New England and Massachusetts (Whaling Industry 18th Century)

[BAC3]

Hello,

I hope this will not be regarded as too odd a request

I am a mature UK postgraduate researching for a PhD.  My dissertation centres on Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight as a reformatory between 1838-1864 for juvenile offenders, some of whom were eventually transported to Western Australia and called "Apprentices".   Several of these "Apprentices", about 10 in all, absconded on American whaling ships between 1846-1851 during their indentures, whaling ships which, most probably, operated out of New England and Massachusetts.   My simple task is to try and trace these absconders in the United States or wherever, if at all possible.

I can offer in most cases a fairly comprehensive profile of their respective parents and upbringing.

If anyone feels they may be able to help tracing these absconders, essentially boys aged about 15/16/17, please let me know.   I would be delighted and most grateful.

For the moment,

BAC3

[knort33]

Your request is so broad that it needs to be narrowed down to the names of the people (the absconders) you are looking for (and the names of the parents) and approximate age or year that the absconders were born (if you know it) or age when they embarked on the ship.

******************************************************************

[aghadowey]

Have you tried putting the names into Family Search to see if there's any sign of them in later census records, etc.?
https://familysearch.org/search

[BAC3]

Hello,

I thought it may prove helpful if I gave an example of my research:

James HENDON
Born 1829 Atworth, Wiltshire, UK
Father: Oliver HENDON, Blacksmith, 1799-1870
Mother: Ann Brown HENDON (nee ALLFORD), 1794-1839
He had 11 brothers and sisters none of whom migrated to the USA
Transported to Western Australia 1847 for 10 years after sentencing in 1845.
Absconded aboard American whaler July-December 1850 with 5 years of his sentence outstanding

I have tried FamilySearch but my limited knowledge of that system has not produced any result.

I hope this may help my enquiry

For the moment,

BAC3

[knort33]

You honestly should not assume that all went to America.  It appears that Mr. Herndon (if this is the same person) in 1871 is living with a wife and children in Battersea in the 1871 England and Wales Census.

Do you have other names that could be checked?

*********************************************************************