Thanks for the response. I don't have a ship, I am just fishing. My 3GGrandfather William H. Mead, was born in New York City in 1798. That would make him 14 in 1812. Family stories say he was a sailor, and he lived not far from the wharves in lower manhattan during the time. I figure a young man of that time who was interested in sea life, might have joined up with the privateers to make his fortune or lose his life. He didn't lose his life, by 1820 he is in So. Carolina, marries a local, has 3 sons, then goes back to sea. At his death the family received a substantial inheirtance from him. So he had to be associated with high profit ships; privateers, slave trading, blockade running, or packet ships. Would love to know if you have any record of him.
Jerry