7
« on: Wednesday 10 October 12 07:42 BST (UK) »
Hello,
I am trying to find any evidence that Thomas Veal(e) and John Hockines (Hawkins) are the same man? The common link is wife Janet Orr.
John Orr was a Scottish baker and came to Australia in 1858 as a convict aboard the ‘Edwin Fox’. He was convicted of assault and robbery in the Glasgow Court of Justiciary in 1857 and sentenced to 14 years. The ‘Edwin Fox’ sailed from Plymouth on 26 Aug 1858 arriving in Fremantle on 20 Nov 1858. The ship is now the centrepiece of a museum in Picton, New Zealand. John Orr is described as a baker, aged 33, married with 3 children, 5’ 7”, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, fresh complexion, round faced, stout build, slightly pockmarked. A John Orr aged 43 died in WA in 1869.
Janet Orr snr. followed her convict husband to Australia, also bringing daughters Annie and Janet aboard the ‘Fitzroy’ in 1864. The ‘Fitzroy’ sailed from London at 8am on 7 Dec 1864, arriving in Fremantle in March 1865. Son, James Orr’s name appears on the record of final departure, but is crossed out. It is not clear whether he died prior to departure, on the voyage or remained in England. In 1864 Janet snr. was aged 42, Annie 17, Janet 13 and James 10. A Janet Orr aged 69 died in WA in 1894. This could possibly be Janet Orr snr.
Janet Orr married John Hockines (sometimes written as Hawkins) on 7 Feb 1867 at the Registrar’s Office, Bowes & Murchison District, WA. Janet could not write, so made her “X” mark, whereas John Hockines wrote his name very clearly. The spelling is definitely HOCKINES. Hockines was working as a miner and listed his residence as Fortune Mine. Janet was a servant and listed her residence as Northampton.
A daughter Edith Jane Veale was born in 1868 at Irwin River to Thomas Veale and Janet Orr. A son James John Veale was born in 1870 at Geraldine Mine and died aged 1 month. The 2nd birth register index entry lists the mother as Janet Hawkins Orr and father as Thomas Veale.
Janet Orr's partner Thomas Veale was also a convict and came to Australia in 1862 aboard the ‘Norwood’. The ‘Norwood’ left Portland on 16 Mar 1862 and arrived in Fremantle on 9 June 1862. He was convicted of with violence in the Gloucester Assizes in 1860 and sentenced to 6 years. Probably quite a light sentence as he had quite a prior record. Thomas Veale is described as a labourer, aged 25, single, 5’ 81/4”, black hair, light hazel eyes, full faced, sallow complexion, stout build and ink marks left arm, U.W. heart and wreath right arm.
Janet Orr’s second marriage was to John Grice on 9 Sept 1873 in the Congregational Chapel, Fremantle. Her name is written “Janet Hawkins”, widow, occupation Domestic and residence Perth. John Grice was working as a Miner resident in the Champion Bay District. The witnesses are Isaac and Annie Bisp. Annie Bisp is Janet’s sister. She also marries twice, firstly in 1865 in Geraldton to Thomas Burnet Hayward. Secondly in 1872 in Fremantle to Isaac Bisp.
Janet Orr is a widow at the time of her second marriage, indicating that her first husband died prior to 1873. There is a death of a Thomas Veale aged 38 in the register for 1872. There is no death in the registers of a John Hockines, John Hawkins or Thomas Hockines. A Thomas Hawkins dying in 1869 is aged 67, too old.
John Grice & Janet moved to Victoria, South Australia and ultimately Sydney in NSW and had ten children of their own. John outlived his wife Janet and is the informant on her 1903 NSW death certificate which confirms Edith Jane and two deceased boys as being children from her first marriage to "Thomas Hawkins".
Surely Janet would not have married in 1867 (aged 16) and given birth to three children to another man within 3 years. Any thoughts on how I might confirm that Thomas Veale and John Hockines (or Hawkins) are one and the same man? And if so, why would he adopt the Hockines/Hawkins alias for Janet and himself but give his children the surname Veale?
Andrew
Show Posts