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« on: Monday 26 October 20 00:39 GMT (UK) »
Would appreciate some suggestions on where to go next with two ladies I am trying to find more information on.
On the 1841 census Exeter (see attached) there is an Elizabeth Radford or Bradford aged 20, born in the county and a Catherine Radford aged 35 not born in the county.
They are living in the household of the Roberts family.
I have proved that Catherine Radford along with the Roberts family sailed on the ship Essex to New Zealand 1842.
The Elizabeth Radford or Bradford I think may have come to NZ with her older sister Agnes Dust on the Blenheim 1841 but she came out under another name. Elizabeth Payne. She later reverts back to the surname of Radford when she arrived in NZ as we have her marriage to William Pote.
Unfortunately, NZ records such as births deaths and marriages don’t help reveal anything more about these two ladies, such as birth places etc.
One theory we do have is in a newspaper article found is there was an Elizabeth the elder and an Elizabeth the younger were sentenced in the Devon quarter session 1835.
Elizabeth the elder was sentenced to 14 years in Aussie, Elisabeth the younger was imprisoned for 3 calendar months Though Elizabeth the elder stated she had no children I wondered if she lied so her daughter would not be transported with her, though it’s just a thought.
When Elizabeth the younger is released from prison she then goes to live with perhaps an aunt, being the Catherine Radford.
When she leaves for NZ she changes her name to Payne because she had a prison record.
I have researched the sister, or what we have been told that they were sisters. Agnes was married in Ireland to a solider James Dust. There is a possibility that the family is Irish.
What I would like to try and find is anything further that I may be able to access in Exeter about these two women.
Would be grateful for any suggestions on any other records that may be of use.
Sue Greene
New Zealand.