Finding an Ancestor in the Canadian Merchant Marine

Cornelia asked

my older sister tells me that our maternal grandfather, Allen John Wagner, ran away when he was about 15 and joined the Canadian Merchant Marine. that would be around 1900, give or take a couple years. we have no clue what the name of the ship was, he doesn't show up on the 1901 Canadian or 1900 American census as far as I can find, and we've no idea how to find his seaman protection papers. Allan John Wagner was born May 3rd 1886 Boston, MA to Charles Wagner of Poland and Annie McDonald of Nova Scotia.he returned to his parents by 1910 and by 1920 they had crossed the nation and settled in California.can you help us find his seaman's protection papers?

OLIVE TREE ANSWER: Hello Cornelia, it looks like you've done some good research on your grandfather. I can only direct you to the available records for the Canadian Merchant Marine and for seamen.

Available records include

Central Registry of Seamen, 1875-1983

Registers of Marine Certificates, 1872-1971

Lloyd's Captains Registers, 1851-1947

Best of luck with your search!

Finding Merchant Marine Records

Ray asked

I am looking for records of my Father, Alexander Arsenault born June 10, 1893 in Margaree, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in Canada. In particular I'm looking for records of his time spent in the Merchant Marines during WWII and his time as a street car condutor in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Olive Tree Answer: Hi Ray, You're in luck, as Merchant Marine records are available. Wartime records for the Merchant Navy, 1939-1947 and 1951-1953, are held by:

Merchant Navy Registry
Veterans Affairs Canada
PO Box 7700
Charlottetown, PEI
C1A 8M9
Tel.: 1-888-289-8512
Fax: 1-902-368-0564

For more details on what is available see the Merchant Marine section of Library & Archives Canada