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Topic: William Henry GROOM of Plymouth (Read 375 times)
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MarieC
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3302
In Queensland, Oz
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On the third Monday in November, I will be giving a talk to the local Historical Society about this man, who was transported to Australia in 1849 on the "Hashemy" and who became a very important businessman, Mayor of Toowoomba 7 times, its representative in the colonial Assembly for 38 years, and Speaker of the Assembly for a period.
I have plenty of information about Groom in Australia. However, the Australian Dictionary of Biography gives his parents as Thomas Groom, cordwainer, and Maria Harkcom. A death notice in the Moreton Bay Courier in 1856, almost certainly placed by WHG himself, refers to the death of his father, William Henry Groom, in Plymouth!
The date is certainly fictitious, and the name may be also - this may have been an attempt to establish respectability in Queensland.
WH Groom was born in Plymouth in 1833, and in 1841 he was in the Plymouth Workhouse as an 8 year old child (suggesting his parents were dead).
I can't find a way to further research this from Australia - the OPC and the LDS can't help. I would be very grateful if someone would check the Plymouth Workhouse records to see whether there are any clues to Groom's parents - their names, and their dates of death - or anything else useful!
Thanks, folks
MarieC
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« Last Edit: Thursday 01 October 09 23:32 UTC (UK) by krisesjoint »
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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slightlyfoxed
RootsChat Senior
Posts: 326
Rev John Hornblow 1743?-1816
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Hi , have you tried these 2 websites which might help or at least give you and insight into life in the workhouse.
http://www.plymouthdata.info/Workhouses.htm
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/
I Googled his name and Plymouth and found a number of websites about him including this one
http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040345b.htm
good luck
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Pomeroy in London & Liverpool , Pomery near Launceston Cornwall, Shearer of Thurso, Moore in Colchester and Hornblow in Braintree Essex, Machin & Cook in Herts, Campbell, Sutherland, Mackay, Brotchie, Gunn. Cadle in South Africa.
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DOB7
RootsChat Senior
Posts: 337
SQUANCE family motto - Cunning & Clever
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William Henry GROOM was baptised at PLymouth St Andrew Church 7 Apr 1833, son of Thomas & Maria GROOM of New Street. Father - a cordwainer. Siblings included:
22 Oct 1826 Amelia (father described as a Private, Royal Marines of Stonehouse)
22 May 1836 Mary Ann (father described as a shoe maker of Woolster St.)
Thomas GROOM married Maria HARKCOME 10 Jul 1826 at St. George's Church, East Stonehouse
Thomas died at some point, as by 1851, Maria is shown widowed with other children.
In 1841, Amelia & Mary GROOM were living in the household of William & Mary CANE - Mary CANE being the mother of William, I believe.
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« Last Edit: Sunday 04 October 09 00:30 UTC (UK) by DOB7 »
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Squance, Lillicrap, Dankester, Surtees, Yates
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MarieC
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3302
In Queensland, Oz
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Terrific!! 
slightlyfoxed, thank you for the workhouse websites which I will have a look at. I've known the adbonline site for quite some time.
DOB7, thank you so much for the baptism information you have given me, drawn from parish registers obviously. This clears up the parentage, and means that the death notice placed in the Moreton Bay Courier was a complete invention by Groom himself. I suspected this, but needed proof and you have given it to me! I'm extremely grateful.
Interesting that in the invented death notice, Groom gives his parents as William Henry Groom and Maria Kane. Obviously he got the name from the woman with whom his sisters were living!
Still wondering how he ended up in the workhouse at the age of 8 as his mother was still alive, but maybe she just couldn't cope with her children at that point.
Thanks enormously, folks! Rootschatters have come up trumps again and I'm very grateful!
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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MarieC
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3302
In Queensland, Oz
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Thanks for that, Foxy! Have to admit I don't know a lot about workhouses. Will have a look at those things.
The emigration is not an issue for William Henry Groom. He was transported as a convict, seemingly after a couple of years in Pentonville - no choice about coming to Australia! I have the details of his voyage, and a contentious one it was when the ship arrived here, as most of the population definitely did not want transportation starting up again!!!
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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MarieC
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3302
In Queensland, Oz
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Yes, well Groom was alleged to have stolen a loaf of bread (he was an apprentice baker) as a 13 year old! A seven year sentence for that. 
I've been to the Old Bailey site - yes indeed, fascinating. Pity Groom wasn't convicted there or I could get details of his trial! 
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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slightlyfoxed
RootsChat Senior
Posts: 326
Rev John Hornblow 1743?-1816
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I wondered if Plymouth Courts have anything that you might find useful???
Have you asked the Plymouth Record Office? Devon's records are split up into Exeter and Plymouth,both of which have Record Offices.
I had a look but nothing popped out.
I suspect you are up against it with Plymouth , unhappily, as I also found this
'I've worked in every public records office in England and Wales and I can't think of one worse than Plymouth's," Dr Todd Gray said( a research Fellow at Exeter and a very nice man!). 'This is a tragedy. The records office holds documents mirroring Plymouth's central role in world history from medieval times, through Francis Drake and the birth of the Atlantic trade."
I did find this - which I daresay you have already found.
http://www.oakside.myzen.co.uk/bftext/parkhurstboysweb.htm
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Pomeroy in London & Liverpool , Pomery near Launceston Cornwall, Shearer of Thurso, Moore in Colchester and Hornblow in Braintree Essex, Machin & Cook in Herts, Campbell, Sutherland, Mackay, Brotchie, Gunn. Cadle in South Africa.
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MarieC
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3302
In Queensland, Oz
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There's a kind Rootschatter who has said she will have a bit of a look around in the Records Office for me. I'll wait to see what she finds. What you have said doesn't sound encouraging, which is a shame as Plymouth was so important historically!
Seen the site that you mentioned. I now have some conflicting info on whether he was at Parkhurst or Pentonville. Probably doesn't matter too much in the context of my talk, which will focus on his public career in Australia, but if I have time before it, I will try to do some research on both those institutions.
I'm getting really interested in his family of origin, but that is not really important to my talk either - it's mainly genealogical nosiness on my part!!  It probably does help to explain a few things, however...
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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MarieC
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3302
In Queensland, Oz
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Hi friends,
Just thought I'd let you know that my talk on WH Groom went very well, and I included all the "new" information that I had.
Unfortunately the information about his time in the workhouse has not survived. There is, however, no doubt now that he was at Parkhurst rather than Pentonville, but unfortunately the information on each inmate there also has not survived! (Story of my genealogical life!) I have a new contact in England who was able to give me just a little more info about the educational system at Parkhurst and the date of his admission there.
Thank you so much for your help - greatly appreciated!
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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