On Sun, 8 Nov 2015 08:30:40 +1100 (GMT+11:00), Doug Laidlaw <laidlaws@hotkey.net.au> wrote: >Doug Laidlaw <laidlaws@hotkey.net.au> Wrote in message: >> Bob Campbell via <genbrit@rootsweb.com> Wrote in message: >>> I have just received via mail a record stating that at the age of 14/15 an >>> ancestor George Lake PICKERING "ran away to sea" in 1823. >>> My question being, are there any records online, Royal Navy or merchant >>> seaman crew lists from this period? >>> 5 years later in 1828 George Lake PICKERING was back in London getting >>> married and remained in London/Surrey for the remainder of his life. >>> >>> Cheers from >>> Bob in Brisbane >>> >>> >> >> Sounds as likely as one of mine, Bob. He is supposed to have >> taken a dislike >> to his stepfather, fired a gun at him, then ran away to sea and >> came back a captain. >> the truth is that his father was a captain. The son was a >> merchant who married >> then emigrated to South Australia in the usual way. >> >> But you have a "record."How believable is it? >> >> Doug in Bendigo, Vic. >> -- >> > >Another thought, Bob. Would he have been accepted as a sailor at 15? > If he wasn't then in 1823 it would probably have been sufficient to turn up the next day and state whatever age they wanted to hear.