Canada, Merchant Marine Agreements and Accounts of Crews - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection covers the years of 1890-1920.

These records covers ports in British Columbia (primarily in Victoria), some in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and a few foreign ports. The documents are organized by ship and include, among other information, the signatures of crew members, their ages and birthplaces. Each box includes a general inventory of its contents listing box and file numbers, date, ship name, location and owner. The original records are in possession of the British Columbia Archives in Victoria.

Each box has a list that includes the name of the ship and the year of departure. Below are sample images of the indexes and ship lists:

For a list of records by dates currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org. It may include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
These records may contain the following information:


 * Full name of crew member
 * Year of birth
 * Place of birth
 * Name of ship where the crew member last served in
 * Date and place of agreement
 * Date, place, cause of death
 * Name of ship

How to Use the Record
Before you begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of ancestor
 * Approximate year and place of death
 * Year of departure

Search the Collection
To search the collection image by image, select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page: ⇒Select the appropriate "Box Number and Years" which will take you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

Using the Information
When you have found the information that you have been looking for, you can try the following to further your research:


 * When you have found the birth year, record the birth year and the birth place that is in the record and search in the Canada, Births and Baptisms 1661-1959 collection. There you may be able to further your research when you have found the parents of the crew member.

Related Websites

 * Explanations of Merchant Marines
 * Fisheries and Oceans Canada
 * Library and Archives Canada, Registers of Marine Certificates

Related Wiki Articles

 * British Merchant Marine

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 28 February, 2012), La Plata &gt; San Ponciano &gt; Matrimonios 1884-1886 &gt; image 71 of 389 images, Artemio Avendano and Clementina Peralta, 1884; citing Parroquia de San Ponciano en la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matrimonios. San Ponciano, La Plata, Buenos Aires.