Maine and Massachusetts, Case Files of Deceased and Deserted Seamen - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1837-1965.

This collection contains three NARA collections: Case Files of Deceased and Deserted Seamen, compiled 1912 - 1965 (ARC 1079716), Case Files of Deceased and Deserted Seamen, compiled 1873 - 1911 (ARC 1077387), and Case Files of Deceased and Deserted Seamen compiled 1909-1951 (ARC 1096743). The collections were filmed at the NARA Regional Facility in Waltham, Massachusetts. For the most part, the records are arranged numerically by case number and contain an assortment of details including personal information, death details, wages etc. about deceased and deserted sailors and others who worked on board ships.

Record Content
Records may contain the following information:

Subjects

Ships passenger lists

How to Use the Record
For a collection that is searchable by name:

Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

For a browse collection:

To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: To search the collection image by image select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the 'ARC Number and Title' category ⇒ Select the 'Case Number or Last Name' category which takes you to the images. Search the collection by image 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. Keep in mind: There may be more than one person in the records with the same name. You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name. Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
Citations for individual image records are available for this collection. Browse through images in this collection and click on the “Show Citation” box:

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 for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.