Merchnt Navy

[BigVee]

I vaguely remember being told that some times people lied about their age to get jobs, because they needed to help support family. is it possible a 15 year old would say he was 19 then go off to sea ?



Thanks in advance Vee

[mozzie]

They did that quite often in Australia, I can't think of any reason why they would not do that in other countries, possibly to escape hardship, adventure etc.

David

[PeterTimber]

I would go one step further and venture to say it was prevalent,if not customary in the days under sail. =Peter=

[BigVee]

Thanks Mozzie and Peter, its the only explanation i could come up with for conflicting years of birth .

[PeterTimber]

Did your ancestor voyage to OZ in those sail ships? You might find a reference in blaxland for him. =Peter=

[BigVee]

Hi Peter, no i dont think so but i think maybe his father and grandfather did, just waiting to find his parents names via birth cert. I will look up Blaxland though, thank you