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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Midlothian => Topic started by: tigerquoll on Tuesday 28 December 10 12:39 GMT (UK)
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Hi Lister's,
I am after the birth of Catharine/Catherine SPOUSE. She was convicted of stealing on 6 February 1837 and sentenced to 7 years transportation to Tasmania. In her Australian convict records it states she was a housemaid, address Andrew Lees(Shoemaker), High Street, Edinburgh.
Her age at marriage gives her a date of birth of approx 1816. This seems to be a fairly rare surname and I was hoping that some one is researching the name. Would there be much personal information on her court records in Edinburgh?
regards Janine
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there is a marriage for a catherine spouse to a james hatton 1st august 1847 in hobart tasmania
there is also a child to this couple in 1854 a thomas hatton, born 1854 hobart australia
kerry
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Thanks for the reply Kerry :)
I have Catherine's marriage and her children in Tassie. They were tricky to track down due to the various surname spellings of Hatton, Halton, Haltton, Haulton - Jane, Catherine, James, John, Thomas and Mary ANN
I would love to trace her back in Scotland. SPOUSE seems such an unusual surname. I found quite a few on a family search site around the Coldingham area, Berwick, Scotland but not a birth for Catherine
regards Janine
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Andrew Lees, shoemaker, is still at 13 High St in 1841.
There is a William Spouse, Labourer, aged 40, in the Edinburgh Charity Workhouse in 1841. He was born in Midlothian. His status is Married, but his wife is not in the Workhouse.
Hope this helps.
Hibee
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Thanks Hibee,
He sounds a good prospect to be some relative, there aren't that many around, I will take any I can find at the moment!
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Do you know that Spouse was her maiden name?
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I can't be a hundred percent sure. It states on her convict records that she was single, although it is quite possible that she lied, as some of the convict women did so that they could re-marry in Australia. During this time were housemaids allowed to be married?
Her 1847 marriage in Australia gives her age as 28yrs which is quite old in those days for a first marriage. I am open to any suggestions.
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I'm not sure that a shoemaker in a crowded High Street tenement would have had servants.
Hibee
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Catherine Spouse was the daughter of John Spouse and Catherine Smith.
I have more information on her background.
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Hi All,
In Scotsman on Tuesday 7th Feb 1837, it reports that on Monday at High Court of Judiciary, "Catherine Spouse an old offender, pleading guilty to stealing wearing apparel from the house of Mr Andrew Lees, High Street and was sent to 7 years transportation."
Looked at the NAS, and it says she had a previous conviction for theft 11th July 1835. Trial papers relating to Catharine Spouse for the crime of theft by opening lockfast places, habit and repute at High Street, Edinburgh. Tried at High Court, Edinburgh.
Tom
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Hi Tom,
Could you please tell me how you were able to access the Scotsman?
Thank you
David
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Hi David,
If you live in Scotland you get free access to the Licensed Digital Collections on the National Library of Scotland. You have to register on http://www.nls.uk/. Then go to to Licensed Dgital Collections under Digital Resources, go to browse under titles and you will come to Scotsman eventually, you can also select the "Times" and "19th Century British Newspapers" as they are quite helpful too.
Tom
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That is a great idea Tom. Just to confirm the details of this registration, you have to provide a main address in Scotland to be able to register for this service.
Monica :)