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 Thomas Cummings
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| augusta |
Posted on 23/08/2008 02:40
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 New Member  Posts: 2 Joined: 23/08/2008 |
My GGGGrandfather was a member of the Coast Guard. I know that at one time he was on a training ship named the "Eagle". I have been able to trace the birth of his son Edwin, my GGGrandfather, who was born in Harwich, Essex in 1839. It is my belief that Thomas was originally from in or around Leith or Newhaven, now part of Edinburgh, as most of his descendants settled there. I myself was born in Newhaven. I once made enquiries from the Coast Guard service about his service record but was told that most records were destroyed during WWII. I have since learned from a Coast Guard source in Essex that this is really not true as the records were moved out of London before the War started. My question is really simple. Where do I begin to look for those service records? My father, Thomas Henry Cummings was a Chief Petty Officer (Artificer) during WWII. He served almost exclusively on minesweepers. The ironic part of all of this history is that HMS Eagle is now an on-shore minesweeper training station in Liverpool. I have photos of the original "Eagle", later renamed the "Eaglet" when she was a training ship. Any help on the above would be greatly appreciated. Roy Cummings, Burlington, Ontario, Canada |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 23/08/2008 09:46
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 Administrator  Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Hi Roy and welcome to the Forum. Having looked at the Genuki website for British Coastguards there does appear to be an entry for Thomas (see link below). This site has been constructed from Census data, and if the information Thomas gave was correct, his place of birth was Plymouth in Devon, not Scotland as you thought. http://www.genuki...rds/C.html From this information he appears to have spent a good deal of his working life in Essex. If you were closer a search of the records held by the National Archives (NA), Kew, London could be done, particularly the ADM 171 series of documents that cover Coastguard appointments. I know that there are fairly extensive records for Harwich, but the smaller stations in Essex appear to be missing - or I've been unsuccessful in finding them!! Doing a search of the NA's online catalogue there is a Pension application to the Admiralty from a Thomas Cummings, but this man gave his place of birth as Gosport, Hampshire. However, it might be worth checking this out, because dates and places on seamans records are notoriously inaccurate. If you did wish to follow this up you can place an online order for the document, to be sent digitally. The Document Ref is : ADM 29/39/274. Hope this has been of some help. Martin |
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| augusta |
Posted on 24/08/2008 15:46
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New Member Posts: 2 Joined: 23/08/2008 |
Martin and Tony: Eureka: This is definitely my family. It is way beyond co-incidence that all the children's names listed have come down through the generations. Beginning and going backward with my brother Edwin, I have had Thomas Henry, Edwin, Thomas Henry and Edwin, the second son of the Coastguard. I will now proceed to follow up on the information you provided. Already I have been terribly teased about being English and not pure bred Scottish. Thanks a million. Roy |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 25/08/2008 10:28
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Roy I’m glad that my post was of some help; although you are now taking some ribbing, just remind those who are doing the teasing that Sir Francis Drake was born in Devon! From the 1841 Census (HO107/344) Thomas was living with his family in St.Austins Lane, Harwich. This, as one would expect, is located close to the Quay, but the area, because of its historical and/or architectural interest, has now been designated a Conservation Area by the local Council. It would be nice to think that the house that Thomas and Sarah lived in still exists. I did a further search of the available censuses, and in 1881 again found Thomas, now 71, living alone with Sarah in Colchester Road, St.Osyth. He was described as a ‘Navy Pensioner’ and Sarah as a ‘Pensioners Wife’. In your original post you referred to Thomas having served on HMS Eagle. The National Archives does have Eagle’s Muster Books: 1835-1843 ADM 119/34 1843-1857 ADM 119/35 While these are not as useful as a Ship’s Description Book, which would provide a physical description and a note of any past service, consulting these should provide information as to when Thomas served on the ship, and possibly a more accurate date of birth. All the very best with your search. Regards Martin |
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