William McLaughlan

[pufflet]

I live in New Zealand & I am attempting to find my husband's maternal gg grandfather, William Mc Laughlan's origins. William (b. abt 1804) & his 'wife', Harriet (b. abt 1812 but no maiden name or marriage found so far) had 3 chn in Sydney, NSW, Australia: John b.1836; John Thomas b.1838;Mary Ann b.1841.
William & Harriet came to Otago, NZ abt early 1840s to work at Johnny Jones' whaling station at Waikouaiti, Otago. William was a cooper. His surname is spelt a variety of ways in various documents...McLaughlin, McLoughlin, McLauchlan, McLachlan. This certainly complicates my research.
There are a number of William McLaughlans in NSW convict records. One seems a possibility: William McLaughlan; Arrived NSW: 1829; Tried at: Perth (Scotland?), District: Braidwood. It appears that William's trial was on 8 Sep 1828 at the Perth Courts of Justiciary. His sentence was 14 years.
Where/how can I find Perth Courts of Justiciary records?
I'd really appreciate it if someone could help.

[Geoff]

Hi Puflet,

Try this link it should give many ideas for your search.
http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/Resources.aspx

Cheers
Geoff

[Rosinish]

I have searched high & low but I can't find a place named Braidwood in Perthshire & wonder if it's an old Farm name or similar?

"Tried at: Perth (Scotland?), District: Braidwood. It appears that William's trial was on 8 Sep 1828 at the Perth Courts of Justiciary"

I'm wondering why you have a '?' next to Scotland?

Perth Court (a beautiful building) is on the banks of the River Tay on Tay Street & has been there since 1819...

If you scroll down to the 2nd summary entitled "Statement of Special Interest"

http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB39325

I also found this link but I haven't read it but hope it helps...

Home Page;

http://www.scan.org.uk/familyhistory/myancestor/prisoner.htm

And this from the list on the left side;

http://www.scan.org.uk/familyhistory/myancestor/transported.htm

There's this although not much but it may be of interest;

https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/perth-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court

I'm trying to think of place names similar to Braidwood but Perthshire is a big place 

Your man may have come from elsewhere, committed a crime in Perth i.e would be tried in Perth so I'm keeping an open mind as Braidwood comes up a long, long way from Perthshire too.

Annie

[wivenhoe]

Can you give the date and place of death of William and Harriet.

What ages do you have for William and Harriet.

What names do you have for thier children, where and when married.

What is your source for William being a prisoner in NSW?

[Rosinish]

Do you think there may/could be a connection with Braidwood (New South Wales) and Perth (Western Australia)?

Annie

[pufflet]

Thanks for your prompt replies. I am not certain that this William McLAUGHLAN tried in Perth is my man.... I'm just following up possibilities. Our William may not have been a convict but taking into account the time he was in Sydney, that he worked as a cooper for Johnny JONES, a well known NZ whaler who originated in Sydney, no marriage record found for he & Harriet, it's a possibility.
Our William McLAUGHLAN b. abt 1804 (per his age on his NZ Death Cert. Reg no 1884/1954.), no birth place; d. 2 Jun 1884, Waikouaiti, Otago, NZ. Unfortunately his death cert doesn't have any parents' names & only 'England' for place of birth... which may not be accurate. The Sydney records of his first 3 chn's births has Harriet as mother. I can't find a marriage or maiden name for Harriet in Sydney or NZ.
Their 4th child, William was b. 1846 in Waikouaiti, Otago, NZ. The subsequent chn were all born in NZ: Elizabeth b. abt 1851; James b. abt 1853; Eliza Christina b. 1858.(Sources: St John's Church, Waikouaiti, Baptism & Burial records).
So presumably they came to NZ between 3rd child, Mary Ann's birth 1841 in Sydney & 1846.
Harriet d. 24 Sep 1862 Waikouaiti, Otago, NZ (Source: NZ Death Cert. Reg no: 1861/2394... not sure why reg year is different from her actual death year).
So.... I'll follow up your links Rosinish. I did wonder if this convict William Mc LAUGHLAN's record may have related to Perth WA but I don't think it's likely. I gather that the Scottish Courts of Justiciary did a circuit to smaller towns & it seems as though anyone sentenced to transportation to Australia would appear before this High court. On William's death cert it has his wife as Margaret TURNER, suggesting he remarried after Harriet died in 1862... but I can't find a record for this marriage in NZ!
There's a very good book, 'Roadway to the Rushes' by Eileen Foote which is a history of the Waikouaiti area. William & Harriet McLAUGHLAN are both mentioned in this book. I have also read a biography of Johnny Jones & several other local histories. But still William McLAUGHLAN's origins are elusive!
 
 

[McGroger]

pufflet, since your earliest definite details of William are in Australia you might consider asking the moderator to move your query to the Australia board in another day or so.
Cheers, Peter.