Genealogy Chat

Hi, I have just found out a rellie i have been looking for, for a long time has turned out to be a Captain in the Navy in the early 1800's, i don't know where he was born, or his Fathers name. I don't even know the name of the ship he was on. Please could anyone advise me on where i could look to get some more info. I DO know where he was married and who to also where he died. I would be grateful for any idea's at all. Thankyou in advance Patricia

Interesting times, Patricia, Wonder if he fought with Nelson .... haven't got a CLUE where you go from here! So some dumb ideas: - try googling his name (put words in inverted commas) - try putting his name into the National Archives online catalogue - try asking for help with Parish Records for his birth That's about it I'm afraid. Good hunting Jane

Thanks Jane i have asked for birth in parish records already, but will give national archives a go, i am really pleased at the moment that i have found out he was a Captain in the navy.....i have been trying to find some more info. on him for him for 18 months.... thanks again Patricia

A further thought, Patricia! Not sure how this works exactly, but one of my researching cousins found a record of an ancestor (at Kew) showing all the ships he'd served on .... I was then able to research each ship and the various voyages individually, thru' Ships' Logs which are (usually) held at Kew. It didn't tell me anything about him, but a lot about where the ships went and who the captains were (in your case, great stuff - name in lights!) ... seems he spent a lot of time 'manning the yards' when Queen Vic sailed past! Good luck, Jane

You say he was a captain of a Royal Navy ship? If that is the case I can help you. I can search the Navy List. Mind you it only gives minor details, ships etc.

Hi Steve, thankyou, his name is Frederick Hunn, born approx. 1786, I know there is a Captain Frederick Hunn married to a Frances Pickmore of that time, but mine is Frederick Hunn married to Mary-ann White 19th Jan. 1811 Portsea, I went into ancestry, typed in Captain Frederick Hunn and my one came up as a Captain as well, anyway i would appreciate any help, thankyou, Patricia

Oh Patricia! Are you sure he didn't have one in EVERY port????? Jx

Yes Jane i did wander that myself, lol

Hi Patricia St Mary's usually states the ship, instead of the parish, in the marriage registers. If your man was a naval officer (almost a cert if marrying in Portsea), then he would have been a lieutenant at some stage before that and when he took those exams, he had to prove his age... by producing a baptism certificate! These are held at Kew and although it is many years since I did this research on my ancestor, I do know it was very easy, and once I had a toehold on the records, there was just so much: I could spend weeks on a single individual.

Patricia - could this be his will on the National Archives Documents Online? You say you know when he died so it should be easy to check if it is the right one. If so, I'm sure it would be worth getting. Kate. Image details Description Will of Frederick Hunn, Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Navy of Plymouth , Devon Date 19 November 1852 Catalogue reference PROB 11/2161 Dept Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Series Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers Piece Volume number: 17 Quire numbers: 801-850 Image contains 1 will of many for the catalogue reference Number of image files: 1 Image Reference Format and Version Part Number Size (KB) Number of Pages Price (£) 303 / 272 PDF 1 1 520 3 3.50 Total Price (£) 3.50

Thankyou all for your help, hopefully i will be able to get a bit further now, Patricia