Hi, i have a peter lawson - so perhaps it was Larsen - born 16.4.1843 in Uetersen to Heinrich lawson and Katrina matheson. Can someone tell me how to find more details - such as a birth certificate, or a death cert. for his parents - don't know the date of that though. Also peter arrived in Australia in 1861, perhaps as a sailor on a ship. he states in 1906 that the ship he came on was either the Essex or the Sussex Would anyone know anything about that ship, or how I could find out how he came to be on it - if he was a sailor, are there records anywhere? I would be very grateful for any help Judy lawson