Genealogy Chat

National Archives at Kew have the Royal Navy Muster books (all crew members were signed in when going on board, and records kept of them during the voyage- sometimes a description was included). If you go to Kew you can see the actual books. If he was on that ship during the battle, he will be in the muster book for that period. My own g.g.grandfather appears in the Victory muster book - but not until many years later!

I believe there are generally researchers at Kew who will look them up for you (probably for a fee!)

Thanks Cristine.I think i need to research Thomas Town of the the "Thunderer" as i mentioned earlier , although the information still might not give me a conection to my william Town .That`s something i will get around to doing some time in the future.I suppose it`s times like this you need to live just round the corner at Kew. i have found out that william was maried to Ann Peacock in 1804. their oldest son,Thomas was born in 1808 in Dartford,Kent. Maybe William was away at sea for a couple of years.

BVRI has this William, son of Thomas:

TOWN, William Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 17 Mar 1776 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: Thomas TOWN
Mother: Sarah
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

Thomas born in Dartford:

TOWN, Thomas Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 5 Jun 1808 Recorded in: Dartford, Kent, England
Father: William TOWN
Mother: Ann
Source: FHL Film 1469180 Dates: 1806 - 1812

Other children born in Steyning?

TOWN, Sarah Christening
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 29 Apr 1810 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: William TOWN
Mother: Ann
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

TOWN, John Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 12 Jan 1812 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: William TOWN
Mother: Ann
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

A possible for Thomas, father of William?

TOWN, Thomas Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 12 Jun 1737 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: John TOWN
Mother: Anne
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

Thank you Margaret. All information is welcome and does tie in with what we know. I will eventually have to pay for research at Kew as i need to connect William with being in the navy. Pity the information isn`t on-line.

Margaret, I was just wondering if William himself might have had a brother called Thomas or any records of any other brothers?

Yes it looks as if William did have a brother Thomas. Here are the children of Thomas & Sarah in Steyning from BVRI:

TOWN, Sarah Christening
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 4 Apr 1762 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: Thomas TOWN
Mother: Sarah
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

TOWN, John Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 8 Jul 1764 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: Thomas TOWN
Mother: Sarah
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

TOWN, Elizabeth Christening
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 2 Aug 1767 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: Thomas TOWN
Mother: Sarah
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

TOWN, Ann Christening
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 1 Jul 1770 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: Thomas TOWN
Mother: Sarah
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

TOWN, Thomas Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 26 Apr 1772 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: Thomas TOWN
Mother: Sarah
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

TOWN, Mary Christening
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 4 Mar 1774 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: Thomas TOWN
Mother: Sarah
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

TOWN, William Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 17 Mar 1776 Recorded in: Steyning, Sussex, England
Father: Thomas TOWN
Mother: Sarah
Source: FHL Film 1068527 Dates: 1565 - 1907

Thank you for all your help.