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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: VictorianDreamer on Thursday 23 October 08 22:27 BST (UK)
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I only signed up yesterday, and I've already realised I may as well set up camp in the corner and just READ! :P
I have a few little niggly things that I figure I'd get other people's opinions on. It's not that I haven't tried to find the answers myself, it's more that I don't think there's a definite answer that would put them to sleep once and for all.
Firstly, the family I am looking at is Christie. We've still got a way to go, but for amatuers, we've done pretty well to get things backwards compatible from present day to about 1780's, and a comment I read yesterday said something about the writing on Census records, so help me, them Wills! I thought I was Shakespeare reincarnated trying to read them!
So, long story short. James Christie is the father, and James Scott Christie is the son that came to Australia as a convict in 1842. A letter states that James Christie was a Scotchman Edinborough. Records we have so far have placed him in St. James, Westminster as early as 1816. His death certificate puts him down as being born in approx. 1782. (Possibly married Elizabeth Hall in 1815, but not confirmed yet).
James Scott Christie was sentenced to transportation in 1838, which coincides with the year his father died, and he was kept behind because he could read/write and helped the ships surgeon.
3 questions:
Was it common for families with a Scottish background to put the Scott into their names, or is this more than likely from someone who married into the family along the way?
James Scott Christie was charged and sentenced in 1838, but was charged again in 1842. (Old Bailey records)We found him on the York Convict Hulk in the 1841 census as well. Was it more likely that he conned his way off the ship, or was he allowed to roam around, work etc? (Charges did include forgery, and the 1842 case also mentions the prisoner as working for someone earlier in the year, even though he'd already been sentenced to transportation)
We have insurance records for James Christie, showing him having a business in 1816 - 1832. His death certificate puts his age at this time as approx. 34 in 1816. Yet, after he died, his wife, Elizabeth, was left £60 a year, due to James Christie being a 'paid out member', from the Calton Corporation (Edinborough). We found Calton in Scotland, but haven't been able to find any mention of the Calton Corporation. Has anyone else had an experience where there was 'paid out membership', or money left to others from one?
Logically, and with nothing more than assumptions to back it up, it was something that James contributed to over the years. As he was working in London for all that time, maybe the corporation was set up in/around England, and Calton in Scotland may have been where the corporation originated? or if he was born in Edinborough, could he have started contributing in some way, before moving to England?
He was also a Deacon and Treasurer at Wells Street Chapel (Wells Street Scotch Church?), Oxford Street, London and buried at Bunhill Row Burying Ground. We didn't find any records of James Christie at Bunhill (free lookup on National Burial Index), so could the Calton Corporation have something to do with him being Nonconformist?
Would love other people's opinions on what they've found with their own experiences in similar matters. :)
I love researching the family tree, but wouldn't it have been nice if someone had left a diary explaining everything!
Victoria
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Usually when there is a middle name like SCOTT it is a name that has passed down the family.
I must admit, I am puzzled by the change of location form Scotland to England plus the 2 convictions? is it possible that you are looking at the records of 2 James Christies which are similiar but not the same man!
the letter you have, is it one that has passed down the family and how much of the information you state is gleamed from it.
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Ready to be confused? lol
There are actually 3 convictions that we've found so far. (The second one mentions that he has two other indictments, but not sure if that's overall, or I can't find the other one) The first two were at the same time, which got him the first 2 sentences of 7 years each.
The court records for his second conviction even mentions that he's already sentenced to 14 years, and he was then sentenced to 15 years. (not sure if that's on top of the 14, or the 14 years has been taken up to 15 years) He stayed in Tasmania after that anyway. it's got me baffled too. I know there were 'favours' done for prisoners on ocassion, but this seems a little 'out there', unless he did forge something, but then again, he would more than likely have been charged for that as well.
The letter I mentioned has been transcribed on a website, and the actual letter is held at the Archives Office in Tasmania. It was written to James Scott Christie by his brother, John (who stayed in England),in 1843. It's rich with information, but, of course, leaves out little bits that would have helped immensley.
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yes, I have read all three convictions but also perplexed why he wasn't in gaol between 1838 > 1842
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why don't you post a message on the Australia board for help with the letter. I do know there are several people who go to the Tasmania archives fairly often and will scan a copy for you ;D ;D ;D
I've been very fortunate by having a friend do it for me!
ok found the website, looks like the family have been well and truly researched
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I might just take you up on the offer with asking if someone could get the letter scanned. I know we've got loads of information just from the transcript, but would be good to actually see the letter itself. I keep getting lost all over the place here, which is soooo easy to do!
The family within Australia has been researched really well. Going back to England is when all the questions popped up. I know everyone hits brick walls, and every time we solve one thing, a dozen more bricks walls come up, but it is fun.
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Be careful, the letter is written by James Scott Christie himself to his son John - not his brother. As a known fraudster in the past, who now appears to have added the name Scott to his name, he may have embelished it somewhat ;)
I certainly have someone in the family who embelished things in writing but was easily caught out.
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Hi Victorian dreamer...
Was just wondering about your Christie family, i have Christies in Victoria, coming from Scotland at some time, havnt looked a lot in to them as have been busy on other branches, but do have......a James who seems to have been born abt 1832 in Fife, Scotland, and married Elizabeth Hendry in Melbourne in 1873
Daizi
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In the letter he states he was born in 1813, this would have made him 25 at the time of his first 2 convictions and 29 at the third. Old Bailey records have him down as age 19 in 1838 and 25 in 1842
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Sorry, I did get the letter confused.
What we have been able to trace has been correct so far. (James Christie, tobacconist in Brewer Street, James Christie, and wife Elizabeth (Tobacconist) on three baptism records for John, James and William, etc)
The letter to James Scott Christie from his brother, and mentioning tid bits would have been handy to see, but we're slowly working through it all little bit by little bit.
Just caught next two posts!
craizi daizi: The James Christie who might be from Scotland was born about 1782, but, I've got so much Christie stuff around here, that you and me are going to have to see if we can find some common one's. I swear I could make up at least 4 other Christie trees! lol
jc23red: We've come to the conclusion that somewhere along the way, James birth year has been muddled up from 1818 to 1813. After seeing some of the writing from back then, it would be easy enough to do as well. All the records we're finding for him though, are putting the age closer to 1818. (York Convict Hulk for 1841 have him as 20, the Old Bailey records etc) The Baptism for James Christie is 1818, and considering the times, five years can be taken two ways for the length of time between a birth and baptism. Because kids were dying so young, you waited to see if they survived, or the dates are close to the birth in case a child did die young. If it was only one record that tended to put his birth year at 1818, then I'd take it with a grain of salt. It seems to be record after record though. We know he came out to Australia in 1842, and we've pretty much followed from present day backwards. We found a ticket of leave for when he married in Australia, the name of the ship he was transported in, etc. So we know we've got the right one, the 1818 seems to be one of the only hiccups though
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I think the Conviction is correct and the Old Baily dates are correct, I was just pointing out that care needs to be taken with the letter, whether it is a transcription error or James Scott Christie himself making errors.
Have you looked for his parents marriage in Scotland? it should be on Scotlandspeople website.
I have found one John Christie in 1841 who is living with his mother Elizabeth. Elizabeth born Scotland of ind means and John a polisher
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We found a John Christie living with Elizabeth Christie (Ind), but John was listed as a Solicitor, in Queen Street?
As for looking for the parents in Scotland, haven't even started on that yet. Although he says he came from Edinborough, we are not 100% sure about where he got married, although there is one record for St George Hanover that lists a James Christie and Elizabeth Hall getting married in 1815, which would fit with the pattern of getting married, and seeming to have kids early in the marriage. (John was the eldest of the boys and his baptism record has him baptised in 1816)
For now, I'm planning on following the 1851 census, because Elizabeth, John and William seem to have disappeared by the 1861 census. I just finished a subscription at one site, and going to sort out the information I've got a little, before I jump straight back into another subscription.
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Sounds great Victorian, PM me when you are ready
Daizi
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Sorry to butt in here with no helpful suggestions, but this thread is getting very interesting and I wonder if it may benefit from being moved to the Australia board, the Common Room or the appropriate Scotland board.
Also if the Christie surname is included in the title you may catch other Christie researchers.
Perhaps one of the moderators will be kind enough to move it if you agree.
By the way, welcome to rootschat VictorianDreamer! ;D What an interesting family you have.
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lol thanks Ruskie. You haven't heard the half of this lot yet. They've got all of us on our toes trying to figure things out about them, and from the amount of kids we've got them all having since hitting Tasmania WOW! is about the only word that describes it.
Not sure about where to put it, which was why I chose here in the first place. We don't have any proof positive about where in Scotland any of the family 'might' have been born or buried. There are a few questions marks left to find with regard to James Christie (Tobacconist), his wife and their children, which is what we've hit the most interesting and biggest brick walls with.
I'm guessing the Common Room may be the best place to park it for now. There's not really that much more to find out in Australia. A copy of the letter held at Tasmania Archives would be nice, and I'll post that request on the Australia board as jr26red suggested.
As for Scotland, I have looked for James Christie's there, but until we have some sort of proof about the Scottish connection, I don't dare even try!
Once it's moved, I'll gather all the information we currently have, and put it in one spot, cos' it just wasn't possible to put every little detail in without forgetting something.
Thanks for the welcome too Ruski :)
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I just found this link while nosing around in here, and it talks about prisoners on this particular Hulk being allowed to go ashore and work! One of the court cases did mention that James Christie was working for one of the people who was cross examined in court.
http://intolerablehulks.com/bellerophon.html
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Hi Victorian Dreamer,
I have been researching the same James Scott Christie for a friend who is a family member also. I will tell you what I have found and you can ignore or investigate further, I am becoming thoroughly confused with them.
James Christie b1768 married a Margaret Scott b 1772. They appear to be the parents of James Scott Christie b 17 Jan 1792 bap 19 Jan 1792 at Lying in Hospital Endell St Holborn London. Discharged from hospital 4th Feb 1792. On the bap which was signed by James he is a servant and was 27, his signature is in the book. I think Margaret wanted to continue her surname of Scott.
James Scott Christie married Isabella Christy.
I found Isabella (Christy) Christie (wife of seaman) aged 25 in the 1841 Census with Mary b 1832, John Scott 1834 and Charles 1839 all at Tingwall, Shetland Isles.
I looked in Shetland Isles because the information I was given has John Scott Christie born 1833 in Tingwall. I have done other research on John Scott but will not keep going until I hear I have travelled the correct path. (I have been using Find My Past and also Ancestry)
Kaye Graham
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Hi Kaye,
We honestly have never been able to get back any further than James Christie, tobacconist in Brewer Street. We have him living there as early as 1813 from memory and from his death certificate, he was born about 1782 (died in 1838, aged 56). As far as I know we don't have any seafarers at all, although there is a Christie heavily involved in the shipping area around the same time, and on reading his Will, there is absolutely no connection I can find to any of our lot.
We have a Henry Christie and Isabella that 'might' be James's parents, but again, no proof positive. We also can't find any Wills from anyone that nails any of these lot down for us, YET!!!
My family tree has gone on the backburner lately so I'd have to go back and double check information but for the most part I have been able to connect backwards to James Christie the tobacconist with 100% proof positive, beyond that would be all guess work as it stands.
Victoria
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James Scott Christie and Hannah Tyley were my great great great grandparents.
Is anyone still on this thread?