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Sue
Senior Member


4201 Posts
Posted -  03/04/2006  :  18:59

This is not where I would normally a post a question , but it is possible someone out there on the Internet Surf will read this and can help.

My grandfather was Wilfred Widdup  brought up as Wilfred Widdup Marriott. He was born in 1896, and joined the Merchant Navy sometime around 1916 to 1923. About this time he disappeared from his home.

 The story that I have been told is that he worked  as a purser on either the P&O Line or White Star Line, on the routes out to New York. from Scandinavia and Southampton. Circa 1923 he was returning to his ship  at Newcastle from his home in Burnley. He missed it and went to make the connection at Southampton. He never arrived..

I have tried to obtain his records at Kew, and at Southhampton Archive. In both caes only one Wilfred Marriott can be found, and it is not my grandfather. There is no record of a Wilfred Widdup.

So I wondered if anyone knew how else I may find out about this man, which ship he was on, and  when he went missing. It may be that the facts  that I have ben given are not quite correct, and mercahnt navy records may tell me somthing different

There is a photo of Wilfred Widdup on this site, in his uniform. I don't know if that is any help in identifying  which shipping line he may have worked for. Perhaps someone knows a contact address for these companies so that Ican enqiure if Wilfred was employed by them

Any ideas would be gratefully received

Sue




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Sue
Senior Member


4201 Posts
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 12:56
Thanks Wendy, no I didn't know that



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panbiker
Senior Member


2301 Posts
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 13:14
Sue, prepare yourself to get hooked on the information available through the library link. I lost more or less two complete days searching through newspaper stuff for any mention of my next missing link using the portal Wendy mentions. No luck yet for me but ship sailings might be easier to track down. It's a good resource anyway, a good excercise for a rainy day (or two or three....).

I'm sure you will probably have one but if not, you can apply for a Lancashie Library card online

I have added the link as it will be useful for anyone else who may need one.

Edited by - panbiker on 07/08/2011 13:19:17


Ian Go to Top of Page
wendyf
Senior Member


1439 Posts
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 13:37
You are right Ian, it is possible to get lost for days.....
Here is a link to the OnLine reference library, then choose your archive from the menu down the left hand side. Good Luck.


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wendyf
Senior Member


1439 Posts
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 14:29
I like the look of the Highland Glen belonging to Nelson Lines, sailing from London to South America 16th July 1925. Involved in the meat trade, but carrying mail and passengers. (3 weeks outward journey).
Must stop now......


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Sue
Senior Member


4201 Posts
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 15:01
Is this it

Times July 18th 1925



In 1916 P&O Line took over NZSCo  I was always told my Grandfather worked for P&O

This trip went from Southampton. I was told my grandfather disappeared on his way back to his boat in Southampton

My grandmother once told me he had had gone to New Zealand. This ties up a few loose ends, but leads me nowhere yet


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James Powell
New Member


22 Posts
Posted - 08/08/2011 : 00:00
Once you have sailing dates, with other ports mentioned, then it should be possible to narrow down to one or 2 ships.  It is my understanding that a large amount of the UK merchant marine records ended up at Marine Institute (Memorial University, St John's, Newfoundland), for reasons of preservation.  The key for that is to find his seaman's number, or the number of the ship which he sailed on _for certain_.  All UK (and I presume, commonwealth) ships had a # assigned from the early 1800's on.  If you have that info, then you should be able to get his merchant marine identifier (like a military service #), and then be able to find his sailing history.

If he jumped ship overseas, that will have been noted on his employment record, as to where he jumped ship. 

I'm having fun with great granddad's info, he sailed with PSNC for a large # of years, from some period after the Boer War to just before Korea.   I have ship names, and am just generally interested- especially, if I can get to sail to South America.  (I may have missed my chance on that one).  I carry on at sea, as a Marine Engineer in the Canadian Forces.

The annoying thing to me is when you run into national archives stuff which has been converted to digital, and then they want you to pay for access...arg!

PO2 James Powell, CD

all this started because of Mr Harold Collins, MBE...


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Invernahaille
Regular Member


669 Posts
Posted - 09/08/2011 : 00:32
British Seamans ID #s Start with an R. He would have had both a British Seamans Identity Card & A British Seamans Discharge Book, bot using the same number. The latter containing all the ships he had crewed on, and the merits award he earned..  If he joined the MN at the time of the first world war it is possible he was seconded  to Royal Navy duties on a merchantman.
I hope this helps you.

www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/wwi_medals.htm

Edited by - Invernahaille on 09/08/2011 12:36:35 AM


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Sue
Senior Member


4201 Posts
Posted - 09/08/2011 : 22:13
Thanks both. These items of information could not be found last time I searched but now I have a sailing, a company and a list of ships that did the route i may be more successful. I intend redoing my initial seaches and keeping my fingers well crossed. No one could find him on the Mercahnt Navy records before but I am hoping to be more successful now


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wendyf
Senior Member


1439 Posts
Posted - 10/08/2011 : 07:30
Have you seen this website Sue.


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Sue
Senior Member


4201 Posts
Posted - 13/08/2011 : 09:37
Yes thanks, and have searched at Kew and Southampton


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Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 14/08/2011 : 11:27
The following is not about merchant navy records but it is about ship life and I think some of you will find it interesting. I found it during my (unsuccessful) search for an ancestor who emigrated to South Africa.

"LIFE ON BOARD AN EMIGRANT SHIP. Journal of the Ship Recorder Bound to the Cape of Good Hope with Emigrants"

"The following is a transcription of the Journal held at the National Archives, Kew (Ref CO48/262). The Journal written by Mr William Williamson, Surgeon Superintendent on board the Ship Recorder during its journey from Southampton, England to Algoa Bay, South Africa from December 1845 to May 1846."

See this web page - [LINK]


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marilyn
VIP Member


5007 Posts
Posted - 15/08/2011 : 09:05
I am looking for a rather slippery individual reported to be in the Merchant Navy. I am sure he  is out there somewhere, trying to evade detection. Or was it all just family folklore? All I have come up with so far, is a Cornish fisherman by the same name (and mysteriously matching other details). He unfortunately falls into that murky region before compulsory Naval Census began.


get your people to phone my people and we will do lunch...MAZ Go to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 17/08/2011 : 06:22
Maz, you're getting to be the local expert on these records. Nothing to add but I like looking in and seeing you all helping each other. Wonderful!


Stanley Challenger Graham




Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
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