Where to find Royal Navy service record?

I have recently discovered that I have an ancestor that was in the Royal Navy, he was born in 1854. At the National Archives I have downloaded his Continuous Service record. That gives me the date he volunteered in 1869, at the tender age of 15 and the commencement of engagement date of 1872, when he turned 18. It also tells me that the ship on which he volunteered was HMS Fisgard. There is a page which should show his record of service, but that is completely blank, much to my disappointment. I have done numerous searches on google to find out where I may get his service record but mostly I am led back to the National Archives. Had another look there but all it brings up is what I already have. Any ideas where I can go now?
anneb

 

If you have googled I assume you have come across this site:
www.
thefisgardassociation.org/index.shtml have you tried to contact them?

(Note from Admin: url split as they charge for membership)

 

I have emailed the Fisgard Association but have yet to receive a reply. Was just wondering if anyone had any other suggestions.

 

Hi Anneb
As a bit of background, Fisgard was Flag Ship at Woolwich, used to train engineers and Nominal Depot Ship for personnel ashore. Built as a 5th Rate in 1819 she was broken up in 1879. Any chance of a name, or a copy of the chap's Service Record? Have you found him in the 1871 Census and later ones?
Peter

 

Just an extra thought, have you looked to see if he has another Service Record? I ask as one of mine joined the RN as a Boy, left ('cos he didn't like it?) and rejoined later; 2 different Records.
Also, your Fisgard was broken up in 1879. The later Fisgards (I-IV) were based at Portsmouth, starting in 1902, I believe.
Peter

 

Not sure if you have seen this site http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/18-1900/D/D.html It will not helpyou find details of your ancestor - but it will tell you details about the boat. Why not give us his name and perhaps someone will find him?..

Schnurbart I love your avatar.

 

Thanks Peter

His name is Edward James Goodwin born 1 July 1854 St Brides parish, in Shoe Lane just off Fleet Street, London.

I emailed the Fisgard Association but haven't heard back. I also emailed the National Archives but they said that what was on the Continuous Service Record was all the information they had. I have searched and it only brings up one record that I can see is for him. I haven't searched for him specifically in the 1871 census as I have only recently found this Royal Navy record by chance. But I do have the 1871 census for his family and he is not at home then. I, unfortunately, now don't have a subscription anywhere to look specifically for him in any census.

Er, I can't work out how to upload the image of the Continuous Service Record, can you advise please Peter?

 

Try

 

sorry mis direct.

 

Thanks very much for the link gillyflower, I have put his name etc in my answer to Schnurrbart.
anneb

 

Duh! thanks very much Wendy, I looked everywhere but at the bottom.

Here's the Continuous Service Record for Edward James Goodwin Peter

 

What luck Anneb, how did you manage to get a relly whose record was in near copperplate writing?

 

Edwd. J. Goodwin, Boy 1 Class, single, 17, born London, Midx, is enumerated on one of the census forms usually used for those on vessels in ports, at RG 10/2141, f.118, p.57 (Stoke Damerel district).

What is curious is that the headings on this and several other consecutive pages have been altered so that this is a list of those who were not on board on census night. Unfortunately it doesn't make it clear where they were. Each page is struck through, and the first page has written across it 'Not to be abstracted'.

Before this list of those not on board is one of people who were on board. You have to go back to the first page of this list (RG 10/2141, f.91, p.1) to see the name of the ship, i.e. HMS 'Warrior'. There are many pages listing those on board, but many individuals have been crossed out. Perhaps they are the ones who are then listed separately on the 'not on board' list at the end: I didn't spend enough time studying it to find out.

I guess this means that at one stage Edward had been, or should have been, on the Warrior, but that (along with many others!) he wasn't there on the night of 2 April 1871.

 

I cannot believe how many pages of crew were 'not on board'.
Where were they, they certainly could not all have gone down the pub.

HMS Warrior has it's own website. There is a contact button, it might be worth an email to ask them where everyone was on the night of 2 April 1871.
www.
hmswarrior.org/history

 

Check out their Collections and Archives Page.

 

Quite by chance Wendy, just did a search at the National Archives for an Edward James Goodwin (of whom I have a few in my tree) and up it came

 

Just my luck! But never mind at least I have a bit more info to go on. Thanks very much.
anneb

 

Thanks very much Mutters, I will do that. At work now so must get stuck in to it (work that is). Will get back at the weekend.
anneb

 

They seem very interested in contacting 'Old Warriors' descendants and I would think your Edward fits into that description.
Maybe you can help them and they can help you.
Nothing would be lost by starting a dialogue now and in the future there might be a gain on both sides.

Good Luck.

 

Thanks Mutters. I was able to have a brief look at the website and I shall definitely get in touch with them.
anneb