Thanks so much, once more, Mike. This really helps me to understand what was likely going on with this ancestor. Based on this, the disconnected records I have for a likely John Little all fit together. Proving that it is the RIGHT John Little might prove more difficult, but at least I am on the right track. Thanks for the book recommendation. Definitely a "must read". Lynne Quoting [email protected]: > Hi Lynne, > > No he was NOT commissioned. Petty Officers are non - commissioned officers > and your man would have retired after 20 or 22 years service at 40 > yrs of age. > Exceptionally he could have served an additional five years, affectionately > known in the service as a Fifth Five. Continuous service was not introduced > into the Navy until 1852. > > A good book for anyone wishing to get the flavour of the Victiorian Navy is > John Winton,s ' Huurah for the Life of a sailor' Published 1977 > > Mike >