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I'm trying to find out info about John Beales who was born in Catield, Norfolk in December, 1832. According to his marriage certificate (in South Shields, Durham in July 1860 to Elizabeth Pringle) his father's name was also given as John (living) who was stated as a shipwright. I can't find John on the 1841 census and, as he was a merchant seaman (previously in the Naval Reserve) In the late 1860s John gained his only mate and master mariner's tickets and in both documents he states his birthplace as Catifled. I have only one census entry (on the ship Clarissa in 1881 in the Scilly Isles) I have quite a bit info about John's life after 1860 in South Shields but am missing info on his early life which will take my line further back. I understand Hickling is very close to Catfield in Norfolk and there are lots of 'Beales' living there. Is there a family link I wonder? I am hoping to visit the area later this month and would appreciate any ideas where I may continue my research.
Many thanks

If the father didn't witness the marriage, you can't be certain that he was 'living'.

I'm assuming you think he was alive because he isn't recorded as 'deceased' on the cert................that MAY simply be because of the way the question(s) about him were posed by the Vicar

Who were the witnesses?

How do you know the month of this man's birth?

Last name:Beales
First names:John
Age:26
Day of birth:
Month of birth:
Year of birth:1830
Place of birth:Catford
County/country of birth:Kent
Card type:
Discharge number:
Identity certificate no.:
Series:BT116
Date range:1853-1857
Piece number:6



Regards Vera

?????

1841
Age Birth Year Occupation Where born Image
JANES, Ann F 40 1801 Kent VIEW
JANES, Charles M 15 1826 Kent VIEW
JANES, Robert M 15 1826 Kent VIEW
JANES, Henry M 14 1827 Kent VIEW
JANES, Ann F 12 1829 Kent VIEW
JANES, John M 9 1832 Kent VIEW
JANES, Frederick M 5 1836 Kent VIEW
>>>>>>BEAL, John M 10 1831 Kent VIEW
Piece: 484
Book/Folio: 7/12
Page: 17
Registration District: Lewisham
Civil Parish: Lewisham
Municipal Borough:
Address: Loam Pitt Hill, Lewisham
County: Kent




Regards Vera

There is no-one with the surname Beale(s) resident in Catfield in 1841

OR in 1851

What is the document whose transcription you have C&P'd, Vera?

Merchant Navy Seamen 1835 - 1935 FMP

Regards Vera

There's also this from FMP:

Merchant Navy Seamen 1835-1941

Last name: Beales
First names: John
Age:
Day of birth: 23
Month of birth: 12
Year of birth: 1831
Place of birth:
County/country of birth: NORFOLK
Card type:
Discharge number:
Identity certificate no.:
Series: BT113
Date range: 1845-1854
Piece number: 206

Gives place of birth as Hickling, Norfolk which is about 3 miles from Catfield.

Date of birth 23 December 1831.
Got his first ticket in 1848 from Newcastle.

EDIT: forgot to add that it stated he resided at Catfield when not employed.

from ancestry ..............


UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927 about John Beales

Name: John Beales
Estimated Age: 33
Birth Date: 1832
Birth Place: Carfield, Norfolk
Issue Date: 13 Feb 1865
Issue Port: South Shields
Certificate Number: 33.321


Note name of birth place is CARFIELD


then it becomes CATFIELD in 1868

Name: John Beales
Estimated Age: 36
Birth Date: 1832
Birth Place: Catfield, Norfolk
Issue Date: 3 Feb 1868
Issue Port: South Shields
Certificate Number: 33.327

1881 clearly records birthplace as Catfield

Wife and son in 1861

1861 census


Person: BEALES, Elizabeth J Address: 40, Raglan Street, Westoe, South Shields


BEALES, Elizabeth J Wife F 23 1838 Seamans Wife
So Shields, Durham VIEW
BEALES, William Ed Son M 0 (9M) 1861
So Shields, Durham

1871 census

Person: BEALS, Elizabeth Address: Wilson Street, Westoe, South Shields


BEALS, Elizabeth Wife F 34 1837 County Durham VIEW
BEALS, Robert J B Son M 1 1870 County Durham

Seaman's wife.......b. S. Shields

Still in Shields in 1881

Susan is a new poster - I will send a friendly message on how to return to this thread. :-)

Hi thanks for all the info. I have Elizabeth Belaes (nee Pringle) in the 1861 - 91 censuses living in S/shields. John Beales died in Harton Workhouse, S/Shields in March 1895. Some of his chidlrens names that do not appear in the Pringle family are: Richard, William, Esther, Harriet and Henry.. Richard Edward (my gt grandfather) was born in 1874 in S/Shields.
Could anyone clear a few things up please? What does FMP stand for and where do I find these records? Are the Merchants Seaman's records the same thing and if not where do I find them?
It was interesting to see that John's year of birth is noted as 1831 not 32 as in the Merchant Seaman's records. I'm pretty sure the John Beals from Catford is not my John Beales.
( and thanks for the friendly message too!)

FMP = Findmypast.

Not a free site

Many thanks