Born on North Sea around 1810

Lewis Phillips was described in 1861 as 48 and born on the German
Ocean, ie the North Sea. (RG9/71; Folio: 118; Page: 35) From other
recods, he may well have been a year or two older, ie 50.

Family stories say he, and his father Philip, were of Frankfort.
(There's no guidance as to which).

a) Would a birth in transit across the North Sea be likely to have
been recorded?

myths...

I appreciate the replies. Thank you all.

However, to clarify, when I wrote "recorded" I was thinking of ship's
logs and passenger lists.

I know there was there was no registration in England (where it seems
they were heading, from the fact I've found Lewis in records from his
late teens) and I doubt they would have sent details back to Hesse (if
that's where the family was emigrating from).

Don Phillipson...

Only if births were recorded so early as 1810 in the
place where the parents lived or held citizenship.

Chris Watts...

As Don says, most likely too early to fnd anything. But registration
depends primarily on the place where the *ship* was registered and not the
nationaliy of the father.

Births were at this date not registered in any part
of Britain (only christenings, by the parish.)

Charles Ellson...

Possibly basically true for much of the Church of England but not for
other denominations or if a military father was involved. IME even a
CofE baptism register at that time is likely to include a brief
mention of the birth circumstances due to the birth being outwith the
parish and the baptism not taking place as immediately as usual.

b) Would such records still be available (and where)?

Charani...

Try the Overseas Births on 1837online. They go back before civil
registration started in England.

If you find him there, you'll be able to order his birth cert in the
normal way through the GRO service.

c) What are the likely ports for Frankfurt-am-Main and
Frankfurt-am-Oder, assuming the family used reasonably direct route?

Charani...

Umm, pass. It would depend on what the father's occupation was as to
which Frankfurt the family came from.

Don Phillipson...

These rivers both have ports at their mouths (Rotterdam
and Stettin respectively) but I doubt if this will help you.
Frankfurt-am-Main is in Hesse, the other in Prussia.