After many years of searching a distant family member allerted me to the records online of shipping coming to Sydney Australia. On the "Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters" site I have found who I think was my great grandfather. He was believed to have deserted ship from the Prussian Navy before he arrived here. However the first Mate on the "Champion" from Liverpool to Sydney in 1881 appears to be him. Was it therefore possible that he then served on English ships? I have now seen that Liverpool in those days was home to a mix of seamen from all over the world, possibly illeagle too. I was wondering if anyone on the list knows how I can find out what type of ship the "Champion" was. It appears to be some sort of merchantile vessel as there was only one passenger. The seaman I am researching was Rudolph Charles Frederik Priester, born Gustrow Prussia in c1833. I was wondering if he featured on an 1881 Census although I can't find him online. Possibly he was in UK for the 1871 Census? He did not marry until he got to Australia so I'm wondering if he features on any sort of records in the UK other than BMD. Any help much appreciated. Anne