Many thanks to PrueM; Sandymc47 and LoganH for your speedy responses to my request for help. I am very grateful to each of you and for all the information you have supplied. It's going to keep me busy for weeks!!!
To LoganH : I would not rule out the possibility that the Edward Holmes in the Sydney Chronicle is 'my' Edward Holmes. He was baptised 1792 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, but ages were not always stated correctly. According to the "Isabella" records, Edward was still in Tasmania in 1847 but I suppose he could have moved to Sydney if he had completed his sentence.
Could you give me any advice about checking whether he was released from his transportation sentence and when.
Kind regards,
Aquilegia18