was born in 1932 I did not learn anything about my Dad's seafaring life. He never discussed it. That is it in a rather large nutshell but it shows that I am really starting from scratch.

Phil

Hi Phil

Have you looked at the incoming passenger records on Ancestry there are a few Walter Roberts records coming up..i got loads of my Grandads from there..ships crew lists i mean..


Good luck with the Roberts research and if you get stuck give us all a shout on here.


xxx

Hello Colette,

Yes I have looked on the Ancestry Web site at my local library. I found that there is a record of Walter Roberts, born in 1903 in Bangor and going to sea in 1911. That is what it said but I was unable to dig further at the time because the library research branch has closed for a month to be relocated. The coincidences do not stop there. On the incoming passenger list for the SS Victoria, I think, there is a reference to a 9 year old called Walter Roberts coming into Liverpool ( my hometown) from Canada in 1912. This ship was owned by the Allan line. I know, I know, I have been told so many times not to jump to conclusions BUT. Guess what my middle brother was called. He was my Dad's favourite son. Yup you've guessed it, he was called Allan. There is one thing that I have greatly developed in this business and that is that you have to have a wonderful imagination and sense of humour.

Phil