James Hill--from Upton--was he a convict?

[linet]

 Hi,
I am led to believe that my gr gr grandfather, James Frederick Hill[ son of Thomas and Jane Hill], was sent to Australia as a ticket-of-leave convict, [ his crime was poaching] in the late 1840s 0r 1850s. He lived at Upton, on a farm called 'Upton Farm'[ in the Brendon Hills ].
If this story has any truth, where would he be likely to have been tried and sentenced for his crime. any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[borneo]

Marriage:
Groom: Thomas Hill 
Bride: Jane Harding 
Married on 15th Oct 1812 
Parish Wellington

Looks nice !

http://www.camp-sites.co.uk/blakescottages/uptonfarm.htm

James was aged ten in the 1841 Census

Brian

[linet]

 Thanks Brian,
If I ever get back to UK I would love to stay in the cottage  of my  ancestor.

[borneo]

Book Now ! !

MI Record 359-1 Name Thomas HILL Inscription Large Headstone (4 metres south-west of the church tower). Sacred / to the / memory of / Thomas HILL / who departed this life May 14th. 1853 / aged 62 years / Also Jane Hill, his beloved wife / who died Jany: 1st. 1862, aged 70 years / Also of their children, as follows / viz: Samuel Hill, died aged 7 years / Grace Hill, died aged 4 years / Henry Hill, died aged 18 months / Jane Hill, died aged 17 years (no dates for these children). Place Upton, St James

Regards
Brian

[linet]

 Hi Brian,
 Thanks so much for the info. We were in the UK a few years ago, but on a bus tour, so unfortunately did not have a chance to spend more time and go to Upton,  am still hoping to go back one day.
I have done extensive reearch on the Hill family , the only part I can't find out for sure is how James made his way to Australia. My dad always said he was a convict, and sent here for poaching, but if he lived on a farm, why would he want to do that??The mystery deepens. Do you live near Upton?. I would love to make contact with any of Thomas' family and have put a message on the Somerset board so here's hoping someone may pick it up. although I realize that the chances are probably slim.
Thanks again
Lyn

[borneo]

Hi Lyn
I live in South Wales (the old one that is) and Genealogy is my latest hobby


I don't think Thomas with 500 acres and servants was a tenant farmer. I think he owned the property and had money to spare.
So I can't see James being convicted of poaching and transported to Australia, when there was so much of Thomas's land around them. I think he went out there on his own accord, and hopefully with the blessing of Thomas.
I also read that he was a proprietor of a Hotel, not the sort of job for an ex-con
I think the only way to find James is looking through the Local Parish Records and Newspapers of Upton
You'll have to save up !

Brian


Note:
I did find a James Hill of the right age being transported to Oz, but he was a forger from Warwick !

[linet]

 Hi Brian,

I may have to forego the 'convict' search, as I agree, it sounds unlikely that James would need to be a poacher, if his father owned so much land and was evidently not short of a quid.He may have decided to start a new life in Australia, as his older brother Edward took over the farm when Thomas died. His marriage certificate states that he was a grocer[ the writing was difficult to decipher] when he married on Jan1st 1856 at Golf Hill Station, Brimleigh, Victoria.
He later became the proprietor of the Carnham hotel, near Ballarat, Victoria.
Later he selected land in the north of the state, and tried farming, but this venture failed due to droughts etc.
I have searched all available passenger lists , but then if he travelled in steerage, his name may not have been recorded on any lists.Also many passenger lists are not available, having been destroyed etc.
I know most of his history since arriving here but cannot find out exactly how he got here in the first place.His death certificate doesn't shed much light as to how he got here either.
Sooo- I will keep searching. If he was an emmigrant, which port do you think he may have left from?

Thanks heaps for your help.
Regards
Lyn

[titania]

Hi Lyn,
I wouldn't forego the convict search just yet. I also don't think socio economic status precluded anyone from being transported although I admit it is less likely. You obviously have some family scuttlebutt to work with ,where did the poaching story come from? so I would continue on that line until it is blatantly obvious that it is not the case.The alternative is not an attractive one as you already realise just how many passengers arrived here unannounced Some details of his own wife and children including where they lived may help as well if you would like to post them up and I would also try the convict mailing lists. Does he have an occupation ?
Tasmanian archives for instance shows several possibilities where in the 1840s and 50s most convicts were sent to I would be interested to hear how you get on, most importantly don't give up. cheers Chris

[linet]

  Hi Chris,
 The convict story came from my father[ James Hills' grandson] who died in 1981. At the time I wasn't interested in the family tree so didn't persue the matter.I have just recently began the search after a lay off of about 6 years. I did contact the Tasmanian archives then and they provided me with info that a James Hill [ there were several but this one seemed about right age wise]  was transported to Van Dieman's Land in 1848 on the ship 'Ratcliffe', given a ticket of leave[ which fits dad's story], and disposed into private service, wages were 12 pounds per annum.But it doesn't tell me where , or to whom, he was disposed to, or what his crime was.
His convict number was 35906, and the departure point of the Ratcliffe was Spithead. Departure date was 29/7/1848[ which would have made him about 18 years old], arrival date was 12/11/1848, conduct record number CON33/91,
Indent CON14/40, Description List CON18/50[  whatever all that means].

He was married to Jane McGregor on Jan1st 1856 at Golf Hill[ a sheep station near Shelford, Victoria.[She was a domestic servant at the station].

His occupation on his marriage certificate looks like Grocer, age 24, married at Golfhill, Riverleigh. Vic.

I know his movements, family etc after his marriage, but how he arrived here is yet to be proven.

Thanks for your interest,
Regards
Lyn