New Hampshire, Records Relating to Seamen - FamilySearch Historical Records

What Is In This Collection?
This collection includes records for the years 1813 - 1946, corresponds with NARA publication 4719564: Records Relating to Seamen, 1813-1946. There are three records types within it: Seamen's Passports received and delivered, 1943-1946; Records of destitute seamen, 1813-1816; and Passports for stranded sailors, 1852-1865. These records were filmed at the NARA facility in Boston, Massachusetts.


 * Records Relating to Seamen, 1813-1946. Department of the Treasury. Bureau of Customs. Collection District of Maine and New Hampshire. Office of the Collector of customs. Depart of the Treasury. Customs Service. Collection District of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Port of Entry, Portsmouth. NAID 4719564.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The records are hand written. Information is limited but may include:
 * Name
 * Age
 * Date and place of birth
 * Nationality
 * Name of the vessel
 * Date and place of death/capture

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name
 * Approximate age or birth date

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.

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

 * 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
 * Print or download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed
 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date
 * Use the person's age and location to find his family in census, church, and land records
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit
 * If your ancestor used multiple names throughout their life, look for all their names
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur

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

 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life
 * If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names
 * Even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned
 * Check for variant spellings of the names
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. In addition local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the records of nearby localities (or military unties, counties, parishes, etc.)
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You can then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of New Hampshire.
 * New Hampshire Guided Research
 * New Hampshire Record Finder
 * New Hampshire Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step New Hampshire Research, 1880-Present

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.