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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Topic started by: rollyb1 on Wednesday 24 June 09 08:35 BST (UK)
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I am seeking any information regarding William John Speed born about 1760 and was, I believe, a Lt. Col. in the Berkshire Rifles.
He was tried and convicted of bigamy on the 22nd March 1809 at Surrey Ap. and transported to Port Jackson, Australia aboard the "Anne" arriving early 1810 accompanied by his family.
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In the gazette for 10th Jan 1797
And the war office paper dated for Jan 14th 1797.
It mentions a William John Speed to be Lieutenant.
There are two men with same name,(different page) but one was in england when yours was away.So not sure of this one
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/AdvancedSearch.aspx?GeoType=London
Celia
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Hi,
I saw your query regarding William John Speed. I'm in Australia and myself and another researcher have quite a lot of information regarding WJS and his family. Please let me know your connection to him and what you'd like to know. We're happy to share.
Cheers,
Helen.
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William John Speed born 1760, arrived Sydney per Anne 2 in February 1810, was my 4 X great grandfather. I have spent many years researching William and his family and am willing to share my information with you.
Camden
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This man was my great x 4 grandfather through his marriage to Elizabeth Russell. I have been researching him for a few years now. Are you in Australia? His first son was also called William John (he went on to have three sons by that name by three wives!) This first son was in the army at the same time as his father, hence the confusion.
Valerie
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Thank you for your reply.
It appears that we are both interested in the same WJS. He had a daughter in either Sydney or Tasmania- Frances Elizabeth Speed who married a Joseph Brignell.
Their son Joseph Thomas Brignell married an Anie Kelly and one of their daughters, Josephine Frances Brignell, is my Grandmother on my fathers side.
What information I have on WJS is mainly about his arrival in Sydney and his death on 26 April 1838. Any additional information would be greatly appreciated.
rollyb1
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Yes. We are definitely talking about the same person. I am descended from Frances's older brother William John born 1812. He married Mary Plunkett and their daughter married Joseph May. Their granddaughter was my mother. How can I contact you offline?
Valerie
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Valerie
You can contact rollyb1 on a P.M to exchange email addresses.Notice the scroll on the the left of the post if you click on the one on rollyb1 post you can send a message.The same as you can on here.The scroll? is not not green so that means not on line.Is this of help to you
Celia
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Thank you Celia. I have only just enrolled and I think that I now have worked out what to do!
Valerie
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Hi, Could you tell me where the SPEEDs were born. I have ancestors born in Lincolnshire and Rutland and am trying to put together siblings of a John Speed born c.1754 in Rutland.
Regards
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:)
Our Speeds were born in London. The really trickey thing is that the names John and William Speed in two separate families. There is one in the north, Yorkshire, I think, and our line who appear in London in the mid 1700s. You will also find the name in Essex and then there is the famous family from South Hampton.
Cromarty
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Thanks for that. I thought Speed was quite a localised surname; obviously not.
I'll keep searching!
Thank You again,
Gill
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Hi
I am trying to trace my great great grandfather William John Speed. He was married to Eliza. Had a son William John Speed on 7th November 1812 (My great grandfather). In Sydney Australia. He married Catherine. There seems to be 2 William Speed's to come to Australia in the early 1800"s. I am in the UK for a very short time and do not have access back home. Would appreciate any information.
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Rollyb's William John Speed's first wife was a Miss Nelson, married 14 Sept 1785 at Furneaux Pelham, Herts. They had six children, 3 died. His second 'wife' was Ann Thorn.
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William John Speed (1761) was my great x 4 grandfather. He married Sarah Nelson and then bigamously married Ann Thorn and Eliza Russell, and then Elizabeth Raine. He was transported to New South Wales in 1810 after a trial at the Surrey Assizes in 1809 where he was convicted of bigamy. One of his sons, WJS, was born in Sydney in 1812 to Eliza Russell. This William John's first wife, Mary Ellen Plunkett, bore him six children before her death in 1846. The May, Jamieson and Moses families are descended from their daughters. There was no issue from the sons. One died in infancy and the other two never married. WJS then married Marion Govan and had another thirteen children. There are many descendants from this second marriage from four of their children.
I do not know who the Catherine is that you mention. This name does not appear in the family up to this point.
You could try searching at the Kew Records for information about the trial in 1809.
I hope this infromation helps.
Cromarty :)
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Thank you this is a great help. I did not know that William John Speed (1761) had another wife after Eliza. Did Eliza come out to New South Wales after WJS?
The WJS born in 1812 is my great grandfather, he died 4th Feb 1891. My Grandfather is Robert Speed and he was born 1859 and died 1944. I thought his mother was Catherine (but perhaps I am wrong). ::
Will keep looking
Jane56
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I am a descendant of WJS's last wife, Elizabeth RAINE (my ggggg grandmother) (from her marriage to John FULLOON). I'd be interested to learn the cause os WJS's death or any information about their period of marriage.
Has anyone ever seen any portraits of the pair?
Regards,
Jeff
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William John Speed is my 4 x great grandfather. His daughter Jane Mary (mother Sarah Nelson) is my direct relative. Sarah was the granddaughter of George Nelson, a former City of London Mayor - 1761-2. His job as an army officer took him to Barbados, New York and Quebec.
He married Elizabeth Russell in 1798 (according to her testimony they married in Nova Scotia) and on his return to England married Ann Thorn in 1899. Ann had a son, William John Speed, in 1801. Elizabeth's first son, Henry William, was born in 1803.
In order to try and sort out his life, WJ and Sarah had another child in 1805 - George Frederick - but things didn't work out and eventually Sarah convinced Ann Thorn to sue for bigamy.
WJ was eventually convicted of bigamy and sent to NSW in 1810 where he was promptly given a pardon.
In 1819, WJ returned to England to collect Jane Mary. Jane eventually married John Wise and they ran a hotel together in Hobart - the Waterloo Hotel - until Jane died in 1847. Jane and John had six children. John died in Sydney in 1870 after having another three children with Sarah Deacon.
In 1822 he went to Tasmania where he taught at a school and then became a pound keeper and gaoler at Richmond.
WJ returned to NSW and in 1832 he married Elizabeth Raine. Both thought that the other had money and promptly separated when it was realised that they didn't.
WJ died at the Benevolent Society in 1838 aged 77.
WJ and Elizabeth Russell's son, Walter G, emigrated to California in the 1850s and became a citizen. He never married.