Military Chat

Thanks for all your help

I think the birth date is enough to be sure it's correct (also, if you look closely at the distorted image it also gives his mother as Euphemia). I actually think both records from the National Archives are probably for the same man- the first is upto 1899, and the latter from 1909:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8175245

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8501195

You two are pretty slick at this thanks

AustinQ and Potty thanks very much. The only piece of info that doesn't fit is Lerwick. Am I correct to be worried about such a small piece of incorrect info there are so many James Sinclairs in Shetland. Perhaps someone filled that in for him! The families of the records u have found are correct and I will look up the links and download the records thanks.

:-D

Snap, Austin!

Name:James Sinclair

Gender:Male
Birth Date:13 Feb 1870
Birth Place:
Bressay,Shetland,Scotland
Father: John Sinclair
Mother: Euphemia Pottinger

FHL Film Number:
6035516

Just to confirm (date of birth matches Service record):

Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
Name: James Sinclair
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 13 Feb 1870
Birth Place: Bressay,Shetland,Scotland
Father: John Sinclair
Mother: Euphemia Pottinger
FHL Film Number: 6035516

Wow. Thanks very much yes 1870 date of birth

1881:

Name:James Sinclair
Age:11
Estimated birth year:abt 1870
Relationship:Son
Mother's name:Euphemia Sinclair
Gender:Male
Where born:Burra, Shetland
Registration Number:1/2
Registration district:Burra and Quarff
Civil Parish:Burra and Quarff
County:Shetland
Address:Gardens

Euphemia Sinclair 40
Euphemia Sinclair 19
Johanna Sinclair 14
James Sinclair 11

I think that's the correct 1911- on the NA record you can see part of the address- Park ______ West Hartlepool

Web: UK, Royal Naval Reserve Service Records Index, 1860-1955

Name:James Sinclair
Birth Date:1870
Birth Place:Burra Isle, Shetland
Date:1894-1895
Service number:3935 A

This is from Ancestry - a link takes you to the National Archives site.

This looks like him in 1911:


Name:James Sinclair
Age in 1911:41
Estimated birth year:abt 1870
Relation to Head:Head
Gender:Male
Birth Place:Burra, Shetland
Civil Parish:West Hartlepool
County/Island:Durham
Street address:34 Park St W Hartlepool
Marital Status:Married
Occupation:Gereral Labourer
Registration district:Hartlepool

James Sinclair 41
Georgina Sinclair 34
John B Sinclair 10
Mary E Sinclair 8

It is this record from the NA:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8501195

Reference: BT 377/7/41458
Description: Name Sinclair, James
Place of Birth: Lerwick
Number: D 1464
Date of Birth: 13 February 1870
Date: [1908-1955]
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

If you click on the image (where it says 'Show images') you can just about see the ship Ophir - he was on it 2nd Feb 1915.

You can download the full record for £3.30

He was from Shetland

My Great Grandfather had a few occupations but I know he was a Mariner . His own wedding Cert says sailor. By 1911 he was 41. But if he wasn't amongst the crew of the Ophir why be photographed in the uniform? Grateful for any help

Do you know his approximate date of birth? There are these:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8175245

Reference: BT 164/6/336
Description: Name Sinclair, James
Place of Birth: Burra Isle, Shetland
Number: 3935 A
Date of Birth: 1870
Date: [1894-1895]
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
------------------------------------------------------

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8501195

Reference: BT 377/7/41458
Description: Name Sinclair, James
Place of Birth: Lerwick
Number: D 1464
Date of Birth: 13 February 1870
Date: [1908-1955]
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

Possibly this James- A gunner in the Royal Navy Reserve

Shetlands Roll of Service:

JAMES SINCLAIR, Gunner, R.N.R.,
H.M.S. " Ophir." Formerly of Gardens,
Burra Isle.

http://digital.nls.uk/rolls-of-honour/pageturner.cfm?id=100532047&mode=transcription

Hi AustinQ my grandfather was called James Sinclair

Have you tried searching for him in the 1911 census? Do you have his marriage cert or a child's birth cert that gives his occupation? Depending on when he joined the Navy his Service Record might be on line at the National Archives. Don't forget that men often served on more than one ship, so unless you know when he served on the Ophir the crew lists for a particular year might not show him.

Why don't you give us his name, etc and people will try to find him for you.