Hi Shirlee, Sadly, the words "needle" and "haystack" spring to mind. I think that all the references to George Bradshaw, certainly between 1855 and 1861, are going to be found in Public Record Office in Victoria, see: http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/PROVguides/PROVguide051/PROVguide051.jsp , if you have not already enquired there. At least they may be able to suggest further lines of research, and the sort of documents that you need to be looking at. From 1861 onwards the world would seem to be your oyster - like many mariners, he evidently got restless. You need to establish where his roots might have been, so perhaps a Census, if he appeared in one, might tell you about his origins. I have not managed to find any mention of one online, but perhaps you've already been down that route? Unless George Bradshaw came back to the UK, it's rather difficult to suggest what to do at this remove. You need his date and place of birth to identify him, and link him to an individual back in the UK, if indeed that is where he ended up, but he may well have done his best to cover his tracks! Sorry not to have more helpful suggestions. Kind regards, PK ________________________________ From: Shirlee Cantwell <tcantwell@xtra.co.nz> To: D KLEIN <klein84@btinternet.com> Cc: MARINERS@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, 7 June, 2011 6:07:27 Subject: Re: [MAR] George BRADSHAW Seaman b 1825 London  Hi Peter I am afraid nothing much is known about George Bradshaw seagoing adventures. He married Agnes Russell in Sydney on 9 May 1853. The very early NSW Marr Certs did not allow for parents names. The witnesses were a James Cavanagh and George Paterson - perhaps they were shipmates of George's. His last daughter was born on 23 August 1861 so you could he say he stayed around from 1853 to early 1861 then he took off. George and Agnes moved to Victoria after their only son George was born in 1855. Three daughters were born in Emerald Hill, Victoria, and the last one in Sandys Creek, Victoria. I went through the Mariners and Ship in Australian Waters Index and there seemed to be many George Bradshaw's with ages ranging from 17 to 48 yrs old from 1856 to 1882 and none of them were Masters. Perhaps he took for Gt Britain and made sure never sail to back to Australia waters again. Shirlee Wellington, NZ ----- Original Message ----- >From: D KLEIN >To: Shirlee Cantwell >Cc: Mariners-L@rootsweb.com >Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 10:43 AM >Subject: Re: [MAR] George BRADSHAW Seaman b 1825 London > > >Hello Shirlee, > > >You don't tell us much about George Bradshaw - such as when was he born, >where he lived, or where he sailed from? Having said this, checking the >Mercantile Navy Lists, starting in 1849, there was one certificated master >mariner during the 1850s/60s, a George Jones Bradshaw, who was certificated No. >2612 at London as a Master 2nd Class in 1850. Some of his early ships are >named: in 1851 he was listed 1st Mate on board the Indus of London, sailing >from Southampton to the Med. In 1852 he was master of the Haddington, >sailing from London to Southampton; and in 1853 master of the Norna of >London, sailing from Southampton to Constantinople. He was still listed in >1864. Could this be your man? > > >The only other George Bradshaw I can find listed at this time is a George >William Bradshaw, certificated 22627 as 2nd Mate at London in 1860. > > >I hope there might be something useful here, although these may well be the >wrong men altogether. > > >Regards, > > >Peter Klein > > > ________________________________ From: Shirlee Cantwell <tcantwell@xtra.co.nz> >To: MARINERS@rootsweb.com >Sent: Monday, 6 June, 2011 21:04:37 >Subject: [MAR] George BRADSHAW Seaman b 1825 London > >I am new to this list. George BRADSHAW is my Great Great Grandfather and on >the Victorian birth certiciate for the eldest two children he was stated he >was a Master Mariner and Mariner. He deserted the family early in 1861 >before my great grandmother was born. > >Have searched Ancestry and have found a seaman by the name of George Bradshaw >who it could be. > >I thought I could trace him using the Family Search microfilm starting with >the Alphabetical register of Seaman, 1835-1844--class BT119--index to Bt >112. Is this a good one to start with and what other microfilm could I >search? > >Shirlee >Wellington, NZ > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >MARINERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in >the subject and the body of the message >

Hi Peter I think you are right, I am looking for a needle in the haystack. I have been there done that when it comes to researching him. All we know is what was provided on his marriage certificate and the birth certificates of his children. Thank you Shirlee Wellington, NZ