Dear Listers, While searching for the whereabouts of Frederick James JACKSON, we did eventually find some reference to him being an 'ex Vernon boy'. Searching the internet and old newspapers has given us a lot of general information about the 'Vernon boys', the history and the reasons behind the set up of the school ships in Sydney. We even found a great write-up (with pictures) in the Illustrated Sydney News 23 January 1890. The Entrance Books of the NSS Vernon 1867-1897 are at State Records (CGS 3906 8/1740-46) and have been indexed on microfiche as an 'Index to Admittances & Discharge Books for the NSS's Vernon and Sobroan' in 1994 by the Kiama group. Unfortunately, a check of this index fails to show his name probably because there is a gap of several years in the late 1870's and early 1880's; this is the time period Frederick would likely have been placed on the ship. Are there any listers out there who can add further sources for me to check the actual names and dates of the 'Vernon boys'? Regards...Yvonne Port Macquarie NSW Australia