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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Australia Lookups completed => Topic started by: Aquilegia18 on Wednesday 20 October 10 20:20 BST (UK)
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Can anyone please help me find information about an ancestor of mine who was transported to Van Diemens Land in 1841. He was sentenced to 7 years transportation for theft at Norwich, Norfolk, England.
He went out on HMS Isabella in April 1841.
His name was Edward HOLMES; born 1792 Norwich, Norfolk; trade weaver; he was a widower and left seven children in England.
I would be most grateful for any information or assistance to enable me to find my ancestor. Did he stay in Tasmania; did he re-marry and have another family;
the questions are endless.
Aquilegia18
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Hi Aquilegia :)
The Tasmanian Archives have their convict records digitised and available online:
http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?search=11
Cheers
Prue
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Hi there
I have found Edward and the ship Isabella - if you search for
British Convict transportation registers 1841 it will bring the
information up when you type the convicts name. Alot of the other
information sites on there you have to sign in to find the information
so maybe if you can look at it you will find out more. Looks really interesting.
regards Sandymc
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Further to Prue's post
Edward Holmes,
Ship Isabella (2)
29jan1842 - 21may1842
departed Woolwich
Convict conduct record direct link
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON33-1-20,280,110,F,80
Indent Convict no. 4775
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON14-1-14,301,41,F,80
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON14-1-14,301,42,F,34
Identity / description
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON18-1-31,227,35,F,80
(could be a red herring ?
I found this fella, who matches a birth year of 1797.
(Could not see any deaths to 1900 for a Edward Holmes in Tasmania that fits his age?)
Edward Holmes age 51 died 1848 NSW reg no. V1848828 33b/1848
Sydney Chronicle, NSW page 2 11th Jan 1848.
A second inquest was held at the same place on the body of a man named Edward Holmes, who also died in the Sydney Infirmary. From the evidence of the wardsman it appeared that the deceased, who was about fifty years of age, was received into the Infirmary on the 3rd instant; he was then rather in 'toxicated. He stated that he had been riding on his dray, and that in jumping off near Ireland's public house the bullock kicked him and knocked him down, when the wheel passed over his leg. Dr. MacEwan received a similar statement from the deceased, who said that he was tipsy at the time the circumstance occurred, and blamed no one. Dr. MacEwan stated that gangrene set in almost immediately after the deceased's admission into the Infirmary, which had been the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict of died from injuries acci- dentally received.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0a4u/
Edit - His conduct record, shows (centre bottom in red)
26 Jan 1847 T.L. = granted, Ticket-of-leave.
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Many thanks to PrueM; Sandymc47 and LoganH for your speedy responses to my request for help. I am very grateful to each of you and for all the information you have supplied. It's going to keep me busy for weeks!!!
To LoganH : I would not rule out the possibility that the Edward Holmes in the Sydney Chronicle is 'my' Edward Holmes. He was baptised 1792 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, but ages were not always stated correctly. According to the "Isabella" records, Edward was still in Tasmania in 1847 but I suppose he could have moved to Sydney if he had completed his sentence.
Could you give me any advice about checking whether he was released from his transportation sentence and when.
Kind regards,
Aquilegia18
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Hi there
Sometimes in the Con records one is able to find additional information, family members, date of release, in the applications for permissions to marry it states whether free or not and gives an indication as to marriage.
Departures is a good place to look if you think he left.
I found children of my 4x grandfather on http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp
As you say there is a lot to keep you busy for a long time.
Happy reading.
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In 1849, Australia Convict Musters 1806-1849
Edward Holmes, Isabella 2nd, Norwich, 7, free.
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Hobart Town Gazette Friday February 16th 1844 page 223
Convict Department
A list of 3rd class probabation pass holders per the Isabella (2) included
4775 Holmes Edward
Gerry
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Hobert Town Gazette December 24th 1844 page 1535
Convict Department
Comptroller General's Office 20th December 1844
"The following engagement of pass-holder in private service has been sanctioned by the Lieutenant Governor".
including
Edward Holmes Isabella 2, by Henry Jones, Green Ponds, 1 month , 2nd ditto.
2nd ditto means ditto from the previous entry which was 2nd December.
Looks like Edward Holmes was allocated to a Mr Henry Jones of Green Ponds for 1 month as of 2nd December 1844.
Gerry
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Many thanks to paj.2554 and Aussie1947 for the information about Edward Holmes.
I am very grateful and am now trying to sort out the information into 'timeline' bits that I can easily refer to.
Can the Hobart Town Gazette of 1844 be accessed online? Also the Australia Convict Musters.
All I need now is plenty of spare time and a very large zoom-in picture of the Isabella log book and I shall be very happy.
Kind regards,
Aquilegia18
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Australian newspapers on line this a link one of my bookmarks
http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2963303?searchTerm=%22earl+grey%22#pstart636547
There were several published in Tasmania at different times during the period of interest, the search engine can be set in various ways and the results filtered, takes some time to get used to. I haven't found anything spectacular about my ancestors yet, but it's been quite useful for following the comings and goings of the ships, and gives us a different perspective.
Peter
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My grateful thanks to paj.2554; to LoganH and to Gerry and Peter for all your help. Thanks for the edit LoganH - I had noted the writing at the bottom but couldn't make out what it said. Many thanks for the explanation.
I had deciphered part of the Isabella log and noted 2nd Dec. 1844 that Edward had been allocated to a Mr. Jones of what looked like G. Pound. Thank you Gerry for giving me the correct details. Seems Edward was allocated to all sorts of people in different places - serious transcribing needs doing but the writing is faint and difficult to read in many places so can only do a little at a time. He seems to have been in trouble on several occasions as "hard labour" is mentioned more than once. Well, I did say I wanted someone exciting in my tree!!! Regards,
Aquilegia18