TOPIC:

Fred. William was born in Lancashire in 1865 to John Ross and Clara Goodwin.His father died and Fred.was sent to train as a seaman on the "Indefatigable" Cheshire, set up for destitute children. Hopefully the HMS record for Frederick W.Ross is my man, as he cant be found after 1881 on English census. It is likely he is the leading seaman listed on the on the HMS Powerful records. I have found ref.QSA[1] DOL.Ref.149.347 sourced from QSA and KSA medal rolls. I need to find details of Freds life eg marriage, abode, naval history, death etc. Would the reference give any clues and if so, how do I access them with minimum cost?
Any clues would be most appreciated.

Good afternoon and welcome to this forum,
All the information you require is to be found at The National Archives Kew London.
What makes you think that the Ross you refer to served in the Boer War and was at Ladysmith, is it just the name, or do you have any evidence to suggust that this man is the man you are looking for?
From a naval point of view, I looked at ADM171/54, this is a nominal roll of Officers ond Men of the Naval Brigade and Royal Marines " who served ashore in South Africa with the guns" and an F Ross is shown there.
In addition, a look at Powerful's medal roll in ADM171/53, shows him as being entited and his medal being sent to HMS Australia on the 9th of December 1901.
You should also consult the registers of seamen's services in ADM188, any certificates of service might be found in ADM29.
Powerful's log book in ADM53, would be a nice thing for you to both see and handle as well, if he married whist serving, it would be worth looking at the Muster books in ADM41-115-119 etc I think from memory the Victorian Pay books stop after the Crimea War.
With regard to cencuses, before 1841 they were really just a headcount, but, afterthat the Captain of the ship concerned was required by law and had a duty to complete a return for everyone on board their ship and again are all available to 1911.


Again, welcome to this forum and good luck with any research you do!
Good hunting!
Kind regards Frank

ADM171/54



ADM171/53

Thank you Frank for your warm welcome and rapid reply.
My reasons for following up FR in Boer War records:--

1.1881 census FR training on the "Indefatigable" ship at Cheshire.
2.1891 census shows a FR under the "officers, crew, royal marines and others on board Sunday night April 5, 1891". Unfortunately his actual birthplace, Prescott Lancashire is recorded as Plymouth, but that is probably where the ship in harbour that night.
3.When I followed up the recent published Boer War records showing a FR with a naval career, considering that I had found no sign of him elsewhere, I had nothing to lose!
FR's sister,Clara Holt,my g.grandmother,emigrated to Australia in 1880 so the medal being sent on the "HMS Australia" is likely another clue. As far as I know FR never lived in Australia but Clara would have been next of kin if FW hadnt married or had died.
I was unaware that FR was a lieutenant in the SALH,South African Light Horse?
Thank you also for scanning documents.Unfortunately the last one is cut off. Would you mind informing me of the final entries please?
Sent to Boscawen 1? June ???? and NB ? ret'd to Arsen??? and only a few marks on the last one.
As I am Australian, regretfully I am unable to go to Kew to "see and handle" the records. However I will contact them now that you have provided me with the references.
Thank you again for your wonderful help. I think that the brick wall is on the way down!
Regards
Joan

Hello Joan,
It is the single line that I mentioned i.e. Sent to (HMS) Australia, the other entries refer to the other men, both above and below him.
Regards Frank

Joan and Frank
I am sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings; however, HMS AUSTRALIA was not part of the RAN in December 1901. Indeed, the RAN did not exist as such until 1911. As far as I am aware, HMS AUSTRALIA was never part of the RN's Australian squadron. The ship in question was a Cruiser of the ORLANDO class and was completed in 1888 and scrapped in 1905. The issue of FR's medal to HMS AUSTRALIA and the GGM emigrating here is, in my opinion, a coincidence.
Sorry about that.
IL.

Hi Ian,
I'm rather confused as I have not in either of my posts in Joan's thread, suggested that HMS Australia and all on board her were not members of the Royal Navy.
Ross is on both rolls I showed as what he was, a member of the Royal Navy, the "Australia's" log is in ADM53!
Kind regards Frank