RootsChat.Com

Hi Nesle1961

Without saying there are no records of him, there is an inference that there is with various references to a number of files only held by them and a tendency to tout for a researcher to be engaged to access these files.
With this mind, I remain at a loss as to why they cannot say that there are no descriptions of Samuel Collins despite the fact that the number of incarcerations he had , would have warranted a shield to have been erected in his honor at the gaol.
I wont give up and I will seek alternate ways to access this information because just because I live in Queensland, the majority of my family live in NSW so I may have to enlist them.

Thanks Neale1961
You are right but it may open up other avenues.
I meant to tell you that a long time ago, when I was advised about my possible Jewish roots, I wrote to a Rabbi to see if he could fill me on about Samuel Collins or if he knew of a Samuel Collins.
He advised me that he had not record of a Jewish convict of this name and the topic dropped.
I think it was a Rabbi named John Levi so I am trying to go through all of the plethora of paper/old computer records to see if I can get in contact with him again.
I will let you know how I het on with the owner of the family tree.
Thanks again, your assistance is greatly appreciated.

I am amazed at the amount of information you are providing- thank you very much.
The assumption that the 2 Samuels' are the same has merit and your thoughts on the reason for the name change very valid.
With a purpose to either "divorce" his family or to possibly hide the convict past also has merit and it reminds me that years ago, when I first got hooked on family research, I was told by my grandfather (Samuel's grandson) that Samuel had married a Mary Montgomery at Windsor. It was only when I started obtaining all of the birth registrations for the children of this union, that I found out that her maiden name was McCrumb and later, that she had married a Charles Chuck (another convict) who died in 1854 and not too make it sound too far fetched, Charles came to Australia on the "Mangles" although in 1837!
When I questioned a late aunt about the name Montgomery, I was advised that it was to hide the convict shame of both parents being Irish convicts. The irony of this also is that her mother, Sally, left her father and took up with yet another convict, John Montgomery!
This is looking more promising as it goes- I have done a search of my DNA records but cannot immediately identify any Cohens although I did make contact some time ago with a DNA 2-3rd cousin who also had Jewish ancestry but he has not proven very reliable in keeping up the communication.

Good evening Neale11961

Thank you once again for your assistance and what you have covered certainly seems to place more of an idea who my Samuel Collins was - after wasting so long and not utilising this site!
I have used Ancestry to list all of the Gaol entries for Samuel Collins' including many which do not include details of arrival in the Colony but will specifically concentrate on the 2 entries for the vessels "William" and "Mangles" . I must admit that from the majority of the entries for Darlinghurst, he certainly liked a drink!
There is alo one for Parramatta Gaol which, probably fanciful thinking, fits in with the date and place that his soon to be wife, Mary Ann, came from.
As the entries do not give details of tattoos etc. should I now address my enquiry to the NSW State records?
Thank you once again, so gratefully appreciated