Question

Beagle and Charles Darwin - looking for details of the ships carpenter. Our family "legend" is that Jonathan May was the ship's carpenter onboard the Beagle with Charles Darwin. I am trying to prove this top down and bottom up. In terms of bottom up, does anyone know, or know how I can get further details on Jonathan, eg. age at departure (or date of birth), place of birth, areas he lived in, parents, death details etc? Maybe a brother/cousin/uncle etc of William May (May-4116).

Thanks,
Rob. (May- 4040)

Answer 1

You could start with Navy records at the National Archives.  I've no idea what sort of records the Navy kept, but I learnt a lot from the discharge papers of a private in the Army.

Or if you're lucky, he might have died at sea at some time.  Mariners often made wills before setting off, and if they didn't return, the wills were proved at the PCC.  Often this was all a bit pointless, but it may have been a superstition thing.

Answer 2

Check this link for additional sources: http://www.rockvillepress.com/TIERRA/TEXTS/CREWLIST.HTM

http://friendsofdarwin.com/tag/anniversaries/

http://blog.hmsbeagleproject.org/2009/04/keel-overhauled-175-years-ago-rather.html

https://beagleproject.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/the-crew-of-the-hms-beagle/