MORGAN of Wyberton

[balcowa]

Hi everyone,

My ancestor was George MORGAN of Wyberton, Lincs.

He was tried at the Lincoln Assizes on 27 July 1816 for Highway robbery (of Mr G.B. Colley of Wyberton on May 3, 1816). He was sentenced to Death, commuted to Transportation for 14 yrs, sent to Australia in 1817 and died at Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia in 1840. He was said to be 25 years old when tried (so born circa 1791), and believe he had fought in the Napoleonic Wars.

During his trial he said that "his mother-in-law could have proved him to be in bed at the time spoken of." I thought this may have meant a stepmother, however have just found a marriage (on IGI) of a George MORGAN to Mary WARNER  on 5 OCT 1814 at Boston, Lincoln.  Can only find one child, that being a son called Wilford MORGAN born on 7 Oct 1815 at Boston, Lincoln. 

If this George and Mary had other children in UK, then obviously this isn't my bloke, otherwise it fits timewise.  If it is him, Mary and Wilford didn't follow him to Australia as he remarried in 1819.  Thought I would ask for your thoughts or does any one know of this family?

Does any one have access to Wyberton parish records; seems that MORGANs are thin on the ground and wonder if George was actually born in Ireland as he was called.... "Irish George", had a very strong irish brogue and was a known character.

Love to learn more or connect with other MORGAN of Wyberton researchers.  Cheers, Andrea  (Vic, Aust)

[Redroger]

Actually he got off quite lightly; a relative of mine William Luffman was found guilty of a similar offence in 1832, sentenced to death, commuted to transportation for life. He died in Scone NSW in 1841. Interestingly he had married the day before the robbery, to the sister of one of his accomplices, with the third robber as a witness to the wedding. No known children, though his wife later had two illegitimate children.

[balcowa]

Hi Redroger,

Unfortunately, George didn't keep his nose clean in Tasmania, although mostly minor things such as being drunk, abusive, refusing to carry a tool.  His Ticket of Leave was renewed in 1825 but in 1834 he was sentenced to Transportation for life after being found guilty of stealing & killing cattle.  He died at Port Arthur in 1840.

Cheers, Andrea

[Redroger]

My relative got his ticket of leave 3 months before he died on doctor's recommendation. His goods were sold and fetched £4 something which was used to part pay for his funeral.

[Tom Piper]

Andrea,

I thought the term mother-in-law, meant the mother of the wife. So in Irish George's case, that would be Mary Warner's mother, not step-mother.

So you are looking for the baptism of a Mary Warner in Boston, looking for the mother of Mary seeing as the marriage took place there.

I have seen a newspaper article of Irish George's trial, reported in a Cornwall newspaper. I can send it to you if you want it.

As for Morgan marriages in Wyberton well there was this one:  Mary Morgan= John Fletcher of Wyberton 15 May 1783 (Both wid)

Then in Boston, Elizabeth Morgan = Charles Lundy 16 Apr 1819, Boston
Mary Warner Morgan = Robert Torry 09 Nov 1829 at Sibsey (just outside Boston)

I can't help with baptisms as yet.

Tom

[Geoff-E]

Mary Warner Morgan = Robert Torry 09 Nov 1829 at Sibsey (just outside Boston)

Robert TORRY was widowed by 1841 - Mary was buried 21 July 1840 (50), Robert 3 Aug 1852 (67).  She seems the right age to have been married to George.

Wilford MORGAN was buried at Spalding 16 Jan 1838 (22)

[Redroger]

Earlier societies specially the Victorian used terms in a different context to today, so then "Father in law" etc. meant just that, a man who was the individual's legal father, whether natural, adoptive, or whatever. These terms only attained their current status fairly recently.

[Tom Piper]

Yes that makes sense now. I can't see Irish  George being too pleased to have his wife's mother checking to see he was in bed!

[Redroger]

Pleased to be of help.