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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Staffordshire => Topic started by: vhowie on Sunday 10 January 16 01:41 GMT (UK)
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I'm trying to gather information on the life of Harriet Williams convicted on the 9/1/1847 at Stafford Quarter Sessions for stealing from William Dalton at Bilston. She was sentenced to transportation for 7 years to VDL (Tasmania) Australia. The ship Cadet sailed from London on 4/9/47 and arrived in Van Diemen's land on the 2/1/1848. Where would I find the full trial transcript and where would Harriet have spent the time between being sentenced in January 1847 and sailing on the Cadet in September 1847? Any help would be appreciated.
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Hello.
Harriet would have spent some of the time in Stafford Gaol and then taken to a prison hulk ship, probably on the Thames or at Portsmouth, then embarked for VDL. Findmypast (FindMyPast) finds no relevant records for hulks.
Don't know about transcripts, but old newspapers might be a useful source. FindMyPast finds short report in Staffordshire Advertiser 9 Jan 1947, p8, col3.
Have you tried the Tasmanian Archives? https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/all/search/results?qu=harriet&qu=williams# record 6 indicates she was permitted to marry a John Wilson.
Have you posted anything in the Australia section?
Some other links (hope they work)
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON41-1-15,170,157,F,60
cert of freedom 1854
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON15-1-4,374,228,C,100 - first record - indenture, but I can't read most of it!
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON19-1-6,172,81,F,30 - bottom left - description.
Dion
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Thank you so much for your information. The period of Harriet's life I would like to know is before she was sentenced. the trial transcript and where she went when she was waiting for tranportation. I am doing a course through the University of Tasmania which will cover convict records in Australia. I have to write a story about an ancestor and I'm trying to cover some gaps. I will just note that she was sent to a prison hulk on the Thames.
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Hi,i had a similar query a few weeks ago.I asked on the Australia page,they were so kind,sent me loads of information.Glen
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Thanks Glen11 , I have now posted the query on the Australian Board. Every question leads to another question. Hope to solve the mystery one day.
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Stafford archives.You email them. They also have an online catalogue. Not very easy to use. They are based in east gate street in Stafford, they will charge though. May be there may be some witness statements?
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Hello again,I hope you had some luck on the Australia page.However,i have found a couple of articles in the British Newspapers.I looked it up on Find My Past,and printed them off ,in case you havent got it,if you contact me with your e-mail,i will scan them and send them.Glen
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Hi Glen, Thanks for the offer, however I am a member of Find my Past and do have the newspaper articles. Thanks for taking the time to look up the information.