> Quite a lot of my relations in the late 19th and early 20th century were > sailors in the merchant navy. On my mother's side, many were qualified > master mariners; on my father's more often they were lower-ranking crew > on larger ships. Is anyone aware of any records that might be helpful > in adding details to their bare names and vital dates? TNA have extensive Merchant Navy records, particularly the register of Merchant seamen from 1835, with lists of ships, opening access to log books from 1850, with voyage details. Download their leaflet to see the slightly different coverage at different dates. Masters and Mates tickets were kept from 1845. I would also recommend the (rather more clearly explained) book by Chris and Michael Watts, 'My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman (pub SOG) There are certain records at the National Maritime Museum - applications for Masters' certificates, for example, but you need the number from TNA first, Modern records from 1929 may be in Cardiff. If a seaman died leaving family in need, there may be a Trinity House Petition (film at SOG and some printed. Lloyd's Captains registers from 1869-1948 show birth dates, place of qualification, voyages etc. losses of ships. The Mariners Mirror has a lot of background stuff too. EVE Author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society