Thanks for the replies so far. Good to know that I might find out a bit more.
Just a little summary of what we know about Michael and his parents.
John Noy was born on the 29th Dec 1793 in Madron, Cornwall, England to William Noy (mother unknown). Hannah Anne Reeve was born on the 8th July 1795 in Warwick. I am unsure where they meet but were married in “Suffolk County Bts,Suffolk,England”. Michael was born on the 6th May 1818, and I have no other known siblings to him. I am unsure of his life up till he is 15 when he is convicted of stealing a donkey. He was working as a chimney sweep at the time. I know he has other offences (which I am unsure) and had also served time on a prison hulk. He got a 14 year sentence and died in 1847, 2 weeks before he got his ticket of leave. I am also unsure what he died from.
As chimney sweeps were not paid by the “master sweep” and was given food and accommodation. I am thinking that his parents were either dead, he had been sold to the master sweep or he had been picked up from the workhouse. But as I have no records on his parents or him I cannot confirm any of this.
It would be great for someone to help fill in the gaps. The replies so far have been great and I didn’t expect it! As I don’t live in England, I can’t access as many records so this was one of my last options. For a 15 year old chimney sweep, I have no idea why he would have stolen a donkey. Any ideas why?
Thanks so much again!
