Many years ago I had limited progress looking for family members in the lists of Seaman’s Tickets at the PRO. However I am very much the amateur and wondered if anything has been transcribed, or if there are other records that might give indication as to the career of my 3x great grandfather and his son. I am not very confident with what I’ve got – couldn’t work out the ports from which they sailed to and from (except Exeter kept cropping up), neither could I ascertain any names of vessels on which they sailed. WILLIAM ROBERT (SMITH) PINE : born 30th April 1818 Exmouth. Registered (1835-1844 system), but I couldn’t comprehend the ticket number or details given!. I couldn’t find him in the (1845-1854) system but I would imagine he must have been active and then in (1853-1857) I think I found him with ticket number 32955. He married Mary Ann MARSHALL in November 1842 at Starcross (other side of estuary) and they had 5 children all born Exmouth. WILLIAM was at home, noted as mariner on all census occasions except 1851. In 1851 both William and his wife and 3 young children are not registered in Devon. An error or could they have been at sea? William died September 1874. I have a studio photo of this man taken at Exmouth. I believe his father, and probably other family members worked the ferryboat across the Exmouth estuary. Certainly the family home was the isolated house on the sand banks which jutted out into the estuary. WILLIAM ROBERT PINE: born April 1845 Exmouth. 1851 census – no reference. 1861 mariner living at home. Married 1867 London Central – described mariner. Oldest son born Erith,Kent in 1867. Second son born Victoria Docks in 1870. 1871 his wife & sons at Exmouth but William described ‘at sea’. Died 1874, on day of father’s funeral (a drowning accident in Exmouth harbour) Any help most appreciated. Anne