Podcast: Tracing merchant seamen, 1857-1918 (UK)

A frustrating aspect of researching merchant navy ancestors is the 'black hole' between 1857 and 1918 when there are no records for individual seamen. This podcast looks at what records there are for this period, how to access them and what work is currently being done to make this period more accessible to both family and academic researchers. Janet Dempsey is a records specialist with the Military, Maritime and Transport team, working at The National Archives for almost nine years. She specialises primarily in Merchant Navy records, spurred on by a long line of seafaring ancestors