On Wed, 28 Feb 2001 09:15:41 -0000, you wrote: >Hi All, >Did sailors have to be put on a census if they were at sea, >what I mean is, was there a census for sailors?? >Also if you think someone died whilst at sea, would there be a register of deaths at sea? >Thanks Annette. Hi Annette To answer your last question first: Births & Deaths at Sea returns (known as the Marine Register Book) commenced on 1st July 1837 and relate to those events occurring at sea on any ship registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This series can be seen at 1 Myddelton Street London EC1R 1UW: Births, marriages and deaths at sea, 1854-1890 I can't find them in the LDS Catalogue under England, but I haven't looked too hard as there is a lot of material to scan through. But, from anecdotal comment, there appear to be many exceptions to the rule and some registrations are thought to have occurred at the port of arrival or have not been transferred from the Ship's Log. I'm not sure what sort of sailor you are referring to ie Merchant or Royal Navy, but as Paul states RN personnel at sea are included in the Northern Borders and Miscellany CD of the LDS CD set for 1881, although again I'm not too sure how complete this is. However, if your man was in the Merchant Navy only those along side on the night of the census are included, although I have heard anecdotal evidence that some ships that may have been or were expected to be in UK coastal waters at the time of the census are also have been included. The crews of RN Ships alongside in the UK and those merchant navy vessels mentioned above are included within the enumeration for the town at which they were berthed on the night of the census, but for those in coastal waters I wouldn't like to hazard a guess as to where you might find them! Regards Paul Portland