I have found out some more information about Samuel Varney, eldest son of Woodhouse senior, and father of Woodhouse junior.
As I inferred before, Samuel seems to have had problems with the law, see this page from WIRKSWORTH Parish Records-Quater -Sessions 1770-1625.
www.wirksworth.org.uk/CRM16.htmHe got off 3 times before being convicted and sentenced to 7 years transportation ( for stealing dishes and milk ).
This is confirmed in the following link
www.multiline.com.au/~jeand/jweb/data/1826.htmlfound on GENUKI - Derbyshire, records from Derby Assizes.
Click on the bottom link of his 2 entries, and it shows that he spent time on prison ships in Chatam up to 1830 at least, so probably never made it to Australia.
He was given a free pardon in June 1833.
I am almost sure that he died in Rotherham in 1841, shortly before the first UK census. His widow Mary (Not sure yet what happened to his first wife Ann) was brought to Belper under the poor law provisions, together with 3 daughters, the eldest 5 years old at the time of the 1841 census. She was in lodgings in Swinney Lane, Belper, and had been found employment in the cotton mill.
It must have been a traumatic time for Samuel's family. His father had died before his release, but his mother Elizabeth was still alive, and living with her second son, Thomas.
What happened to Woodhouse junior during this time I dont know, but from July 15 1833 to August 30 1833 he was at Strutt's school in Belper, and stated to be living in Commonside. His father is said to be a nailer.
see
www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DBY/Belper/StruttSchool/V.htmlHe left to 'go to the mill' . It seems that the law at this time required children to be able to write their name before being employed ! ( he was 10 years old).
Did his eventual move to the waterways arise from an association with Chatham?
If I remember correctly, by the 1841 census he is on board a boat moored in Castleford, already married. He is with his wife and very young first born.
In 1851 his wife appears to be living with the in laws. His name has been entered by the enumerator, but crossed out. His census entry is on a boat off the Anglesey coast.
In 1861 he is moored on the Ouse?, near Selby Yorks.
I so far haven't found any record of his death.
Bovar.