Hi Sue, FMP shows a George TROTT (no mention of Mennens) who may be your George. If he was apprenticed at the likely age of 12 in 1827 he would have been born c1815. All the Census and other info found for him has a consistent place of birth as Deal in Kent in 1815. No baptism appears for him in Kent records, but he may not ever have been baptised. Both Deal and Kingston are maritime towns and apprenticeships could be given across county borders for any number of reasons. Henry TROTT of Hull is shown in Merchant Seamen records for 1835-1845 who may be George's father. The MONINS name (possibly another spelling of MENNENS) is found in families in Eastry and Walmer Kent in the last decade of the 18thC. It's a possibility that Henry TROTT and one of the MONINS women were the parents (married or unmarried) of George. FMP doesn't show any marriage anywhere but this is not to say that there is or isn't one. It's worth exploring both areas I think. Here are the beginnings of what I found: 1841 Census Lower Street Watts Alley, Deal, Eastry, Kent George Trott 20 mariner Mary do 20 George do 1m 1845 & 1846 Listed in Merchant Navy & Maritime Records showing the number of voyages Out and In: George Trott 31 Deal 1861 Census 76 Beach Street, Deal George Trott Head Marr 44 Overseas Pilot Kent, Deal Mary A Marr 39 do Walmer (children) Edward 13, Frederick 9, William 7, Dan 5, Arthur 3, Mary A 1, all born Deal William Goymer Lodger Un 28 Mariner 1871 Census 80 Beach Street, Deal, Eastry: George (Mariner) 55, Mary 52, Arthur 13, Mary A 11, Louisa 7 1881 Census 56 Beach Street, Deal: George (North Sea Pilot) 64, Mary A (wife) 59, Louisa (Dressmaker) 17, Frederick T (Grandson) 6, Thomas G Langley (Lodger, Paperhanger) 21 1883 3rd qr George Trott Death age 67 Eastry, Kent 2A 489 Hope this helps Ruth