Transported convict William Neal 1837 - what happened to him?

[RichardK]

My 4g grandmother, Sarah Gobby (1811-1873) married in Toddington, Bedfordshire in 1845 to my 4g grandfather, Joseph Kempson.  At the time of this marriage, she was Sarah Neal, widow, daughter of Thomas Gobby.  Looking for her first marriage finds a marriage at Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire on 27 Oct 1831 to a William Neale, and baptism records from Houghton Conquest show that William and Sarah had two children there in 1833 and 1835.  There doesn't seem to be a plausible burial for William in the NBI, which I know has pretty good coverage in Bedfordshire at this time. 

I have now found in the Bedford Gaol Database:
http://apps.bedfordshire.gov.uk/grd/detail.aspx?id=5941
that a William Neal, aged 26 from Houghton Conquest was transported in 1837 for stealing a lamb - he was held at Bedford Gaol in June / July 1837 then transfered to the Ganymede Hulk.  Is there any way of establishing what happened to him?  I can't help thinking that Sarah might not have been certain whether her first husband was still alive or not when she married Joseph Kempson.

Thanks
Richard.

[kerryb]

Hi Richard

I have a similar story for one of my convicts, his wife left back here had a daughter 16 years after he was transported and he had actually married again in Australia and died.  The daughter names him as father on her marriage certificate despite the fact she obviously never met him.

Anyway try this excellent website http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/res-04.html you really need to establish where he was transported to first and from there you can search different websites for records of his discharge, if he was, census records etc.

Kerry

[kerryb]

Another site with loads of links and information http://www.hotkey.net.au/~jwilliams4/cons.htm

Kerry

[RichardK]

Thanks Kerry - I'll take a look.
Richard.

[Tieke]

hi, joseph and sarah are also my ancestors....did you spot that sarah had a record for stealing wood, and joseph had a  couple (sheep and turnips tops). their son james also had two records:one for wilful damange and another for stealing turnip tops.

thanks for the heads up on the previous husband. i'm told joseph had a previous partner too , mary  hemmings. so i'll have to triple check whether early children really belong to joseph & mary or sarah and william. 

did you find out what happened to William since your post?

[RichardK]

Hi Tieke

I hadn't spotted Sarah's record - thanks.  Their son James is my direct ancestor.  I never did find out what happened to William Neal, but I realise now that there is a seven year gap between William's transportation and Sarah's remarriage, so (assuming she hadn't heard from William) she was probably able to claim that William was legally dead as a defence against any charges of bigamy - so that part of her life at least was legal!

Good to hear from you.

Richard.

[Preshous]

Hi Richard

This site may be of some use to you http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?search=11
There is a William Neal listed as transported october 1837 on the Neptune.
Added: There is also information here http://www.rootschat.com/links/07s6/


Gary