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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Australia Lookups completed => Topic started by: debandbill on Tuesday 08 July 08 15:52 BST (UK)
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My gg grandfather was transported to Australia for 14 years - arriving Aug first 1852 on ship - William Jardine. His convict record provides the following information. Unmarried on arrival. Dyer; convicted in Central Criminal Court 7.4.1851, Housebreaking, prev conv, 14ys.
I have managed to obtain a copy of what happened in each of his court cases - but unfortunately have not been able to obtain any details of where he lived in London - or who his family / parents were. In the first case he was convicted using the name John Henderson. ( I am assuming his name was actually Montague - as this was the name he was transported under.Both of the crimes he was convicted for took place in fairly central London- one at Clapham and the other at Clerkenwell. His arrival information says that he was 24 at sentencing - so he was probably born around 1827. His age on his death certificate would imply that he was born later - maybe 1832?
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I go from here? I have not yet had a look at census 1841 census info - not even sure what area to search. I obtained the information about his court cases from a site that copied information from a book that was published for the public to read about the trials - I am wondering if the actual records might give more precise information - including addresses etc.
Any hints - ideas etc would be greatly appreciated as I am stuck on this one.
Deb
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Hi Deb,
Had a quick look on 1841 census, lets hope he was from Middlesex as there are very few John montagues there. Will search again tomorrow as late now and must go off to bed.
Loved his physical description on Convicts site;
John Montagu,
5ft 5 1/2,brown hair, hazel eyes, fair skin, stout, 2 setons? back of neck and cut over eye :) aka Montague, Montaug
Trish
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Hi Trish,
I too do wonder what is a seton. Could be very bad things. Could be wonderful. Anything from wooden teeth to tattoos!!
Here is one definition. MMMmmm.....don't know ???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seton_stitch
Sue
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from the Fremantle Prison website
MONTAGU, John
Convict No 1349
Ship Name William Jardine
Ship Arrival Date 1 Aug 1852
Alias aka MONTAGUE
Birth Date 1828
Marital Status Unmarried
Occupation dyer
Sentence Date 7 Apr 1851
Sentence Country England
Court Cent Crim Ct
Length of Sentence 14yrs
Crime house breaking
Ticket of Leave Date 6 Jun 1854
Known Areas Perth
Permission to Marry 5 Feb 1858
Married Mar Mary DOOLAN, 27 May 1858, Guildford, RC
JJ
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Marriage
MONTAGUE JOHN Male
DOOLAN MARIA Female
GUILDFORD 1135 1858
children
MONTAGUE JULIA MARIA JOHN DOOLAN MARIA GUILDFORD 4602 1859
MONTAGUE EMILY JOHN DOOLAN MARIA YORK 5414 1860
MONTAGUE JOHN JOHN DOOLAN MARIA YORK 6467 1862
JJ
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Thanks for all the info that people have retrieved from various places - it is staggering that this information can be gained so quickly now. It took me years to gather all of that information from various sources. Yay for the computer age.
I read somewhere - or gathered somewhere that a seton was a bit like a boil or abscess. Certainly sounds revolting - and probably very painful.
I would very much appreciate any information on the census - as I only really thought about that source as I was posting the message last night.
He had a number of children - three of whom JJdownunder has listed. John, Emily, Elizabeth, William,Julia Maria, Robert and Louis. It might give some hint as to which family is the match when looking at census information.
His age seems to be a bit variable - depending on the source. I note that in his first court case in 1850 he said that he was 24 - even though it was more than a year prior - yet his second court case in 1851 - he was listed as being 23.
The truly crazy thing is that it looks like he was out of gaol only one or two months before he was caught a second time. Penalties sure don't compare with now. The first time he stole four glass bottles and a pair of candle sticks - second time a coat. His punishment was transportation for 14 years. These thefts were done with a friend - who was also transported for 14 years - although not to Western Australia it would seem.
Thanks again.
Debbie
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My grandfather John was the eldest son of John montague who was the convict who arrived in Australia in 1842 on the William Jardine.
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John Montague and James Bryant appeared in Court on 25 March 1851. The 1851 Census was held on 30 March 1851
1851 Census (HO107 1526 377 8)
John Montague, Prisoner, Unmarried, age 19, Laborer, b. Leith, Edinburgh
James Bryant, Prisoner, Unmarried, age 23, Tailor Journeyman, b. Marylebone, Middlesex
Address - Her Majesty's Jail, Newgate
possibility?
regards
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Good one hanes teulu :)
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A seton is a scar that is the result of being beaten or hurt in some way as a young child and it doesn't,appear until later in life.
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Thank you Hanes Telou for the information are you a descendant
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No, I'm not a descendant!! Another bit of the puzzle -
Northern Star, Saturday 19 April, 1851
Central Criminal Court - Burglary
James Bryant, 26, tailor, and John Montague, 23, labourer, were indicted for breaking into and entering the dwelling house of a Charles A Jones, and stealing a coat valued at £2.-The police stated that on the evening of the 25 March they were watching the two prisoners, and after seeing them try several street doors, saw them open the door of the prosecutor's house, and presently return with a coat, with which they were making off, when they stopped them. On the road to the station Bryant threw away a bunch of picklock keys.-They were both found Guilty.-Besides several separate convictions against them, it was proved that they had been for years uniting in concert as cracksmen and had been jointly tried, convicted and imprisoned for stealing in a dwelling house.-They were sentenced to fourteen years transportation.
regards
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Thank you so much Hanes Teulu I really appreciate what ever you can tell me.we are not related the plot thickens. Sincere thanks.
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If you haven't already checked, John Henderson/Montague's appearances at the Central Criminal Court can be seen on line -
http://www.oldbaileyonline.org
John Henderson on 4 March 1850 and John Montague on 7 April 1851
In an earlier post I said he "appeared in Court on 25th March 1851". Correction - he was "nabbed" on the 25th and was in custody awaiting trial on the Census date.
regards
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Hanes Teulu thank you very much.
Regards
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Does anyone know anything about convict John montagu prior to his conviction.eg.
The first 19 years, his family or siblings anything at all ? He was a good hardworking man in Aust. Good but a very hard father. Actually no one even knew he was a convict while he was alive until about 30 years ago and there was and still are relatives who don't or won't believe it. Thanks