Hi Charles, My husband and I have been tracking several of my male ancestors who served in the Royal Navy around 1861. The URL below is a good place to start that search. There are a lot of records, only some of which are searchable. We downloaded (for 3.50 pounds) a record from one of my husband's family. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/familyhistory/military/navy/rnstep1.htm I am curious. Can any naval history buffs answer a couple of questions for me. 1) How easy was it for an able seaman to become the (lowest) officer, a petty officer, in the navy? I have found someone who might be an ancestor listed in the 1861 Census as an able seaman. As of 1868, when my ggrandmother was born, her father is given as a petty officer in the Royal Navy. Is this a likely advance in England of the time? 2)I can find absolutely NO record of a marriage between this man (John Little) and my ggrandmother's mother, searching through the BMD index and original images, for any conceivable places they might have married (her home county, county where they lived). I know that not everyone got married, but the mother had been previously married, so assume she would marry the second time. We have also searched on a site that gives marriages at sea, with no results. Any suggestions? By the way, we did search the National Archives online records for this fellow and, even though he appears on a ship as of 1861, we were unable to find him in the records. I believe the online records only occur between 1873 and 1923, so its possible he had retired from the navy by 1873 although his last child was born in 1876. Thanks! Lynne Quoting Charles Windsor <[email protected]>: > Hi Mike, > > You were asking what his full name was? It is Jacob Westlake Windsor born > 1773 in East Molesey, Surrey. > > I wonder if I could access his records from the Royal Navy for the period > 1811, and see if anything is listed. I guess this would be on the National > Archives site, Eh? > > Many thanks for your interest Mike, > Regards, > Charles > Quebec > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 4:26 PM > Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] Memorial to JACOB WESTLAKE WINDSOR > > >> Hi Charles, >> >> What was his full name? >> >> The use of the term paymaster indicates that he was a serving officer of >> the >> Royal Navy not a Dockyard Official. Thus the accident may have occurred >> onboard a ship in harbour. Portsmouth has had many burial grounds >> developed with >> the gravestones being broken up, used as paving etc and the practice >> continues >> today. Why there should be two references to memorials of different dates >> some 59 years after the incident is unknown unless they were references >> to him >> on his childrens/grandchildrens graves. >> >> While on this problem yesterdays Portsmouth News had an article about some >> 25 urns containing ashes at the Haslar Chapel which will be reburied, >> probably >> at the Clayhall Cemetery, unless the relatives wish otherwise. >> Unfortunately >> they have only traced two of the families concerned. >> >> Good luck in your hunt. >> >> Mike >> Waterlooville >> >> PS Which is why it is always important to verify the source of your >> information! >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >> message >> >

Hi Mike, You were asking what his full name was? It is Jacob Westlake Windsor born 1773 in East Molesey, Surrey. I wonder if I could access his records from the Royal Navy for the period 1811, and see if anything is listed. I guess this would be on the National Archives site, Eh? Many thanks for your interest Mike, Regards, Charles Quebec ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 4:26 PM Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] Memorial to JACOB WESTLAKE WINDSOR > Hi Charles, > > What was his full name? > > The use of the term paymaster indicates that he was a serving officer of > the > Royal Navy not a Dockyard Official. Thus the accident may have occurred > onboard a ship in harbour. Portsmouth has had many burial grounds > developed with > the gravestones being broken up, used as paving etc and the practice > continues > today. Why there should be two references to memorials of different dates > some 59 years after the incident is unknown unless they were references > to him > on his childrens/grandchildrens graves. > > While on this problem yesterdays Portsmouth News had an article about some > 25 urns containing ashes at the Haslar Chapel which will be reburied, > probably > at the Clayhall Cemetery, unless the relatives wish otherwise. > Unfortunately > they have only traced two of the families concerned. > > Good luck in your hunt. > > Mike > Waterlooville > > PS Which is why it is always important to verify the source of your > information! > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message >

Hi Ken, Its a real challenge. I'm going to have a few words with my maternal grandmother when I catch up with her. She was born MORRIS illegitimate. Became LIGHTFOOT when her mother married. Became MOORLEY when she married Had four girls and two boys all MOORLEY although my mother the eldest was registered the day her mother got married. When Mr MOORLEY disapppeared she teamed up with Mr LAWRENCE. The first child of this union was a LIGHTFOOT. The next two were LAWRENCE. After MR MOORLEY was declared legally dead she married MR LAWRENCE using her original name MORRIS. Good hunting Mike Waterlooville

Hi Charles, What was his full name? The use of the term paymaster indicates that he was a serving officer of the Royal Navy not a Dockyard Official. Thus the accident may have occurred onboard a ship in harbour. Portsmouth has had many burial grounds developed with the gravestones being broken up, used as paving etc and the practice continues today. Why there should be two references to memorials of different dates some 59 years after the incident is unknown unless they were references to him on his childrens/grandchildrens graves. While on this problem yesterdays Portsmouth News had an article about some 25 urns containing ashes at the Haslar Chapel which will be reburied, probably at the Clayhall Cemetery, unless the relatives wish otherwise. Unfortunately they have only traced two of the families concerned. Good luck in your hunt. Mike Waterlooville PS Which is why it is always important to verify the source of your information!

Interesting site ~ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.asp?pubid=274 Edna ~ Ottawa

Hi, Looking for some information on a memorial to my 4xggrandfather who was a paymaster at the Royal Navy Dockyards and died in 1811 as a result of a unspecified accident at the age of 38. I recently received a family tree from a distant cousin that had a notation and I quote "monument to his memory standing in burying ground, 1877 and 1900 Kingston church burying ground Portsea" I have contacted a chap at the Portsmouth Memorials web site and he told me that he was not aware of any existing memorial, and that The Kingston Church would have been St. Mary,s on Fratton Road and that all the headstones and monuments were cleared out in the 1960,s, and goes on to say that the graveyard was closed to new burials in the 1850,s when the Kingston Cemetery was established half a mile from the church. This notation was put on this tree in the 1940,s and the person is now deceased, and have no idea of the dates 1877 and 1900, perhaps a member of the family put up a memorial, or the navy had. I wondered what happened to the stones when the cemetery was cleared out? and if this accident involved other persons at the dockyard in 1811. I wonder if there was any news in the local papers at that time . I would appreciate it if anyone had any idea, as to where I could find out any more information on this memorial or accident. I know it is almost two hundred years ago now, but would be interesting to find out. Many thanks, Kindest regards, Charles Windsor

Thanks Chris for the idea. Someone sent me an 1881 listing of a RANCE family in Brighton Surrey, which is a possability but that too appears to be a dead end. As far as I know he had no middle name but his son was named William John. I am going to see if I can get a read out of the 1871 census to maybe find his family there. Also he,at one point on a form, indicated his mothers maiden name was ANNIE TYE. Again no luck. Thanks for trying. Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: "cpounder" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 3:36 PM Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] William Rant >I too have had a good look for William and most William Rants on the 1881 > cen' and FreeBMD seem to come from the Norfolk or Lincoln areas of > England. > > Have you looked under a variant or a mis-transcription : Rand, Grant or > simular? > > Did William have other forenames ? As people often used their second or > even > their third name all their lives. > > In my own tree I have a Miriam Ivy known all her life as Ivy, Beeley's > transcribed on one census as Bailey. > Also James Quew my G/Granddad, was known as James Jubber for most of his > life before he married. This was because his father (James Quew) died when > he was a baby and his mother remarried Jonathon Jubber > > Just a few idea's > > Chris P NZ :-) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message >

Taken from another list... The National Archives research guide 60 for Passport Records can be found: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=109 Edna - Ottawa

Hi everyone, I have a marriage here from Gosport in 1915. The groom's occupation appears to be "E.L. Pensioner". Does anyone have any ideas what this is or could be please? Many thanks, Jon

I too have had a good look for William and most William Rants on the 1881 cen' and FreeBMD seem to come from the Norfolk or Lincoln areas of England. Have you looked under a variant or a mis-transcription : Rand, Grant or simular? Did William have other forenames ? As people often used their second or even their third name all their lives. In my own tree I have a Miriam Ivy known all her life as Ivy, Beeley's transcribed on one census as Bailey. Also James Quew my G/Granddad, was known as James Jubber for most of his life before he married. This was because his father (James Quew) died when he was a baby and his mother remarried Jonathon Jubber Just a few idea's Chris P NZ :-)

Do you have his parents names ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Williams" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 11:08 AM Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] WILLIAM RANT > Jenny, Thanks for trying for me. I was hoping his family would show up > on > the 1871 census, the year before he was born.and that way I could find > their > names. I have written to the Australian Queensland list in hope that he > might show up there. Otherwise he is a complete blank from 1872 until > 1906. > Somehow remembering him I doubt if he changed his name. Anyway Jenny, > Thanks for looking. > > Ken > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jenny M Benson" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 2:54 AM > Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] WILLIAM RANT > > >> Ken Williams wrote >>>I am requesting help to try and dismantle a Brick Wall. >>>On a 1940 Wartime registration my Grandfather, WILLIAM RANT, indicated >>>his birth was on March 22, 1872 in Portsmouth England, and his parents >>>born there also. >> >> This is a difficult one. >> >> FreeBMD has no record of anyone by the name of RANT being born or >> married in Hampshire. The GRO Index images for Mar and Jun quarters of >> 1872 have only one Rant, a girl born in Norwich in the Jun Q. >> >> Do you know when William's parents married? Is it possible that he >> changed his name at some time, for whatever reason? >> -- >> Jenny M Benson >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >> message >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message >

No idea of their names, but on his daughters Birth Certificate under"Mothers Maiden Name" he entered HIS mothers name ANNIE TYE. I have never found a record of this name either. Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: "B & PJ Murdoch" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 10:21 PM Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] WILLIAM RANT > Do you have his parents names > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ken Williams" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 11:08 AM > Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] WILLIAM RANT > > >> Jenny, Thanks for trying for me. I was hoping his family would show up >> on >> the 1871 census, the year before he was born.and that way I could find >> their >> names. I have written to the Australian Queensland list in hope that he >> might show up there. Otherwise he is a complete blank from 1872 until >> 1906. >> Somehow remembering him I doubt if he changed his name. Anyway Jenny, >> Thanks for looking. >> >> Ken >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Jenny M Benson" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 2:54 AM >> Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] WILLIAM RANT >> >> >>> Ken Williams wrote >>>>I am requesting help to try and dismantle a Brick Wall. >>>>On a 1940 Wartime registration my Grandfather, WILLIAM RANT, indicated >>>>his birth was on March 22, 1872 in Portsmouth England, and his parents >>>>born there also. >>> >>> This is a difficult one. >>> >>> FreeBMD has no record of anyone by the name of RANT being born or >>> married in Hampshire. The GRO Index images for Mar and Jun quarters of >>> 1872 have only one Rant, a girl born in Norwich in the Jun Q. >>> >>> Do you know when William's parents married? Is it possible that he >>> changed his name at some time, for whatever reason? >>> -- >>> Jenny M Benson >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> [email protected] with the word >>> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >>> message >>> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >> message >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message >

Jenny, Thanks for trying for me. I was hoping his family would show up on the 1871 census, the year before he was born.and that way I could find their names. I have written to the Australian Queensland list in hope that he might show up there. Otherwise he is a complete blank from 1872 until 1906. Somehow remembering him I doubt if he changed his name. Anyway Jenny, Thanks for looking. Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jenny M Benson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 2:54 AM Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] WILLIAM RANT > Ken Williams wrote >>I am requesting help to try and dismantle a Brick Wall. >>On a 1940 Wartime registration my Grandfather, WILLIAM RANT, indicated >>his birth was on March 22, 1872 in Portsmouth England, and his parents >>born there also. > > This is a difficult one. > > FreeBMD has no record of anyone by the name of RANT being born or > married in Hampshire. The GRO Index images for Mar and Jun quarters of > 1872 have only one Rant, a girl born in Norwich in the Jun Q. > > Do you know when William's parents married? Is it possible that he > changed his name at some time, for whatever reason? > -- > Jenny M Benson > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message >

Ken Williams wrote >I am requesting help to try and dismantle a Brick Wall. >On a 1940 Wartime registration my Grandfather, WILLIAM RANT, indicated >his birth was on March 22, 1872 in Portsmouth England, and his parents >born there also. This is a difficult one. FreeBMD has no record of anyone by the name of RANT being born or married in Hampshire. The GRO Index images for Mar and Jun quarters of 1872 have only one Rant, a girl born in Norwich in the Jun Q. Do you know when William's parents married? Is it possible that he changed his name at some time, for whatever reason? -- Jenny M Benson

Brush up on your sterling... Edna - Ottawa ~~ Pounds, shillings and pennies Prior to decimalisation in 1971, British currency was represented by the old English 'Pounds, Shillings and Pence' or 'LSD'. The 'L' denoted the £ pound-sign; strangely 'D' or 'd' denoted the pence, and coincidentally 'S' denoted shillings, since shilling was not the origin of the S. The £ and L symbols were derived from Latin 'libra', like the Zodiac sign of the weighing scales, and literally from 'libra' (also shown as 'librae') the Latin word meaning a pound weight, from Middle English (weight, as you will see, related closely to monetary value). The penny 'D' in LSD, and also lower case 'd' more commonly used when pence alone were shown, was from 'Denarius' (also shown as 'denari' or 'denarii'), a small and probably the most common silver Roman coin, which loosely equated to one day's pay for a labourer. S of course was associated with shilling but originally derived from the Roman coin 'Solidus' (prior to 1387 in English translations shown as 'Solidy', and also shown more recently in English as 'Solidi' and 'Solidii', being Latin plural versions). The Solidus was originally an Imperial Roman coin introduced by Constantine (c.274-337AD), so called from the full Latin 'solidus nummus', meaning solid coin. The symbols of the pre-decimal British money therefore had origins dating back almost two thousand years.

I am requesting help to try and dismantle a Brick Wall. On a 1940 Wartime registration my Grandfather, WILLIAM RANT, indicated his birth was on March 22, 1872 in Portsmouth England, and his parents born there also. I am unable to find this family on the 1881 census. The next positive "sighting" was when he arrived in Vancouver in 1906. His daughter, my mother, was born here in August of that year. His wife was Elizabeth Mary Harrison, born February 22 1870. in Greenwich Kent. I have no idea when or where they married. Recent family information suggests they arrived from Brisbane Australia, but our Library Ships list Records stop at 1905. A few years back I was not able to gain any information from Australia, but I will keep trying. I would be appreciative if someone could check the 1871 census and possibly the 1891 one, to see if the family shows up. On my mothers Birth Certificate under the question "Mothers Maiden Name" he entered HIS mothers name ANNIE TYE. This was corrected years later. Using his Birth date how could I try to gain his Birth Certificate. Thank You in advance for any help you may provide. Otherwise just wait until I catch up with him! Ken Williams, Surrey, B.C. Canada

I'm not sure if anyone has already suggested this to you, but the Church of the Ascension is at North End, Portsmouth. Could this mean that someone lived in that parish, or perhaps that the banns were read in that church for some reason? Margaret ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Parker" <[email protected]> To: "Portsmouth List" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 6:48 PM Subject: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] "Ascension Portsmouth" > My uncle - Lawrence Edward Humber PARKER - was married on 14 Apr 1941 in Portsmouth. He was at that time serving in the Pioneer Corps (non-combatant). His address on the certificate reads Garstang, Lancashire, which was presumably where he was billeted. However in the same column - residence at time of marriage - the words "Ascension Portsmouth" have been deleted. Any ideas of to what they would refer? Of course if could be that the item was entered on the wrong certificate and had nothing to do with my uncle.. > I must have attended the wedding, but cannot recall it. However I do believe that all the family weddings in Portsmouth were at St Mary's, in spite of my uncle being a Jehovah's Witness. > > Nevertheless I would appreciate any thoughts, ideas or answers. > > David > >From a chilly Toronto > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi David, As you evidently have the certificate of your uncle's wedding, doesn't it state where the wedding actually took place? that is standard details for a wedding certificate. I wouldn't be surprised if the venue was a registry office. Kind regards, Jon

Hello all Today we have uploaded as follows: FARRINGDON BURIALS 1731-69 TRANSCRIBED BY MARGARET TREGLIO, USA FORDINGBRIDGE MARRIAGES - 1828-1840 - TRANSCRIBED BY LIZ LANE, UK LONG SUTTON BAPTISM INDEX - TRANSCRIBED BY DAVID NELLER, UK LONG SUTTON MARRIAGES BRIDES INDEX AND GROOMS INDEX - TRANSCRIBED BY DAVID NELLER BEAULIEU BURIALS - 1783-1800 - TRANSCRIBED BY RAY KING, NEW ZEALAND Thank you to all of our volunteers - this will only work if we all pull together - every Hampshire researcher should do their bit. You can check on these and all of the other transcriptions FREE online at www.knightroots.co.uk and click on Online Transcriptions. We are always looking for donations of transcriptions or microfiche, village histories and photographs (must be your own copyright)or of course, volunteer transcribers. Contact [email protected] for details. Thanks Take care Linda & Tony Hampshire OPC Co-ordinators

David Very pleased to communicate. Shall we go off Roots Web? My e-mail address is [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) Philip Wray