Mary Mason wrote: > Charani, I have a page on my site, in the Parish Chest section, on > HMS Formidable, it may be of interest. It shows why some of the > boys were sent there. Many thanks for that. It's very interesting esp that some of the boys were sent to the Formidable for stealing from their own parents. There seemed to be as many sent to the ship for vagrancy as there was for theft. I liked the "incorrigible" lad sent there for letting off fireworks on the highway :) Charles didn't get a mention but a John HELPS did and the YORKs and the HELPS' are related. Off now to find out who John HELPS was. Oh dear! Distracted again! ;) LOL I also noticed a VEALES so I'll pass that on to Pam Coulson's dau who's taken over Pam's research. -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk