London Neighbourhoods

[davisd]

Dave,  would you be okay with sharing some of your findings with us?  I ask because I’m in contact with someone who is also searching this William Ward, and has come to a halt.

My pleasure. I might point out to you that based on Booth's Poverty Map the narrow street where the Ward's lived - 'Gees Court' - is noted as a place where the people were 'Lowest Class, Vicious - semi-criminal' So that's a huge clue that I have the right family only a couple of blocks from Manchester Square.

[PatLac]

If he was 83 when his death was registered on 16 February 1876, he would have been born c. 1792 

[davisd]

If he was 83 when his death was registered on 16 February 1876, he would have been born c. 1792 

His age is all over the place. At his trial in 1816 it says he was already 18 but on the Prison hulk ship on 4 January 1817 he was listed as 17. On his marriage document in NSW in 1837 he's listed as 37. The birth date I presently adhere to is 5 January 1800. I think the Pioneer Register is simply incorrect.

[PatLac]

I wasn't referring to the Pioneer Register. His death record states age 83.

 WARD  WILLIAM 5250/1876 AGE 83 YEARS DIED BRISBANE WATER

Also the death notices in the newspapers

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13370901

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162648019

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70589653

His wife and children should have known his age, I suppose. 

[hanes teulu]

His convict record (URL) at reply #20 puts his age at 76 at death. What would be the source of updating this record?

The Old Bailey trial record is available on line and gives his age as 17.

Re. ages, reply #17 puts his mother as "nearly 50" when he was born. "How near was "nearly"?

[PatLac]

His convict record (URL at reply #20) can be edited by anyone who is registered (free) or has a Google or Facebook account.

I think the person who edited his DoB has assumed that William was the son of William Ward and Anne Catherine Hennell baptised at the Old Jewry Church in 1799, an has ignored the age stated in his death certificate and newspaper notices.

Regarding the Old Bailey record, could he have said he didn't know his age because he was an orphan and his age was assumed? 

I understand that a 17 year old boy and a 24 year old man would have looked different, but I also think that a 76 year old man wouldn't have looked like a 83 year old man. Maybe the truth is somewhere in between these ages?

I'm also interested in the 'nearly 50'  supposed mother, what was her name?

[hanes teulu]

Thanks for clarifying his "convict record" age.

[hanes teulu]

See newspaper snippets that appeared 26 and 29 Sep 1816 - relating to Old Bailey Sessions that began 18 Sep. Trial held Wed 25th.
The address "Wells St, Oxford Road" is in the Mary-le-Bone area. "Gee's Court" appears sometimes as "Gee's Court, Oxford Road". Looked "interesting" given name, age and locale.

Both say "convicted" so expected to find the case at Old Bailey on line - but drew a blank under name. However, the Old Bailey site allows searches under a range of keys - and searching for "tilt cloth" threw up Henry Moore!!
https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/ob/1810s/181609180096.gif

He has 2 entries under FindMyPast. I think it says the "tilt cloth" was valued at 40s.

Initially, it looked a possible lead - somewhat disappointed.

[PatLac]

Yes, I saw that newspaper article and was wondering where did the 'London Chimney Sweep' information came from? Is there another source besides 'Contributed by State Library of Queensland on 30th August 2011' in the convict record?