Agree Debra, my thoughts too re the dc
Some rushed and jumbled thoughts ….
Re the Francis MORRIS who arrived in 1839 on the Barossa. The chap that Debra mentions…. His ToL dates from 1847, Maitland …. ToL47/110. …
I have read the Old Bailey account…. Francis MORRIS was a policeman !!!!!!!.
Some extracts :
“SAMSON DARKIN CAMPBELL . I am an Inspector of police. I received information respecting the stealing of this watch—the prisoner, Francis Morris, came to the station-house of his own accord—he was dressed as a policeman in his uniform …. —I then sent for the prisoner Ellen Morris into the charge-room, and asked her what her husband was—she said, "a painter and glazier"—I said, "Is he not in the police?"—she then burst into tears, and said, "He is—I know nothing of the watch—I never saw it till this morning"—I found the key of the watch at the prisoner Francis Morris's lodgings ”
And
“WILLIAM YEOMAN (police-constable K 57.) I was on duty on the morning of the 25th of October, in the Mile-end-road—I saw the prisoner Francis Morris on duty that morning—he was on the beat where this felony was said to have been committed—he was alone—he was on duty from nine o'clock at night till six o'clock in the morning—I saw him several times—I saw him between one and two o'clock that morning.”
“FRANCIS MORRIS— GUILTY . Aged 22.
ELLEN MORRIS— NOT GUILTY .
Transported for Ten Years”
So the Francis Morris transported to NSW on the Barossa arriving in 1839 was aged 22 when sent to trial in December 1838, and was a married man, with 1 child.
Have you tried to find details of that (English) marriage (to Ellen) or birth of the female child? Civil registrations commenced in 1837 in EnglandRe his status on that 1848 NSW marriage record. He stated he was a bachelor. Are you aware that the sentence of transportation beyond the seas for seven or more years effectively ended the marriage? So that it is likely that he may well have explained that earlier marriage to the Rev McGarvie . Please remember that the information on the mc is recorded by the clergy, and in 1848 the options available to the clergy were either Bachelor/Spinster OR Widow/Widower. As the marriage was by BANNS, the only option available in 1848 for the clergyman to record was BACHELOR. A Widow/widower needed a licence, which the clergyman would be involved in organising.
Some information on the following link re ending marriages before Civil Divorce came to the various colonies in Australia
http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/seminars/finlay.html Cheers, JM
