When searching for ancestors from a port like Whitstable it soon becomes apparent that many of the men were not at home on the night of the census and so were not recorded alongside their families.

In 1881 all people on boats in port and on rivers were recorded by the Officer of Customs and are filed with the records for the town in that area. Therefore a wider search is required to track down specific people. The problem comes when you don't know who you are looking for, for instance all members of a family that is new to you. In this case you have to trawl (excuse the pun) through the UK Mariners records for local fishermen and sailors. An excellent resource for this is the mariners census site. This site has pages of listings for most ports and rivers in the UK.

To assist your search we have listed on this and linked pages all of the Whitstable born people appearing on the 1881 listings. This doesn't mean they were still living in the town at the time and doesn't include residents that were not born in the town.

Even so we have found these extracts extremely useful from a historical point of view in showing the spread of mariners from the town, highlighting spelling irregularities, and showing the names of many of the boats working out of the town. The majority of boats are found working around around the Kent coastal waters.

We have deliberately indexed the surnames in alphabetical order to make your search easier. This has thrown up the difference in spelling as these records were collated by differing Customs officials around the country who would not have been familiar with the local dialect or the correct spelling.

An important note to mention is that some of these records were collected after the census day when the boats docked after a journey. Therefore some people are known to be shown twice, once at home, and once on board, so don't be too concerned if you find your ancestor had a identically named twin, just be aware that this quirk could arise!

Name	Mar	Gen	Age	Vessel	Occupation	Area
Adams, Edward	W	M	67	Invicta	Master	Dorset
Adams, Edward	M	M	40	Vigilant	Pilot Trinity	Kent
Adams, Horace	U	M	25	Estafette	A.B.	Kent
Adams, John	M	M	44	Rose	Mate	Kent
Adams, Walter	U	M	15	Rose	O Seaman	Kent
Allen, Anne	M	F	50	Consiss	Mate's wife	Kent
Allen, John	M	M	25	Warrior	Mate	Kent
Allen, Thomas	M	M	54	Warrior	Master	Kent
Andrews, Tho. Js.	M	M	39	Thomas Foord	Oyster Dredger	Kent
Appelton, Herbert William	U	M	14	Flora	Apprentices Seaman	Durham
Appleton, Richard John	U	M	25	May Hawthorn	Mate	Surrey
Appleton, Stephen Henry	U	M	22	Blondi	Mate	Essex
Ashbee, Thomas	U	M	15	Retriever		Kent
Ashby, John	U	M	20	Old Goody	Mate	Kent
Austing, William		M	20	Consiss	A.B.	Kent
Austin, Alfred	U	M	31	Retriever		Kent
Baker, Henry	M	M	60	Betsey	Mate, fisherman	Kent
Balsey, Mears Warren	U	M	21	Mary Ann	Ordnary Seaman	Hampshire
Beal, Joseph Alfred	M	M	55	Olive Leaf	Master	Durham
Bedwell, Ernest William		M	3	Woldermar	Mate's Child	Kent
Bedwell, Ester	M	F	46	Woldermar	Mate's wife	Kent
Bolton, Francis Richard	U		21	Faithlie	A B	Hampshire
Bolton, Nathaniel	U	M	20	Cardelia	A B Seaman	Kent
Branshett, John	U	M	28	Retriever		Kent
Brett, Alfred		M	24	Margaret Jane Swift	A B	Guernsey
Bright, Emma	M	F	29	Venus	Master's wife	Kent
Bright, James	M	M	32	Venus	Master	Kent
Bright, James William	U	M	8	Venus	Master's son (scholar)	Kent
Browling, Thomas M	U	M	25	Royal Native	Mate fisherman (Blind)	Kent
Butcher, Walter	M	M	34	Betsey	Mate, fisherman	Kent
Camburn, Charles	M	M	22	Charles	Mate	Kent
Camburn, George	U	M	22	Ellen Smeed	Able Seaman	Kent
Camburn, James William		M	36	Jane	Master	Guernsey
Camburn, Thomas	M	M	37	Vigilant	Pilot Trinity	Kent
Carden, Joseph J	M	M	31	Onyx	Master	Durham
Carey, Thomas	M	M	23	Breeze		Kent
Carlton, Horace	U	M	16	Retriever		Kent
Castle, Edwin	M	M	23	Pinta	A.B.	Kent
Castle, Jos.	M	M	48	Eliza	Mate, fishing	Kent
Cladingbol, William	U	M	21	Dart	A B Seaman	Kent
Coal, Henry	U	M	22	William Crundale	A.B.	Kent
Combs, William	M	M	30	Venus	Mate	Kent
Court, Wm N	M	M	51	International	Master	Durham
Dadd, Arthur	U	M	15	Northern Light	O.S.	Kent
Dadd, Robert Thomas	M	M	23	Northern Light	Master	Kent
Dadson, Elizabeth	M	F	28	Vixen	Master's wife	Kent
Dale, George	U	M	15	Smiling Man	Fourth Hand	Kent
Daniels, Alfred William	M	M	21	Dagmar	Mate	Kent
Day, Joseph	M	M	67	Edith Annie	Mariner A B	Suffolk
Digby, George S	U	M	29	Elizabeth Little	Mate	Hampshire
Digby, William Henry (Jun)	U	M	25	Mary A McKay	A B Seaman	Kent
Dyason, D	U	M	33	Light Vessel	Seaman	Kent
Dyason, Frank	U	M	18	Marcella	Mate of the Lady Mansell	Durham
Eddenden, Ethelbert	U	M	30	Betsey	Mate, fisherman	Kent
Farrier, F	M	M	18	Olive Branch	Seaman (Foot)	Kent
Field, Edwin	U	M	21	Matilda Calder	Mate	Kent
Foreman	U	M	15	T.W.Dodd	Apprentice	Kent
Foreman, Alfred	M	M	36	Edith Annie	Master	Suffolk
Foreman, Richard John	M	M	30	Mary Ann	Master	Hampshire
Forman	U	M	15	John Pitcairn	O.S.	Kent
Fowle, Charles Digby	U	M	19	Rapid	Mate	Durham
Frend	U	M	16	Factor	Mate	Essex
Frend, Alexander	M	M	29	Wave	Mate	Kent
Frend, William	M	M	31	John Pitcairn	A.B.	Kent
Friend, William	U	M	24	Bethel	A.B. Seaman	Kent
Friend, William B	M	M	53	Wave	Master	Kent
Fryer, Absolem	M	M	59	Dazzler	Master	Hampshire
Fryer, Alfred	U	M	16	Dazzler	O S Seaman	Hampshire
Fryer, Walter	W	M	40	Alexander Adam	Mate	Durham
Furnen, James	M	M	28	Olive Branch	Mate	Hampshire
Gainbrell, Alf	M	M	57	Betsey	Captn Watch Boat	Kent
Gann, Henry Wootton	M	M	29	Dagmar	Master fisherman	Kent
Gibbens, Thomas William	M	M	22	Huntleys	Mate	Hampshire
Gill, William	U	M	22	Acastus	A B Seaman	Durham
Goldfinch, Charles	M	M	32	Christian	Mate	Durham
Goodwin, William Thomas	M	M	28	Huntleys	Master	Hampshire
Goulden, Willima Caleb	M	M	43	Godild	Master	Sussex
Gray, John	U	M	21	Gratitude	Mate	Kent
Hadlow, Albert	M	M	33	Mary Ann	Mate	Kent
Hadlow, James	M	M	31	T.W.Dodd	Mate	Kent
Hall, James	M	M	68	Star	Master fisherman	Kent
Harrison, George	M	M	38	Vigilant	Pilot Trinity	Kent
Harris, Edward	U	M	19	Maria	Mate	Kent
Harris, Robert		M	16	Mary Stewart	O S	Durham
Hatton, Herbert		M	19	Mary Stewart	A B	Durham
Hawkins, Thomas	U	M	17	Acastus	O Seaman	Durham
Hewitt, Arthur	U	M	12	Beatrice	Steward	Kent
Hodges,		M	42	Caledonia	Master	Guernsey
Hook, William	U	M	18	Berrington	Ordinary Seaman	Essex
Hoskens, Henry	U	M	40	The Lady Carmichael	Boy(Steward?)	Suffolk
Hoskin, Frederick	U	M	20	A Patterson	A B Seaman	Dorset
Hoult, Fredrk .Chs.	M	M	33	Flora	Mate	Durham
Humphrey, John	U	M	15	Deer Hound	Cook	Kent
Humphrey, William	M	M	32	Flora	Master Seaman	Durham
Hurst, James	U	M	17	Charles	Apprentice Seaman	Kent
Iggleden, Stephen	M	M	45	Canterbury		Kent
Jacobs, William	U	M	22	Edith	A B Seaman	Essex
Jarman, William	M	M	20	Warrior	O.S.	Kent
Kebuz, Henry George	U	M	19	Wellington	Mate	Suffolk
Kemp, Charles	M	M	51	Marcella	Master Mariner	Durham
Kemp, Charles (Jnr)	U	M	17	Marcella	O S	Durham
Kemp, Edward	U	M	20	Acastus	O Seaman	Durham
Kemp, Frederick	U	M	18	Invicta	O S	Dorset
Knight, Charles	M	M	35	Thomas Foord	Oyster Dredger	Kent
Knight, Thomas	M	M	45	Edith Annie	Mariner A B	Suffolk
Laraman, Edwin	M	M	34	Star Of Peace	Mate	Kent
Laraman, Thos. E	M	M	60	Star Of Peace	Master	Kent
Lissenden, Austin	M	M	31	Ernest	Master	Kent
London, William Buddle	M		33	New Pelton SS	Master	Hampshire
Mann, William F	U	M	23	Acastus	Mate	Durham
Mantle, Fredk.	M	M	31	Edith Annie	Mariner A B N R	Suffolk
Mantls	U	M	32	Star	Mate fisherman	Kent
Marsh, Oscar	U	M	17	Susan	Seaman	Hampshire
Marsh, Thomas	U	M	19	Susan	Seaman	Hampshire
Matthews, William J	M	M	56	Royal Native	Mate fisherman (Blind)	Kent
Maxted, Edward	M	M	49	Acastus	Master	Durham
Merrett, Ann Maria	M	F	58	Susan	Master's Wife	Hampshire
Merrett, George	M	M	58	Susan	Master (S)	Hampshire
Monk, William	M	M	65	Elizabeth Morton	Master	Kent
Morgan, George	U	M	24	Eureka	A.B. Seaman	Kent
Neaves	M	M	30	Berrington	Mariner A B	Essex
Newring, William	M	M	25	Ernest	Mate	Kent
Nicholls, George	M	M	43	Pinta	Master	Kent
Nicholls, Osborne	M	M	45	Emma	Master	Hampshire
Nutlen, James	U	M	15	Welfare	O Seaman	Kent
Nutten, James	M	M	42	Kent	Master fisherman	Kent
Nutten, Wallace	U	M	17	Kent	O Seaman fisherman	Kent
Olive, William	M	M	24	Lady Rowena	Mate	Kent
Olive, (Mrs)	M	F	24	Lady Rowena	Mate's wife	Kent
Packer, Alfred	M	M	25	Reindeer	Seaman	Essex
Packer, William	U	M	26	Woldemar	Ab Seaman	Kent
Paffery, Henry	M	M	50	Mary Ann	Master	Kent
Page, Thomas	M	M	37	Susan	Mate	Hampshire
Pant, John	M	M	56	Rupert	Master	Durham
Pant, Lawrance	U	M	19	Rupert	A B	Durham
Pant, Zecheria	M	M	25	Rupert	Mate	Durham
Parker, John	M	M	40	Peggy	Master	Kent
Parker, Richard T	U	M	19	Maria & Elizabeth	A B Seaman	Kent
Parker, William G	U	M	21	Maria & Elizabeth	A B Seaman	Kent
Pattenden, Thomas	U	M	25	Equivalent	Mate	Kent
Paysden, George William	U	M	17	Masonic	Odenary Seaman	Durham
Philpott, Richard	M	M	29	Minalto	Mate	Essex
Port, Alfred	M	M	40	Alma	Master	Kent
Port, William	M	M	45	Frank	Master	Kent
Porter, Fred	U	M	19	Rose	O Seaman	Kent
Potwain, Frederick William	M	M	32	Invicta	Mate	Kent
Pout, Alfred	M	M	26	Rose	Master	Kent
Pout, James	M	M	51	Flirt	Master	Essex
Pout, Joshua Caleb	M	M	43	Minalto	Master	Essex
Putwain, Thomas	M	M	31	Factor	Master	Essex
Pyeal, Alfred	M	M	21	Canterbury		Kent
Redwood, William	U	M	17	Masonic	Odenary Seaman	Durham
Reeves, William	M	M	53	Thomas Foord	Oyster Dredger	Kent
Rigden, Alfred	U	M	18	Minalto	O S	Essex
Rigden, Edward	M	M	51	Royal Native	Master fisherman	Kent
Rigden, Edward	M	M	39	Vigilant	Pilot Trinity	Kent
Rigden, Ernest Henry	U	M	22	Eagle	Cook	Kent
Rigden, James	M	M	32	Edith Annie	Mariner A B N R	Suffolk
Roberts, Moses (Jnr)		M	10	Stan		Kent
Robertt, William	M	M	36	Stan	Mate	Kent
Robinson, William	U	M	30	Williams	Mate	Norfolk
Robinson, William	W	M	35	Resolute	Mate	Essex
Rowden W	M	M	49	Stephen & Sarah	Mate	Durham
Rowden, Charles	U	M	21	Emma	A B Seaman	Hampshire
Rowden, James	U	M	25	Edith Annie	Mariner A B	Suffolk
Sandy, Alfred		M	37	Eliza Blaxland	Master	Guernsey
Sandy, Frederick	U	M	22	Princess of Wales	2nd Hand A B Seaman	Kent
Sandy, Geo.	U	M	40	Sela	Mate	Kent
Sandy, James	U	M	36	Star	Mate fisherman	Kent
Sharp, Sydney	M	M	24	Estafette	A.B.	Kent
Sheepwash, John	M	M	38	Osiris	A B	Essex
Sheppard, John	U	M	19	Emma	O seaman	Hampshire
Shilling, Leonard	U	M	17	Eureka	O Seaman fisherman	Kent
Shingleston, George	M	M	26	Kent	Mate fisherman	Kent
Shrubbsale, George	U	M	17	Emma	O Seaman	Hampshire
Sims, Edwin		M	29	Margaret Jane Swift	Mate	Guernsey
Sims, George	M	M	25	Star Of The Ocean	Mate	Kent
Smeed, Henry	U	M	19	Regina	O S	Essex
Smith, Charles		M	17	Mary Stewart	O S	Durham
Smith, William	U	M	40	Greenwich	Mate	Kent
Smith, William	U	M	25	Susan Hardy	Ordy Seaman	Kent
Smitt, Joseph	U	M	18	T.W.Dodd	Apprentice	Kent
Stone, Richard	U	M	21	Mary A McKay	O Seaman	Kent
Stroud, Fred	U	M	29	Ellen Smeed	Ord Seaman	Kent
Stroud, Osborn T	U	M	16	Sydney Ollara	Deck Boy	Kent
Tapsell, George		M	1	Cyrus	Mate's son	Kent
Tapsell, Sarah	M	F	23	Cyrus	Mate's wife	Kent
Thrak, Horace, Alfred	U	M	15	Venus	Apprentice	Kent
Tucker, George	M	M	48	Hope	Mate	Kent
Varley, George	M	M	26	Canterbury		Kent
Walker, William	M	M	45	Edith Annie	Diver	Suffolk
Warner, James	U	M	18	Estafette	A.B.	Kent
Waters, Henery	U	M	19	Rowena	Ab Seaman	Kent
Waters, John		M	18	Consiss	Apprentice	Kent
Waters, Richard James	M	M	33	Wellington	Master Mariner	Suffolk
Waters, Thomas Culver	M	M	24	Alabame	Master (Bargeman)	Surrey
Weatherly, John Thos.	M	M	30	Betsey	Mate, fisherman	Kent
West, William	U	M	19	Jane Marven	Fisherman O S	Kent
Wetherby, Alfred Allen	M	M	26	Greenwich	Cook & Seaman	Kent
Whitnae, George	U	M	21	Pinta	Mate	Kent
Whitnall, Herbert John	M	M	28	Prince Consort	Mate	Hampshire
Wilkenson, R	M	M	55	Maria & Elizabeth	Master	Kent
Willmott, Francis S	M	F	39	Driving Mist	Mate's wife	Kent
Wood	W	M	53	Hero	Master	Kent
Wood, Stephen Frederick	M	M	23	Shells Of The Ocean	Mate	Suffolk

What can we learn about our seafaring townspeople of the time from this data?

• The majority of them were working around the Kent coast.
• Many Masters had their wife and a child on board.
• The average age of all on board boats was 28 years and 8 months.
• Large numbers were as far north as County Durham (Carrying coal?).
• Many were around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Distribution chart of Whitstable born people on vessels around English ports , 1881 Census.