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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: rm91 on Sunday 22 January 17 17:20 GMT (UK)
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Hi all,
A distant cousin, Stephen Morris, was sentenced in 1848 to 7 years transportation for night poaching in Hampshire (bit harsh if you ask me) and was sent to Australia on board the William Jardine, arriving at Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island on the 14th November 1850.
In 1861 his wife in Southampton states she is a widow, but has a child named Louisa Morris who was born around 1856.
If that child was his it means he must have come back but I cannot find a death record for him.
So my question is this: Is there any way to see if people came back from Australia once their sentence was served at all?
Thanks.
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As I understand it, very few people transported returned from Australia as it was just too expensive. Most settled out there after serving their sentences and started a new life.
Any child born to his wife would have been called Morris as that was her name when it was born, so it doesn't mean that it was Stephen's child. I would think she was able to call herself a widow as she knew that she would never see her husband again.
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As I understand it, very few people transported returned from Australia as it was just too expensive. Most settled out there after serving their sentences and started a new life.
Any child born to his wife would have been called Morris as that was her name when it was born, so it doesn't mean that it was Stephen's child. I would think she was able to call herself a widow as she knew that she would never see her husband again.
Thank you. Would there be any way to find him in Australia?
I guess you're right - easier to tell a census enumerator you're a widow than say your husband is a convict in Australia.
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The Australians will be waking up soon, so hopefully one of them will be able to help find him for you. In the meantime do you have anything else that might help them eg parents, date of birth?
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Just found this
Stephen Morris
Birth Year abt 1825
Age 89
Death Sale, Victoria
Registration Year 1914
Registration Place Victoria
Father's Name Morris Stephen
Mother's Name Elizth Russell
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An online tree has his convict record attached with a lovely description. It says he had a shallow complexion, brown hair, black whiskers and eyebrows, hazel eyes and a long nose.
The tree has him marrying Isabella Yarrow on 13th May 1855 in Victoria, they had 9 children. They give his death as 27th July 1914.
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Wow groom that is incredible - thank you.
Indeed I'd say it was him. Although his mother was Jane Russell, not Elizabeth. He was baptised in 1824 in Fawley, Hampshire, so the age adds up too.
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The convict record is definitely him as it fits what you said in your first post.
So it looks as if he stayed, started a new life and raised a new family.
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The convict record is definitely him as it fits what you said in your first post.
So it looks as if he stayed, started a new life and raised a new family.
Fascinating. Thanks again.
I wish I could contact the person who has the convict record and other info.
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Hi, Look here, no. 4 on the list :)
https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/all/search/results?qu=STEPHEN&qu=MORRIS
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That's it Jool! Well done, obviously where they got it from. :D
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Hi, Look here, no. 4 on the list :)
https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/all/search/results?qu=STEPHEN&qu=MORRIS
Brilliant! Thank you very much.
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The online tree mentioned Tasmanian Convict Conduct Records, a bit of googling found it ;D
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There is a VERY lengthy report on the incident in the Hampshire Advertiser 11 March 1848. It appears that Stephen Morris struck an assistant gamekeeper on the head with the butt of his gun, the gamekeeper died from his injuries. The article can be viewed in the newspapers on FindMyPast.
Added later: There are quite a few newspaper reports over several months in 1848.
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His conduct record mentions this assault by him as a convict constable
Police. (1851, December 22). The Tasmanian Colonist (Hobart Town, Tas. : 1851 - 1855), p. 2. Retrieved January 23, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226522516
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His indent, as I read it, names family as
F. Stephen
M. Maria ...edit: this is his wife's name
B. Wm ??
S. Elizt ?
I think it also says "brother on board" - there's a Robert and a John Morris on the same voyage
edit: says tried with mr smith and charles bratcher on board
last entry on this page
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON14-1-42,539,63,L,80
M :)
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I think it also says "brother on board" - there's a Robert and a John Morris on the same voyage
last entry on this page
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON14-1-42,539,63,L,80
M :)
It does look like "brother on board" but I think it reads "tried with Wm. Smith and Chas. Brotcher on board" Those names are mentioned in the newspaper reports as Stephen's accomplices.
Added: Just amended the name from Thos. to Chas. Brotcher. The name varies depending which report you read ???
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I think it also says "brother on board" - there's a Robert and a John Morris on the same voyage
last entry on this page
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON14-1-42,539,63,L,80
M :)
It does look like "brother on board" but I think it reads "tried with Wm. Smith and Thos. Brotcher on board" Those names are mentioned in the newspaper reports as Stephen's accomplices.
Yes, I agree its not brother, have just found that and edited my previous post - best I go back to sleep I think :P :)
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Matthew, If I hadn't read the newspaper reports I wouldn't have been any the wiser, it does look like "brother". :)
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Thanks all :) It was the newspaper entry where I first discovered Stephen's misdeed and subsequent transportation.
The person (aside from the poor gamekeeper of course) I feel sorry for the most is his first wife, Maria.
Russell
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It must have happened a lot. Many of the people who were transported had been sentenced to death and had it changed to transportation, however to those left behind they might as well have been dead as they must have known they would never see them again. The dreadful thing was that they were often sentenced for things that seem very trivial to us.
A good story is you haven't read it is "Remember Me" by Lesley Pearse. It is based on the real life story of Mary Bryant from Cornwall who was sentenced to death for stealing a silk hat. That was changed to transportation and she sailed on the First Fleet. It tells her story and conditions on the ship and when they landed.
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There is a will for Stephen MORRIS which you can download for free
http://prov.vic.gov.au/index_search?searchid=54
Ros
adding : probate notice http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62348827
NOTICE is hereby given that, after the expiration of fourteen days from the
publication hereof, application will be made to the Supreme Court of Victoria, in its probate jurisdiction, that PROBATE of the WILL of STEPHEN MORRIS, late of The Netherlands, Sale, in Victoria,Gardener, deceased, may be GRANTED to CHARLES MORRIS, of 26 Creek-street,
Williamstown, in Victoria, Grain Storeman, being the Executor appointed by the said Will.
Dated this 1st day of August, 1914.
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There is a list of newspaper items for
Morris family (descendants of Stephen Morris & Isabella Yarrow, m. 1858 Sale Victoria)
http://trove.nla.gov.au/list?id=6656
Ros
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Sorry I should have also given you the Victorian BDM - free to search.
https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/bdm/indexsearch.doj
From this and the newspaper articles you should be able to put together the family tree
Ros
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It must have happened a lot. Many of the people who were transported had been sentenced to death and had it changed to transportation, however to those left behind they might as well have been dead as they must have known they would never see them again. The dreadful thing was that they were often sentenced for things that seem very trivial to us.
A good story is you haven't read it is "Remember Me" by Lesley Pearse. It is based on the real life story of Mary Bryant from Cornwall who was sentenced to death for stealing a silk hat. That was changed to transportation and she sailed on the First Fleet. It tells her story and conditions on the ship and when they landed.
Yes, poor Maria was left with three children whilst her husband was shipped off to the other side of the world for good, for the sake of what, a few pheasants? Does seem trivial to me.
Thank you, I will check out that story.
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Sorry I should have also given you the Victorian BDM - free to search.
https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/bdm/indexsearch.doj
From this and the newspaper articles you should be able to put together the family tree
Ros
Ros, thank you very much. Have downloaded the Will now, excellent. Thank you for this info.
Russell
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Yes, poor Maria was left with three children whilst her husband was shipped off to the other side of the world for good, for the sake of what, a few pheasants? Does seem trivial to me.
But he wasn't shipped off for the sake of a few pheasants, he was shipped off because he/they killed a man in pursuit of a few pheasants. It is sad that Maria and the children were then left alone to fend for themselves because of his actions.
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Yes, poor Maria was left with three children whilst her husband was shipped off to the other side of the world for good, for the sake of what, a few pheasants? Does seem trivial to me.
But he wasn't shipped off for the sake of a few pheasants, he was shipped off because he/they killed a man in pursuit of a few pheasants. It is sad that Maria and the children were then left alone to fend for themselves because of his actions.
Yes, whilst I do think Stephen unfortunately killed him (the gunshot wound being prime evidence, as well as the other men being accounted for in the struggle), had they not gone out that night to poach, the poor man wouldn't have died. That's what I meant. All that trouble for the sake of a few pheasants.
I am still unsure as to why they were all found not guilty of manslaughter, only guilty of the poaching, when a man died.
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Poaching without violence was a transportable offence. Stealing a cap, a handkerchief, insubordination, and a lot of other "trivial " crimes were transportable offences.
http://www.convictrecords.com.au/crimes
Ros
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Poaching without violence was a transportable offence. Stealing a cap, a towel, insubordination, and a lot of other "trivial " crimes were transportable offences.
http://www.convictrecords.com.au/crimes
Ros
Wow, yes, some of the things on there are so petty. I had always assumed only the worst were sent off for transportation. A real eye opener.
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Convicts were seen as a source of labour to advance and develop the British colony in Australia and only about 6% of those transported were kept locked up. Majority were set to work as brick makers, carpenters, nurses, servants, cattlemen, shepherds and farmers., working under free settlers.
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Fascinating. I must read up properly on it.
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If he hadn’t gone out poaching and killed that man I wouldn’t be here.
He was my great x 3 grandfather.
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If he hadn’t gone out poaching and killed that man I wouldn’t be here.
He was my great x 3 grandfather.
Wow! I guess that makes us distant cousins... I took a photo of the Falcon Inn in Fawley where he was drinking that night, I can send it to you if you like.
I have it that Stephen Morris' mother was Jane Russell, Jane's brother was Joseph Russell, who was my great x5 grandfather. My first name is Russell, and ultimately it comes from that line.