Arthur Charles WEMYSS, born 1831

[andacala]

Hello Sue and Trish.
Sue - Thanks for your advice regarding the Devon look Ups. I have put a request in. Trish - I agree with you that Wemyss is a Scottish surname.

His marriage certificate states he was born in New York, circa 1830, as does several of his childrens birth certificates. His death certificate states he was born in Devonshire, England. It was alleged that he came out to Australia in 1847 aboard  the Joseph Soames, but there is no evidence of this on the passenger lists.

Rumours were that he was trying to run away or hide from something, but this has never been confirmed or proven, however appears likely.

[judb]

Hello all

I have Wemyss as a given name for a couple of my ancestors commemorating a friend whose family who lived near Portsmouth and in Gloucestershire in the early 1800s.  The name is certainly more common in Scotland but don't discount the Devon idea - for example on IGI is the marriage of a Francis WEMYSS in Tiverton Devon 1801.  Obviously the 1801 marriage is way too early for it even to have been Arthur's parents.

Interestingly on IGI using their "All Resources" search there is mention of your Arthur and Sarah submitted by a lady whose address is given as Kingsville, Victoria.  (Maybe it's you!!)  Anyhow, worth a look.

Cheers, Judith 

[trish251]

I would tend to believe the New York - it seems to have been mentioned alot & on the marriage - perhaps his family went from Devon to NY when he was young. Is there any sign of a family at the right time going to NY?

Trish

[tropicalj]

It was alleged that he came out to Australia in 1847 aboard  the Joseph Soames, but there is no evidence of this on the passenger lists.

Now  that rang a bell with  me  from  some of us RCers helping a chap in England who was doing a paper on  the Parkhurst Boys and sure enough  this particular vessell  was chartered to  bring  Parkhurst boys to Australia.

There is a lot of information on  the nett but this link proves interesting reading
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~russellhudson/hud-jsomes.htm


no Wemyss on  the register  but  he could have changed his name
http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/park9.html

Jenn

[andacala]

Hello Jenn,
Thankyou very much for your last email. The picture is becoming more clearer, but at the same time raises more questions than answers. I live two minutes from Pt Henry in Geelong, so I will follow up  this information via the Geelong Advertiser.

A lot of his descendants live in Geelong.

Your email may explain why we cannot locate the chap in any official records and his cageyness. I attended the Genealogical Society of Victoria today & they suggested I check the South Australian Shipping records as well as records at NLA. I will also follow up Trish's suggestion of New York again, although initial searches revealed nothing.

[idamay]

I am also trying to locate this gentleman. He is a ancestor of my husband that we have been trying to locate for a number of years without success.

I have most of the information that has been mentioned.

With regards to the Joseph Somes, I was wondering if he was with the regiment on board? I haven't look into this. Not sure where to start?

I will be going to Tasmania in a few weeks and am hoping to do some research in regards to Sarah Bull, Arthur Charles's wife.

[jorose]

With the Devon link - a lot of the Devonshire records are not on the IGI, so that could make it harder.

Interestingly, in 1841 there is a Thomas Weyms, 13, and an Ann, 9, children residing in Aubin's Norwood School of Industry in Croydon.
There is a description of this place here: http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Norwood/Norwood.shtml
A Thomas Weyms died in Croydon in 1842.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/park9.html
 - here's a list of the Parkhurst boys on the Joseph Somes in 1847. Don't see any obvious records that would be him.

http://proarchives.imagineering.com.au/index_search.asp?searchid=42
 - Arthur Weymiss, aged 34, headed to Lauceston in February 1853. Could this be him?

http://www.search.fibis.org/
 comes up with a Lieut Wemyss, of the 32nd Foot, on the ship Joseph Somes in 1849. Whether that's a complete red herring or not... 

[andacala]

Thanks for your email. Both links you refer to, ie. re: the Joseph Somes in 1849 (I am unable to access the link) and the arrival in 1853 definitely fits in the time frame as he was married in August 1853. The discrepancy is his age listed on the PROV site for the passenger to Tasmania is 34. His marriage certificate in August has his age at 23. However, nothing regarding man has been straight forward.

[idamay]

According to Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters site - the Joseph Somes left Hobart on 5th June, 1846 for Port Jackson (arrived 11th June). On board were 120 rank and file of 67th Regiment, 19 women, 14 boys and 13 girls. (no names are given). This would have been after the ship landed its convict passengers in Hobart.

The 1847 voyage of the Joseph Somes had members of the 65th Regiment that were proceeding  to New Zealand.