Any chance he answered to William Byers. In which case this might be your man in 1875 in Australian waters: http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1875/07/067bar.htm > > I am trying to discover how my husband's great grandfather Harry William > Byers reached New Zealand. I have searched passenger lists without success; > I am now wondering whether he was a crewman who jumped ship (or signed off) > when he reached New Zealand. > When he married in Palmerston North, NZ, he was said to have been in the > district for 4 years (I know he could have been elsewhere prior to that but > have no information.) > I know he was born in London in 1841, and was still in England for the > 1851 census. > I discovered him, aged 19, as a crewman on a coastal schooner at the time > of the 1861 census. The vessel was Elizabeth Furner, a 57 ton Coaster > Schooner. At the time of the census she was registered at Goole. The > Captain was William Fratson (35), born in Yorkshire. > Any suggestions? > Paddy >