Author Topic: Abraham Sharples - Tasmania  (Read 5554 times)

Offline Periwhinkle

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Abraham Sharples - Tasmania
« on: Thursday 02 April 15 07:29 BST (UK) »
Abraham Sharples, I believe arrived in Tasmania aboard the Oriental Queen in 1852 as a convict, and then married Ann Armstrong in Emu Bay in 1855.  A few years later he is, however, a constable in the gaol in Hobart...and starts to use the name Thomas Sharples, dropping the Abraham.  Any thoughts on this?  I am thinking it might be because he was once "behind" the bars...and now is on the "other side" and so changes his name because of this?

Besides this, if it is indeed the Abraham that arrived as a convict in 1852...there seems to be a few Abraham Sharples back in England.  I thought it might not be as common as it looks...so is proving hard to find which one is him.
Poplite, anyone heard of that one?

Offline majm

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Re: Abraham Sharples - Tasmania
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 02 April 15 07:44 BST (UK) »
Some questions, if I may

Do you have the marriage cert? 
http://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-17p67j2k
It seems Ann ARMSTRONG's bridegroom was already a Constable when they married 23 July 1855.

Have you checked out RChat's various Resources Boards?
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/australia-resources-offers/

Have you read through the following thread?
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=368728.0

Cheers,  JM

Abraham Sharples, I believe arrived in Tasmania aboard the Oriental Queen in 1852 as a convict, and then married Ann Armstrong in Emu Bay in 1855.  A few years later he is, however, a constable in the gaol in Hobart...and starts to use the name Thomas Sharples, dropping the Abraham.  Any thoughts on this?  I am thinking it might be because he was once "behind" the bars...and now is on the "other side" and so changes his name because of this?

Besides this, if it is indeed the Abraham that arrived as a convict in 1852...there seems to be a few Abraham Sharples back in England.  I thought it might not be as common as it looks...so is proving hard to find which one is him.


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Offline Periwhinkle

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Re: Abraham Sharples - Tasmania
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 02 April 15 07:55 BST (UK) »
Yes, I have the marriage already from Family Search.  Just wondering thoughts about him becoming a constable...
Poplite, anyone heard of that one?

Offline majm

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Re: Abraham Sharples - Tasmania
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 02 April 15 07:56 BST (UK) »
He was already a constable when he married, as per the image I linked. 
The information in my posts is provided for academic and non-commercial research purposes. 
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Offline majm

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Re: Abraham Sharples - Tasmania
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 02 April 15 08:03 BST (UK) »
On one of your earlier posts on another thread you mention you're a professional genealogist.   Does that include research for the convict era in any of the penal colonies in Australia?

Cheers,  JM
The information in my posts is provided for academic and non-commercial research purposes. 
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Offline Periwhinkle

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Re: Abraham Sharples - Tasmania
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 02 April 15 08:06 BST (UK) »
Yes he was a constable when married...I wonder what other people's thoughts are on this?  Is it often people go from being a convict (if it's the same Abraham) to a constable?

I'm not sure I understand your questioning Majm?  My research takes me to all kinds of places, and in this instance it seems to be during the convict era in Tasmania.
Poplite, anyone heard of that one?

Offline Dundee

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Re: Abraham Sharples - Tasmania
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 02 April 15 08:11 BST (UK) »
Abraham's indent shows that he was a native of Preston, parents John and Alice, brothers Alfred(?), William, Thomas, John and Richard all at his native place (NP).

Page 1  http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON14-1-47,231,110,L,80

Page 2  http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON14-1-47,231,111,L,80

It was not unusual for convicts to be appointed as constables as there weren't enough 'free' police to go around.  They were still under bond and had to adhere to the rules.  It was a better job than digging roads or sweating it out on a farm (is it possible to sweat in Tasmania  ;D )

His conduct record shows that he was appointed constable on 12 March 1853 at Hobart.

http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON33-1-114,296,234,F,60

Not much else on there so he must have behaved himself.

Debra  :)

Offline rosie99

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Re: Abraham Sharples - Tasmania
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 02 April 15 08:15 BST (UK) »
These may be of some interest from TNA website but available from Lancashire RO
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r/?_q=abraham+sharples

Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline majm

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Re: Abraham Sharples - Tasmania
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 02 April 15 08:22 BST (UK) »
Yes he was a constable when married...I wonder what other people's thoughts are on this?  Is it often people go from being a convict (if it's the same Abraham) to a constable?

I'm not sure I understand your questioning Majm?  My research takes me to all kinds of places, and in this instance it seems to be during the convict era in Tasmania.

I would expect a professional genealogist, so a person with qualifications in family history research, to already have at hand the resources to locate the info that Dundee has kindly posted for you.  Tasmania's online resources for Convict Research are well recognised as among the best in the world, and are freely available, no subscription needed. So your clients can in fact conduct their own research.   I would also expect that you would not be asking anyone in the forum to look up information for you, which in turn you were then going to use for your client, in your commercial operations.   

On the other hand, if this chap is your own ancestor, then you seem to be at a hurdle that many volunteers at RChat have previously faced and have found the digitised images at the Tasmanian websites including those on RChat's Resources board.

I am not intending to cause offence, but I am concerned that I or any RChatter gives of our own time and resources, to help each other without seeking any financial gain from our efforts. 

Cheers,  JM 
The information in my posts is provided for academic and non-commercial research purposes. 
Random Acts of Kindness Given Freely are never Worthless for they are Priceless.
Qui scit et non docet.    Qui docet et non vivit.    Qui nescit et non interrogat.   
All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
I do not have a face book or a twitter account.