Hi all, Can anyone point me in the right direction to find naval records before 1822 This is the query from a friend who knew nothing of him having joined the navy until finding his obit. The Royal Cornwall Gazette (Truro), Monday, 31 October 1867 - GRAMPOUND - DEATH OF A CORNISHMAN IN VICTORIA - A correspondent of the Sentinel writing from Mortlake, Victoria, gives the following remarks respecting the death of Mr Richard Blewett, formerly of Creed, Grampound, who was for some time gardener to the late Mr Daubuz, of Killow. -"I have to record the death on Tuesday, the 23rd July, of Mr Richard Blewett, aged 81 years, one of the most esteemed and early inhabitants of his thriving little township. He was a man of Christian piety, and imbued with an unremitting zeal for religion, having succeeded with others in the erection here of a church of England, a neat and substantial building, which will be a lasting memento to his memory. On Thursday, 25th July, a large and most respectable portion of the inhabitants assembled at his late residence to pay their last tribute of respect to the departed. On their way to the church the bell tolled at intervals, which added much to the solemnity of the occasion : on arriving at the church the Rev. J.M. Donaldson, after performing the usual preliminary office, delivered a most impressive and solemn address to his hearers. On leaving the church the sad cortege proceeded slowly to the cemetery, where Mr Donaldson read with great effect that beautiful burial service of the church : on lowering the corpse to its final resting place one of your townsmen, Mr S.R. Harris, planted an English oak at the head of the grave and remarked that it was to the memory of a most valued friend and shipmate, and one who had spent over twenty years of his life on the ocean to defend the rights and uphold the honour of his country. May such remarks of respect be always shown to all true veterans. Cheers Julie