You know those 'buggy' little questions? CHRISTIE

[VictorianDreamer]

I only signed up yesterday, and I've already realised I may as well set up camp in the corner and just READ! 

I have a few little niggly things that I figure I'd get other people's opinions on. It's not that I haven't tried to find the answers myself, it's more that I don't think there's a definite answer that would put them to sleep once and for all.

Firstly, the family I am looking at is Christie. We've still got a way to go, but for amatuers, we've done pretty well to get things backwards compatible from present day to about 1780's, and a comment I read yesterday said something about the writing on Census records, so help me, them Wills! I thought I was Shakespeare reincarnated trying to read them!

So, long story short. James Christie is the father, and James Scott Christie is the son that came to Australia as a convict in 1842. A letter states that James Christie was a Scotchman Edinborough. Records we have so far have placed him in St. James, Westminster as early as 1816. His death certificate puts him down as being born in approx. 1782. (Possibly married Elizabeth Hall in 1815, but not confirmed yet).
James Scott Christie was sentenced to transportation in 1838, which coincides with the year his father died, and he was kept behind because he could read/write and helped the ships surgeon.

3 questions:

Was it common for families with a Scottish background to put the Scott into their names, or is this more than likely from someone who married into the family along the way?

James Scott Christie was charged and sentenced in 1838, but was charged again in 1842. (Old Bailey records)We found him on the York Convict Hulk in the 1841 census as well. Was it more likely that he conned his way off the ship, or was he allowed to roam around, work etc? (Charges did include forgery, and the 1842 case also mentions the prisoner as working for someone earlier in the year, even though he'd already been sentenced to transportation)

We have insurance records for James Christie, showing him having a business in 1816 - 1832. His death certificate puts his age at this time as approx. 34 in 1816. Yet, after he died, his wife, Elizabeth, was left £60 a year, due to James Christie being a 'paid out member', from the Calton Corporation (Edinborough). We found Calton in Scotland, but haven't been able to find any mention of the Calton Corporation. Has anyone else had an experience where there was 'paid out membership', or money left to others from one?
Logically, and with nothing more than assumptions to back it up, it was something that James contributed to over the years. As he was working in London for all that time, maybe the corporation was set up in/around England, and Calton in Scotland may have been where the corporation originated? or if he was born in Edinborough, could he have started contributing in some way, before moving to England?
He was also a Deacon and Treasurer at Wells Street Chapel (Wells Street Scotch Church?), Oxford Street, London and buried at Bunhill Row Burying Ground. We didn't find any records of James Christie at Bunhill (free lookup on National Burial Index), so could the Calton Corporation have something to do with him being  Nonconformist?

Would love other people's opinions on what they've found with their own experiences in similar matters. 

I love researching the family tree, but wouldn't it have been nice if someone had left a diary explaining everything!

Victoria

[jc26red]

Usually when there is a middle name like SCOTT it is a name that has passed down the family.

I must admit, I am puzzled by the change of location form Scotland to England  plus the 2 convictions? is it possible that you are looking at the records of 2 James Christies which are similiar but not the same man!
the letter you have, is it one that has passed down the family and how much of the information you state is gleamed from it.

[VictorianDreamer]

Ready to be confused? lol
There are actually 3 convictions that we've found so far. (The second one mentions that he has two other indictments, but not sure if that's overall, or I can't find the other one) The first two were at the same time, which got him the first 2 sentences of 7 years each.
The court records for his second conviction even mentions that he's already sentenced to 14 years, and he was then sentenced to 15 years. (not sure if that's on top of the 14, or the 14 years has been taken up to 15 years) He stayed in Tasmania after that anyway. it's got me baffled too. I know there were 'favours' done for prisoners on ocassion, but this seems a little 'out there', unless he did forge something, but then again, he would more than likely have been charged for that as well.
The letter I mentioned has been transcribed on a website, and the actual letter is held at the Archives Office in Tasmania. It was written to James Scott Christie by his brother, John (who stayed in England),in 1843. It's rich with information, but, of course, leaves out little bits that would have helped immensley.

[jc26red]

yes, I have read all three convictions but also perplexed why he wasn't  in gaol between 1838 > 1842

[jc26red]

why don't you post a message on the Australia board for help with the letter. I do know there are several people who go to the Tasmania archives fairly often and will scan a copy for you 
I've been very fortunate by having a friend do it for me!

ok found the website, looks like the family have been well and truly researched

[VictorianDreamer]

I might just take you up on the offer with asking if someone could get the letter scanned. I know we've got loads of information just from the transcript, but would be good to actually see the letter itself. I keep getting lost all over the place here, which is soooo easy to do!

The family within Australia has been researched really well. Going back to England is when all the questions popped up. I know everyone hits brick walls, and every time we solve one thing, a dozen more bricks walls come up, but it is fun.

[jc26red]

Be careful, the letter is written by James Scott Christie himself to his son John - not his brother. As a known fraudster in the past, who now appears to have added the name Scott to his name, he may have embelished it somewhat

I certainly have someone in the family who embelished things in writing but was easily caught out.

[craizi daizi]

Hi Victorian dreamer...

Was just wondering about your Christie family,   i have Christies in Victoria,  coming from Scotland at some time,  havnt looked a lot in to them as have been busy on other branches,  but do have......a James who seems to have been born abt 1832 in Fife,  Scotland,  and married Elizabeth Hendry in Melbourne in 1873

Daizi

[jc26red]

In the letter he states he was born in 1813, this would have made him 25 at the time of his first 2 convictions and 29 at the third.  Old Bailey records have him down as age 19 in 1838 and 25  in 1842