Tangling with the NA Site, - Help Please!

[Holly]

I do find The National Archives Site rather confusing and difficult to use, - and would welcome some help with this please!

I am trying to find any Royal Navy Records for:

Charles Hamilton, Born St Luke's Parish, Middx in 1802.

He entered The Greenwich Naval Hospital as a (Blind) Naval Pensioner in 1846. His Greenwich Out-Pension Number was: 5161. (From the Rough Books of Greenwich Pensioners). His last Ship was given as 'Stag', - and he recieved a Pension from April 1838 from 'Stag'.

A little while back I downloaded the Naval Records for his son, Arthur Adgate Hamilton from the NA Site.

However, I am unable to find the Service Records for Charles Hamilton, - and would greatly appreciate some help.

Cheers, Romilly.

[AntonyM]

Unless he was an officer, you will find it difficult to find service records before 1853. You can use other sources e.g. muster books and pay books, but they are not generally available on-line, you will have to visit and examine them. As an example the musterbook for 1836-1841 for the STAG is here:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C785587

There is a Charles Hamilton listed as applying to become an inpatient at Greenwich in 1837 here:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C9966577

This site looks quite useful in tracing Greenwich pensioners:

https://sites.google.com/site/greenwichadmiraltyinpensioner/home

[Holly]

Many thanks for the Links and info Antony, - much appreciated. (You obviously know how to negotiate that Site!)

I have Charles Hamilton's Baptismal Entry and his Marriage to Charlotte Mary Edmeads in Kent in 1831. Also sightings on the 1841 and 1851 Censuses.

I found the entry for Charles Hamilton's Admission to Greenwich Naval Hospital on the excellent Asplin Military History Site. (I can post the Link if you haven't already got it).

It looks as though I will have to trek over to Kew to find more...:-( Are any records likely to be at The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, do you think?

Arthur Adgate Hamilton, (son of Charles) wasn't an Officer either, but his (1861) Naval records were available to pay & download on-line. Perhaps it's the earlier records that haven't been digitalised?

Cheers, Holly.

[AntonyM]

Arthur Adgate Hamilton, (son of Charles) wasn't an Officer either, but his (1861) Naval records were available to pay & download on-line. Perhaps it's the earlier records that haven't been digitalised?

Cheers, Holly.

No - it's because prior to 1853 and the introduction of "continuous service" there are no service records to digitise - there are loads of documents , the navy were very good record keepers, but there is no single service record document for an ordinary rating. Instead you need to piece together the traces left in ships musters, pay books, hospital & pension records etc.

Tracing naval records (esp pre 1853) is a specialist area, not one I claim to have any expertise in - but there are quite a few good books on the subject.

You could try the Caird library at Greenwich (http://www.rmg.co.uk/researchers/library/)

[Holly]

Many thanks for the explanation and the helpful advice Antony, - greatly appreciated.

I've put in requests for quotes for images to The National Archives, - & will see how that goes...

Thanks for the Link to the Caird Library at Greenwich, - I wish that I'd known about it when I used to live over there!

Cheers, Holly.

[Christine in Herts]

Holly - If you're in SW Herts, and you are interested in seeing the original records, you can get round to Kew and visit. You'd need to get a Reader's card - have a look on the National Archives site about how to do that, including making sure you have the right ID stuff with you.

Once you've got your card you can get to see all sorts of fascinating records. I spent lots of fascinating hours researching a man who was supposed to be OH's ancestor... until I discovered he'd "run" from his ship several years before the baby girl was born for whom he was described as father in the baptism register! Turning the pages of a huge tome, to find you're looking at the record of Parliament voting a huge sum of money as Prize Money for all those who took part in the Battle of Trafalgar gives an amazing sense of touching History.

I've travelled to Kew from SW Herts a number of times - though my card has run out again for the time being.

It's fair to say that it could be cheaper to get a competent researcher to find the records you want... but nothing like so much fun!

Christine

[Holly]

Hi Christine,

Yes, - the resources at Kew are amazing. I've been over there about 5 or 6 times previously, but my Readers Ticket has also now expired & I need to re-do.
I have also had several frustrating visits, when I haven't been able to find what I was looking for, and the staff were too busy to help.
If I visit again in person, I would like to pin down exactly what I want to look at, - and precisely where it is.
I would also say, that now that the parking has become so difficult there, - that it is better to travel by public transport, - even if it does take ages!

Best Wishes, Holly.

[Christine in Herts]

Hi Christine,

Yes, - the resources at Kew are amazing. I've been over there about 5 or 6 times previously, but my Readers Ticket has also now expired & I need to re-do.
I have also had several frustrating visits, when I haven't been able to find what I was looking for, and the staff were too busy to help.
If I visit again in person, I would like to pin down exactly what I want to look at, - and precisely where it is.
I would also say, that now that the parking has become so difficult there, - that it is better to travel by public transport, - even if it does take ages!

Best Wishes, Holly.

Yes - The parking thing is a deterrent, I have to admit. I'd probably try to tie it into a trip that involved OH heading that way for something else!

annswabey's business involves TNA research. She may be able to help you - either by finding out what you need to look for when you get there yourself, or by doing the research on your behalf (for whatever fee or expenses you agree mutually).

Christine

[Holly]

Many thanks for the further info Christine.

Best Wishes, Holly.

[AntonyM]

I don't find parking a problem on most days - I aim to get there about 10am-10.30am and rarely have any trouble finding a parking space.

(I also undertake research at Kew for clients ....I will be there next week)