Convict or Free?

[Eupham]

Hi All,

I have 2 ancestors that I have not yet been able to find how they got to Australia. The first is Benjamin Purss born about 1839. He married Mary Ibbotson in Sydney in 1865 and died in Cootamundra in 1919. According to his death certificate he had been in Australia for 66 years. If this is correct he arrived about 1853. I'm not sure if he was a convict or not and I have not been able to find him using that spelling. The second is Alexander Weeks who according to his death certificate from 1873 he had been in Australia for 32 years. He possibly arrived about 1841 with a wife Harriet and some children. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Eupham 

[tropicalj]

Was Alexander Weeks also in NSW?

Jenn

[Eupham]

Hi Jenn,

According to his death certificate he was.

[krisesjoint]

Hi Eupham,

Alexander WEEKS arrived in Sydney on 24 Oct 1841 aboard the VICTORIA

Application of Married Immigrant (I can only transcribe what I think I can see)

Alexander WEEKS a native of Charthouse Menten County of Somerset, son of Barbara WEEKS a widow
He was an Ag Lab aged 37
Thomas Spencer certified his baptism
Joseph Erwood and another certified to his character
state of bodily health, strength and probable usefulness - very good
He was Protestant
He could read and write
no complaints paid £63

Harriet WEEKS a native Phillips  native County Somerset, daughter of Thos SPEARS a farmer and Marey PEARSE WESTLEY his wife
She was a L'dery Wooman aged 35
Richard Palaint - Vicar certified her baptism
Joseph Erwood and another certified to her character
state of bodily health, strength and probable usefulness - very good
She was Protestant

WEEKS Mary Ann 12 can read
WEEKS Clara Fanny 9 can read
WEEKS Emma Harriet 2 1/2
WEEKS Ann 8 months Born 31 Dec 1840

Cheers Kris 

[krisesjoint]

Now we have what looks like PEARSE Crossed out with WESTLEY below

Cant say that the father Thos looks like Pearse it looks more like Spears to me but there is a marriage

Alexander WEEKS of Hinton Charterhouse = Harriet PEARSE by Licence Norton St Phillip 10 Aug 1838

Pretty close to what I read the parishes as in the applications (I just loved wooman) - so the older children are not Harriets.

Cheers Kris 

[krisesjoint]

Also note Thomas PEARSE = Mary WESTLEY 29 July 1805 Bath St James   

Cheers Kris 

[tasmania]

This site may be worth a look.

Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters  

Masters, crew, a stowaway or two; passengers, cabin, saloon and steerage; births at sea, deaths at sea; deserters; vessels with one crew and one passenger and those with 70 crew and hundreds of passengers; simple single sail boats, barques, brigs, large steam ships; whaling voyages, regular coastal passenger trips, voyages from other Australian ports, London, San Francisco, China and other exotic ports - you will find them all here.    

http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/

[tropicalj]

Good finds  there Kris

Eupham,
if you post the date of death you  have for Benjamin Purss,  I  know  that one of our fellow Rootschatters  often pops into the National library and does looks ups.  So  it might be possible  for  her to see if  there was an obituary for him  in  the Coota" Herald.

Jenn

[Eupham]

Hi All,

Thanks so much you are all amazing at this. Benjamin Purss died on the 14th May 1919 in the district hospital at Cootamundra.

Cheers
Eupham