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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cheshire => Topic started by: bonzo on Thursday 18 February 16 19:18 GMT (UK)
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Any information required on Thomas Whittaker born c1768 Cheshire or Possibly Lancashire
Occupation Weaver.
On the 25 May 1812 he was convicted in Chester of having people sign illegal oaths to commit a crime known as Luddism. His sentence was 7 years transportation to Australia. After serving 7 years he remained in Australia where in 1831 he married a Catherine Armstrong ( convict ) 2nd marriage.
Looking for any information at all on Thomas IE: Birth, first Marriage, Children, Parents.
We know before he left England he left a letter for his 1st Wife.
Regards Bonzo
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I think this will be really difficult, unless there is some information within the Court records or the local press about where your Thomas lived.
As you don't know his children's names -- there is nothing to base his father's possible name on.
Off the top of my head, Whittaker is possibly more common in Lancashire than in Cheshire. However you will need to bear in mind that Luddites moved around in groups from town to town, county to county - both to stir up support for their cause and to select various Mills to target.
To have been charged at Chester probably means he and others were captured nearby. It doesn't mean they came from that location.
Have you anything from the Court case that may give more of a clue to his origins or family circumstances please?
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Hello bonzo
I will be happy to check the Chester Newspapers available at Chester Record Office next week to see if I can find any further information on the trial from 25th May 1812.
marthaannie
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Hello bonzo
I have found a copy of a document from Crimes, Prisons and Punishment dated 3rd July 1812 re Thomas Whittaker.
Please pm me and I will send a copy to you, or perhaps you already have a copy of this document?
marthaannie
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Hi Bonzo,
If you have access to find my past there is an article about this in the Chester Chronicle 5 June 1812
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Hello bonzo
I have read the Chester Chronicle found by roinora, which states:
Thomas Whittaker charged with committing and unlawful oath, article makes interesting reading, unfortunately no reference to his family.
marthaannie
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Hi, Bonzo. The article in the Chester Chronicle states that Thomas was of Cheadle Bulkeley and latterly Gatley. I have looked to see what I can find on the Cheshire Parish Register project. Cheadle baptisms don't cover his birth year, but Cheadle was in the Macclesfiedl Hundred and there is a baptism of a Thomas Whittaker on October 14th 1767 at Macclesfield St Mary. Parents are shown as George and Betty. The residence code is shown as ZZ which means the record was illegible at this point. This is an extremely long shot. Obviously with no further supporting evidence it could be any Thomas.
Do you have any details of the second marriage in Australia? are there any clues on that record?
Sorry not to be able to help further.
Regards
KathB
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Hi There.
Thomas Whittaker married Catherine Armstrong ( Convict ) 0n 7 Jan 1831 in Australia.
Regards Bonzo
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Hi Bonzo - but does the marriage record, by any remote chance at that date - give any father's name?
Also - what about his death? I know that later Australian records give quite a lot of family information on death records, such as parents, children etc. Maybe not so much the earlier the death -- but is there anything on his death certificate/record about his parents?
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Hello bonzo
I have read the Chester Chronicle found by roinora, which states:
Thomas Whittaker charged with committing and unlawful oath, article makes interesting reading, unfortunately no reference to his family.
marthaannie
I think we must have read different articles :)
The one that I read gives his age as 44 and a weaver from Cheadle Bulkeley.
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Hi.
Sorry I have no information on his death, he was 44yrs old in 1812
Regards Bonzo
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Hi Bonzo. Can you tell us where you found the second marriage?
Thanks
KathB
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Hi .
Marriage date came from a friend in Canada who sent all the information I had in first topic.
Regards Bonzo
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Long Shot ???
Could this be his burial
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLJJ-DJK
The record is also linked to Ann Whitiker who died 1838. It doesn't show any age for Ann but she could be some relation.
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Apologies rolnora and bonzo
Chester Chronicle 24 April 1812
Lancaster Gazette 2 May 1812
Chester Chronicle 5 June 1812
Oxford Uni & City Herald 6 June 1812
Lancaster Gazette 6 June 1812
All above mention Thomas Whittaker.
marthaannie
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Bonzo - it looks like Thomas Whittaker came over to New South Wales, leaving on 25 May 1812 on 'Earl Spencer' for 7 years. Convicted at Chester so it looks like the correct person.
He was aged 44 but was a Joiner, according to that particular record. Earl Spencer going to New South Wales.
This is on the 'Find My Past' site -- but there is another image on that site that doesn't seem to open for me - if anyone else wants to try (From A-Z of record sets -- type in Australia Convict -- as you type a list will appear.)
The image I cannot open is for Thomas Whittaker 1812 Cheshire - Indents 1788-1842
(It might not say much but it would be good to know - I can't understand why I cannot open it).
In addition on the Ancestry site there is an 1828 Census Extract showing Thomas Whittaker, aged 60 - arrived 1813 on Earl Spencer. He is a Mathematics Teacher in 'Rd Cook Sydney' -- it is very difficult to read.
Unfortunately it is not a census as we know it - not split into family groups etc. However it tells us where he was and his occupation at that point. (He did well for himself didn't he!)
Bonzo -- you may find something in the Australian Newspapers - Trove website-- it's a free site and it's brilliant;
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper
If you use the Advanced Search option you can better control your results.
As he was a teacher you may just find something about him.
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Hi Pennines
Was this the one?...
Name: 2208 Thomas Whittaker
Native Place: Lancashire
Calling: Joiner
Age: 44 (b1768)
Height: 5'8 & qtr"
Complexion: Pale
Hair: Blk to gr
Eyes: Hazel
Lisa
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Hi Lisa --- I couldn't open the image. The 'thingy' just kept whirling round and round!
It's probable that it is though - I could only open the brief transcription which didn't include his description NOR his place of origin.
How interesting that his native place is shown as Lancashire. Unfortunate though, as it's a pretty common name in that county. There's probably loads of Thomas Whittakers born around the same time in Lancs.
Good to have a description of him.
Thank you for looking Lisa.
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You're welcome Pennines.
I have come across 3 interesting letters,dated 1821, relating to the robbery of Thomas' 'Certificate of Freedom' ... Have you (or Bonzo?) seen these. They aren't all the clearest, but if either of you would like them, please PM me an email address and I'll send them over...
You are so right on the birth/marriage front for Lancashire - there are just too many to be able to whittle them down... but never say never ;)
Lisa
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Hi Lisa --- I am sure Bronco would love to see what you've found. Like you and the other people, I'm only trying to help.
We just need that little clue about a first wife's name - a child's name or an actual town of birth don't we!
I have just looked on Lancs On Line Parish Clerk site for children born to a Thomas Whittaker over an appropriate time frame -- looking for a Thomas who was a Joiner --- none were! Maybe he was in Cheshire by then.