Source Information

Ancestry.com. Canada, British Navy Ship Muster Rolls and Pay Lists, 1757-1836 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
Original data:

Navy Board, Ticket Office, and Admiralty, Accountant General’s Department: Ships’ Pay Books. ADM32/254. Records of Accounting and Pay Departments. Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England.

Naval Establishment, Lake Ontario. ADM32/254. Records of Service. Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England.

Admiralty: Royal Navy Ships’ Musters (Series 1). ADM36/15490, 17229. Records of Service. Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England.

Admiralty: Royal Navy Ships’ Musters (Series 2). ADM37/5000–5002, 5631–5632, 5638, 5640–5643, 8602–8605, 8607. Records of Service. Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England.

Admiralty: Royal Navy Ships’ Musters (Series 3). ADM38/2294–2303. Records of Service. Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England.

Navy Board and Admiralty: Yard Pay Books. ADM42/2147–2202, 2233. Records of Accounting and Pay Departments. Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England.

The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided. Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives Image Library, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, Tel: 020 8392 5225. Fax: 020 8392 5266.

About Canada, British Navy Ship Muster Rolls and Pay Lists, 1757-1836

This database contains pay lists and muster rolls for Canadian ships and yards.

What You Can Find in the Records

These records are made up of pay lists and muster rolls for both ships and naval yards in Canada and elsewhere (such as Cape of Good Hope) during an era when Great Britain was establishing itself as the dominant naval power in the world. Documents include records relating to the War of 1812 and ships on the Great Lakes.

While forms vary, they may include the following details:

  • name
  • age
  • name of vessel or yard
  • year
  • pay

Some documents may also include birthplace, qualities (rank), and enlistment/discharge dates and whether the individual volunteered or was impressed.

You can find dates and places these records correspond to in the browse.