One of my ancestors was Robert MORTLEMAN, baptised 1738 in Sudbury Suffolk. He was a marine on the 'Guernsey'and died in Haslar Hospital in 1767 (His will, made while he was in the Hospital was probated in April 1767. He left all his possessions to a ship's chandler, Robert GRIGGS, which seems a bit puzzling). I have a couple of questions which listers may be able to answer: 1. How would a nice Suffolk boy (he was 28 when he died) have come to join the Royal Marines ? His brother (baptised at the same time, but not necessarily the same age) went to Harwich, Essex, and ended up owning a Post Office Packet, taking mail to the Continent. 2. Where might Robert be buried - and would there be any record ? A friend looked up his service record for me at TNA, but only noted that a) he suffered from 'the venereals' and b) he had a tobacco allowance amd c) he was on the Guernsey in 1765, when the ship's company was terrorised by the call of the 'Whobbies' http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~insrisg/nature/nw00/814whobbies.html I'd appreciate any information. Anne South Australia

Hi Anne, In 1755 the H.M. Marine Forces were formed as the successors to the Army Marine Regiments. A total of 50 companies were formed based at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. Recruitment would have taken place throughout the country, so he did not necessarily enlist in Woodbridge. You state for example that his brother went to Harwich. Robert could have accompanied, preceded or followed him, and enlisted there or anywhere between there and Chatham, including London. There is a cemetery associated with Hasler Hospital so your man could have been buried there. Perhaps Linda and Tony have some information. "The venereals" were fairly common to Navy personnel at that time (HM Marine Forces came under control of the Admiralty not the Army) As many as 39% of HMS Bounty suffered from it, but this was somewhat extreme HMS Guernsey in 1765 was with Capt Cook in Newfoundland, surveying the south coast. If your man were not married, and not on good terms with his family, it would not be out of the ordinary to leave his estate to another man, but the wording of the will could suggest a reason - debt, friendship, or something else. David But what are 'Whobbies'? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anne Chambers" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 5:27 AM Subject: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] Haslar Hospital > One of my ancestors was Robert MORTLEMAN, baptised 1738 in Sudbury > Suffolk. He was a marine on the 'Guernsey'and died in Haslar Hospital > in 1767 (His will, made while he was in the Hospital was probated in > April 1767. He left all his possessions to a ship's chandler, Robert > GRIGGS, which seems a bit puzzling). > > I have a couple of questions which listers may be able to answer: > > 1. How would a nice Suffolk boy (he was 28 when he died) have come to > join the Royal Marines ? His brother (baptised at the same time, but > not necessarily the same age) went to Harwich, Essex, and ended up > owning a Post Office Packet, taking mail to the Continent. > > 2. Where might Robert be buried - and would there be any record ? > > A friend looked up his service record for me at TNA, but only noted that > a) he suffered from 'the venereals' and b) he had a tobacco allowance > amd c) he was on the Guernsey in 1765, when the ship's company was > terrorised by the call of the 'Whobbies' > http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~insrisg/nature/nw00/814whobbies.html > > I'd appreciate any information. > > Anne > South Australia > > ------------------------------- > 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