Nature of Source
Following the Napoleonic wars (1793-1815) the navy shrank rapidly and officer commissions became harder to obtain with greater demand for the limited vacancies. Therefore surveys were sent to all officers to select the most capable to remain in service.
The veracity of many returns is questionable and many were not returned or were lost.
If an officer is not found amongst the Surveys it may be possible that he appears in the Succession Books which follow an officers career from ship to ship using. The Books are arranged by the ship’s name and name successive officers appointed to each ship listed as well as promotions and transfers between ships. Using the books, it is possible to follow an officers career from ship to ship. Each book may have a ship and name index and commence from 1673.
Where Found
Surveys
The National Archives (ADM 9, Survey Returns of Officers’ Services)
Name indexes can be found in series ADM 6 and ADM 10
Succession Books
The National Archives (ADM 6, ADM 7, ADM 8, ADM 11, ADM 12, ADM 29, ADM 106)
National Museum of the Royal Navy
The museum holds a vast collection of records and resources related to the history and heritage of the Royal Navy including artifacts, documents and historic materials as well as collections from the Admiralty Library formerly housed in London. The museum holds some service records for individuals who served in the Royal Navy, particularly those from the 20th century. The library offers with a number of research guides into researching naval ancestors. The Online Catalogue provides access to the Manuscript, Oral History, Photographic and WRNS collections.
Fleet Air Arm Museum
The museum hold material relating to the Royal Naval Air Service and the Fleet Air Arm from official and private sources including service records, squadron line books, aircraft accident records, air stations, operations, ships and equipment.
Period Covered
1817 – 1851
Genealogical Value
- Names, dates of birth and careers of officers.
Further References
- Addis, C.P. The Men Who Fought with Nelson in HMS Victory at Trafalgar: Nelson Society, 1988
- Adkins, Roy & Lesley. Jack Tar: The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary Seamen in Nelson’s Navy: Abacus, 2009
- Bevan, Amanda. Tracing Your Ancestors in the National Archives: The National Archives, 2006
- Blank, Dr. Stuart. Researching British Military History on the Internet: Alwyn Enterprises, 2007
- Burt, R.A. British Battleships of World War One: Seaforth, 2012
- Clarke, John D. Men of HMS Victory at Trafalgar Including the Muster Roll, Casualties, Rewards and Medals: Naval & Military Press 2002
- Cock, Randolph & Rodgers N.A.M. A Guide to the Naval Records in The National Archives of the UK: Institute of Historical Research, 2006
- Coleman, E.C. Rank and Rate: Insignia of Royal Naval Ratings, WRNS, Royal Marines, QARNNS and Auxiliaries: Crowood Press, 2012
- Fenton, Roy & Briody, Nuala & Macdonald, Mike. Maritime Information : A Guide to Libraries and Sources of Information in the United Kingdom: Maritime Information Association, 2004
- Fowler, Simon. A Guide to Military History on the Internet: Pen & Sword, 2007
- Fowler, Simon. Tracing Your Naval Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2011
- Gregson, Keith. Nelson’s Navy 1793-1815: Federation of Family History Societies, 2006
- Hurst, Norman (comp). Naval Chronicle, 1799-1818: Index to Births, Marriages and Deaths: N. Hurst, 1989
- Ingham, Mary. Tracing Your Service Women Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen and Sword Books 2012
- Lavery, Brian. Life in Nelson’s Navy: The History Press, 2011
- Lavery, Brian. Empire of the Seas: The Remarkable Story of How the Navy Forged the Modern World: Conway, 2012
- Lavery, Brian. Nelson’s Navy: The Ships, Men and Organisation, 1793-1815: Conway, 2013
- Mackenzie, Robert Holden. The Trafalgar Roll: The Ships and the Officers: Chatham, 2004
- Morris, Stuart. Dorset, The Royal Navy: Dovecote Press, 2011
- Pappalardo, Bruno. Tracing Your Naval Ancestors: PRO, 2003
- Pappalardo, Bruno. Royal Navy Lieutenants’ Passing Certificates 1691-1902: List & Index Society, 2001 (Available in The National Archives reading rooms)
- Pope, Dudley.Life In Nelson’s Navy: Chatham Publishing, 1997
- Prysor, Glyn. Citizen Sailors: The Royal Navy In the Second World War: Penguin Books, 2012
- Rodger, N.A.M. Naval Records for Genealogists: PRO, 1998
- Royal Marines Historical Society. A Register of Royal Marine Deaths, 1914-19: 1991
- Spencer, William. Family History in the Wars: The National Archives, 2007
- Storey, Neil. Military Photographs and How to Date Them: Countryside Books, 2009
- Tracing Your Family History. Royal Navy: Imperial War Museum, 2006
- Tracy, Nicholas. The Naval Chronicle: The Contemporary Record of the Royal Navy at War, vols 1-5: various publishers
- Usher, George. Dictionary of British Military History: A&C Black Publishers, 2006
- Waller, Ian. My Ancestor was in the Royal Navy: Society of Genealogists, 2014
- Watts, Christopher T. and Watts, Michael J. Tracing Births, Deaths and Marriages at Sea: Society of Genealogists, 2004
- Willis, Sam. In the Hour of Victory: The Royal Navy At War in the Age Nelson: Atlantic Books, 2014
- Wills, Simon. Tracing Your Seafaring Ancestors: A Guide to Maritime Photographs for Family Historians: Pen and Sword Books, 2016
- Wilson, Alastair. A Biographical Dictionary of The Twentieth Century Royal Navy: Volume 1 Admirals of the Fleet and Admirals: Seaforth, 2013
Websites
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/?research-category=military-and-maritime (The National Archives Research Guides: Military and Maritime. Learn how to trace the voyages made by a merchant seaman, find a Royal Marine’s medal record or track the wartime history of an Army regiment)
www.barnettmaritime.co.uk (British Maritime History: Background to researching mariners: Mercantile & Naval)
www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_nav_rankings.htm (Officer Ranks in the Royal Navy: The Naval Hierarchy Explained)
www.ukmfh.org.uk (UK Military Family History Online: Links to web sites with online data and information to aid in military family history research)
www.rmg.co.uk/research-collections/research-guides (National Maritime Museum Caird Library: Research Guides. The guides will help you research maritime records so you can discover more about your ancestors, family history or famous people. A number of guides deal with tracing and researching Royal Navy ancestors as well as ship records, administrative records and naval gunnery)
www.iwm.org.uk/research/tracing-your-family-history/tracing-your-royal-naval-history (Imperial War Museum Research Guide: Tracing your Royal Navy History)
www.bl.uk/collection-guides/uk-national-government-publications (British Library Guide: Service lists for the Army, Navy and Air Force)
www.naval-history.net (Information on battles, actions, medals, convoys, warships, merchant ships and ship losses, including photos of lost soldiers)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nelson (Online exhibition to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805)
www.navyrecords.org.uk (Navy Records Society: Publisher of original documents on the Royal Navy)
https://navaldockyards.org (Naval Dockyards Society. The society’s primary aim is to stimulate the production and exchange of information and research into naval dockyards and associated organisations)
Online Databases
www.navylist.org (Naval Biographical Database: Biographical information on Royal Navy commission, warrant and yard officers extracted from a variety of sources, starting from 1660. The database also identifies volunteers who supported the Navy as well as a complete ship listing including places. Expect to find the person’s name, rank, entry and discharge date, pension award, date of death and family members)
TNA Online Collections (Wills of Royal Naval Seamen: A collection of around 20,000 wills made by seamen of the Royal Navy 1786-1882. TNA Online Collections is produced by The National Archives and contains online access to indexes, transcriptions and digital images of some of the TNA’s most important holdings. Searches are free but a fee is levied for each downloaded item. However downloads are free if used at TNA or the Society of Genealogists)
Ancestry
UK, RAF Officer Service Records, 1918-1919. This collection contains service records for officers who served in the Royal Air Force between 1918-1919. The records in this collection were created alongside the RAF in 1918. The records likely document the airman’s previous military history, especially if they served in the Royal Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service prior to the establishment of the RAF.
www.forces-war-records.co.uk (Forces War Records: Search over two million British Armed Forces personnel records from 30 completely exclusive collections covering WWII, WWI, Boer War, Victorian Conflicts, Crimean War, Early 19th Century Wars, Napoleonic. Also search hundreds of other sources such as Medal Rolls, Casualties Lists and Memorials. Name searches are automatically cross referenced to the Historic Documents Library that holds over two thousand publications)
Ancestry
UK, Wills of Royal Navy and Royal Marines Personnel, 1786-1882. This collection includes wills written by sailors and marines before embarking on dangerous missions or during service, drawn from series ADM 48 held by The National Archives. The records includes the wills of warrant officers and some ratings but does not include commissioned officers.
www.findmypast.co.uk (Armed forces deaths 1796-1994 and GRO Naval war deaths WWI and WWII)
www.naval-history.net (Casualty Lists of the Royal And Dominion Navies 1889-2009, researched and compiled by Don Kindell)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/trafalgarancestors (Trafalgar Ancestors: Names and details of those that served in the Battle of Trafalgar compiled by Bruno Pappalardo)
www.ageofnelson.org/NavyList/index.html (The Complete Navy List of the Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815: Transcribed names and details of more than 11,000 commissioned officers who served in the Royal Navy from 1787 onwards, up to those who entered the service before 1817)
www.ageofnelson.org/TrafalgarRoll/index.html (The Ayshford Trafalgar Roll: Names and details of over 21,000 seamen and marines who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805)
www.1812privateers.org/ADM26/ADM26.html (Transcripts of the ADM 26 registers which allowed ratings/sailors and not officers to remit part of their pay to a third party, usually a relative, 1795-1851)
CD Roms
www.ageofnelson.org/NavyList/CD.html (The Complete Navy List of the Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815: Transcribed names and details of more than 11,000 commissioned officers who served in the Royal Navy from 1787 onwards, up to those who entered the service before 1817)
www.ageofnelson.org/TrafalgarRoll/index.html (The Ayshford Trafalgar Roll: Names and details of over 21,000 seamen and marines who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805)
GenFair (Royal Navy at Sea & Ports Abroad, 1861, 1871, 1901 census returns. Census entries giving details on crew Name, Rank, Condition married or single, Age and Place of Birth both at sea and in domestic and foreign ports)
S & N Genealogy Supplies (Royal Navy Ships at Sea and in Ports Abroad in the 1871 Census and 1901 census)
