I dont know if anyone can help me. I am not familiar with the county of Duham and have tried everything I can think of to locate these people. As they move around a bit and emigrate to australia 1n 1879 so unfortunately 1881 census is of no help. I am assuming the 1861 and 1871 censuses are not name indexed and sadly cannot tell you exactly where they are in those years so I will post all I know in the hope that some kind person may be able to help me.
To start with the story is a bit tricky The ships records list Joseph as 44 in 1879 Yet at death here in south australia in 1907 his age is listed as 101! there was a write up on his death so I do think he was very old. Seems like an awful big discrepency to me! Was this man the husband or the father in law is all I can think of to explain this. Maybe his son died after having booked passage so he took his place so that his granchildren could emigrate as planned. Im a good one for the theorys lol. He could have pulled his hat down and got aboard without attracting to much attention I surmise. Of course this is just my theory to explain the age discrepency. The facts as I know them are
If we accept this mans age at death he was b Durham c1805. If we accept ship records He was bc 1835.
Joseph married Janet Thompson b c1834-c1844(again depending if believe immigration records or death) Durham again location or parentage unknown. marriage unknown...children
Joseph Lawes b sep 1/4 1860 Easington
Margaret Jane McKenzie Laws b sep 1/4 1862 Morpheth
Barbara Laws b c 1864 Durham
Janet May Laws b c 1867 Durham
George Alexander Laws b sep 1/4 1872 Gateshead
Ellen Laws b sep 1/4 1875 Gateshead
I am sorry I know nothing further. I keep my fingers crossed someone may have some answers....Thank You...Kris
