Connecticut, Seamen's Proofs of Citizenship - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains proofs of citizenship used to apply for Seamen's Protection Certificates in Connecticut from 1796-1947. The records may include full name, age, gender, residence, and birthplace. There are a variety of records in this collection including the ones you see in the samples, plus others not shown.These collections were filmed at the NARA facility in College Park, Maryland.

This collection corresponds to several NARA collections:

 Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36
 * Records Relating to Seamen, 1801-1937. Port of Entry, New Haven. NAID 4732064

 Records of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation, Record Group 41

 Records of the U.S. Coast Guard Record 26 
 * Records Relating to Seamen, 1869 - 1936. Collection District of Bridgeport. NAID 6161604
 * Records Relating to Seamen, 1851 - 1930. Collection District of New London. NAID 5888609
 * Records Relating to Seamen, 1796 - 1947. Collection District of New London. NAID 4835082
 * Records Relating to Seamen, 1858 - 1891. Collection District of Stonington. NAID 4656354

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Seaman time book
 * Name
 * Rank
 * Date of shipment
 * Date if discharge
 * Time employed

Seaman's Identification Card
 * Name
 * Picture
 * Nationality
 * Remarks
 * Signature of person
 * Age
 * Birth
 * Physical descriptions
 * Vessel name
 * Home port

Crew List
 * Name
 * Age
 * Physical description
 * Place of birth

Officers of ships
 * Date
 * Vessel name
 * name of officers
 * Date of Service started

Protection book
 * Date and certificate #
 * Name of seaman
 * Age
 * Physical description
 * Places of birth
 * Means by how they attained citizenship

Continuous Discharge book
 * Name and signature of seaman
 * Port
 * Date of event
 * Name and nationality of vessel served on
 * Rating of seaman
 * Ship caption's name
 * Dates of sailing
 * Picture of seaman
 * Fingerprints

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the information to find other records such as emigrations, port records, ship’s manifests, birth, christening, census, and land records
 * Learn foreign and “Americanized” names
 * Use the information to find additional family members
 * Search for naturalization records
 * Search for vital records, such as marriage and death

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle name, or even initials

Research Helps

 * Connecticut Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.