William James NASH
1848 - 1878 (29 years)
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Name William James NASH Birth 3 Dec 1848 Town St., Landport, Portsmouth 
[1] Baptism 31 Dec 1848 St. Mary's, Portsea, Portsmouth [1] Gender Male 1851 Census 14, Toure Street, Portsea, Portsmouth [2] At 1851 Census, he is 2 1861 Census 27, Town St., Portsea, Portsmouth [3] At 1861 Census, he is 12 Occupation Baker [4] Death 26 Oct 1878 HMS Crocodile, at sea [5, 6] - see notes
Person ID I1045 Webb Last Modified 9 Mar 2025
Father Henry NASH, b. Abt 1808, Wickham, Hampshire Relationship natural Mother Ann HILLBECK, b. 4 Mar 1808, Portsea, Portsmouth d. 30 Jun 1850, Town St., Landport, Portsmouth (Age 42 years) Relationship natural Marriage 16 May 1841 St. Mary's, Portsea, Portsmouth [7] Family ID F374 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Event Map 
Birth - 3 Dec 1848 - Town St., Landport, Portsmouth 
= Link to Google Earth
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Notes - The birth and baptism info is clear, however the birth was not registered until Q1 in 1849.
Marries Caroline GODDING 9/7/1872 at St. James, Milton, Portsmouth
The death details on board ship seem unlikely at first glance, but in 1881 Caroline is a widow, and the youngest child was 2, so born around 1879, and therefore he must have been alive up to about 1878. The DOB and name in the naval records match our William, and in addition, he is given as a baker (and a labourer) in the naval records, matching the stated profession of our William. So I conclude that they are the same person....
So it would seem that William served from 12/7/1873 to his death on 26/10/1878 on ?Simoone?, Raleigh, Duke of Wellington, and finally Crocodile. The death details say "DD 26.10.78 at sea of apoplexy". Apoplexy is probably a stroke
According to https://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/resources/troopship_crocodile.php, HMS Crocodile was a troopship, ferrying soldiers via Suez to India, where they most probably were engaged in the war with Afghanistan. On the 26 Oct, the ship was sailing from Suez to Bombay (Mumbai).
- The birth and baptism info is clear, however the birth was not registered until Q1 in 1849.
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Sources - [S2869] Baptism register :- St Mary, Portsea (1848-9).
- [S2081] 1851 Census :- 14, Toure Street, Portsea, Portsmouth.
- [S2083] 1861 Census :- 27, Town St., Portsea, Portsmouth.
- [S2870] Marriage :- William James Nash Caroline Godding (1872).
- [S2065] Information from the internet, unverified.
- [S2871] Navy records :- William James Nash (1873-1878).
- [S2428] IGI record of Marriage :- Henry Nash - Ann Hillbeck (1841).
- [S2869] Baptism register :- St Mary, Portsea (1848-9).