Michael Tanner was sent from the Orhpans's school to Flinders Island, from there he was taKen by a Captain Smith of the 'Bouy Boat'. When the boat came to the Launceston area Michael absconded and went to, Vermont, the home of my ancestor, Elizabeth Ramsdate. She wrote a letter to the Colonial Secretary asking for the boy to remain with her (printed in Mortmain). Captain Smith apparently wanted the boy back but he did not want to go. The Colonial Sceretary's reply was that the boy could go where he wanted to go.