I think during the early years they would take you at virtually any age. If you looked big enough to do the job you were in. That's like the Cabin Boy in the navies of the world, 13 and 14 was probably not unusual. Bill Staples, WE (Worker Emeritus) Researching Family History of HOLMES (NY/CT), STAPLES(NY/NJ/CT), ELMS(NY), BANKS(CT) , WYGANT(NY)