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I'm trying to find any document that shows if a convict could read &/or write.
(He arrived NSW 1820)

I have various Musters, census etc for him but apart from his marriage signature, which shows he signed with an "X", I can't see if this info was ever recorded.

I'm guessing that I'm missing a NSW Convict record somewhere as I found him to be an executor of a will in the 1850's (and therefore assume he could at least read). 

Don't need anyone to look for his details as I'm happy to spend time doing that but if anyone could suggest anywhere to look for the query "Can Read/Write", I'd appreciate a suggestion or 2.

Many thanks
Di

I've been looking for a convict: Robert GOODWIN.
He arrived 1801 on Earl Cornwallis, sentenced to Life in Oz (was originally a Death sentence)
Trial at Old Bailey in 1800

He is recorded on the Convict Index 1788-1868 & Convict Indents 1801-1814 but vanishes after that.

Best guess is that he died early. Nothing on NSWBDM pre 1840's for anyone of that name.

His brother William also arrived same time & same ship. His sentence was only 14yrs and rec'd his TOL/CP in 1814. Don't know what happened to him after that.

Your thoughts or suggestions on where Robert went would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Di

Edit to add: Apologies - forgot the obvious  Robert arrived in NSW in 1801. He was born abt 1780, probably Northamptonshire. No proof of parents names but maybe William & Mary.

Apologies - it's a long story!

James George BURRELL arrived in Vic 1854. Born abt 1826 Gravesend Kent, a Painter/Plumber.

Back in UK:
Elizabeth TILLOCK married George Albert TURRELL (Fishmonger) 05 Apr1847 Holy Trinity Lambeth. Both were of Gravesend Kent and were together there in 1851 census

George TURRELL arrived Vic on ship "Melbourne" 31.05.1855, age 30, a Fishmonger
 - Elizabeth was not on the ship
A possibility is Eliz'ah TURRELL arr Mar 1855, age 27 on "Caldera" but she's a "Spinster"
Looks like George Albert & Elizabeth TURRELL had family:
Henry George TURRELL, of Emerald Hill, Vic, 09.03.1859, son of George Albert & Elizabeth Turrell.
George James Turrell born Collingwood 1856 to George Albert & Elizabeth Tillock (died at 8mths)
Another child died aged 1 day in 1860 at Emerald Hill (PARENTS=George Turrell & Eliz Burrell)

Marriage: 01 November 1865 at 6 Park Hill Terrace, East Melbourne
James George BURRELL, Bach, Born: Gravesend Kent UK, Painter/Plumber, age 39, of Fitzroy
   Son of John Burrell (a Ship Tender) & Mary Ely
Elizabeth TURRELL, widow (as of 28.09.1860), one child, born Gravesend Kent age 38 of Collingwood
   Daughter of James Tillick ( Smith) & Sarah Creed (Smith)
All signed, Witnesses: Thomas Parker, Mary Parker?. Joseph Beer, Congregational Minister

One assumes that the child was Henry George TURRELL.
He then seems to take his stepfather's name and is called Henry George BURRELL
(well documented, don't need his info after this time)

James George BURRELL was the owner/publican of The Standard Hotel in Fitzroy Street Fitzroy.

He died in 1875. On his death cert his "wife" had all her facts mixed up and gave HER mother's name as James' mother (Sarah Creed)

James BURRELL wrote his will in Jan 1870. He left most things to "Elizabeth Tillock, presently residing with me ..." and James also mentions "my son Henry George Burrell"

It seems odd that he doesn't say that Elizabeth was his "Wife" when they were married 5 years earlier 

and then I found the following death:
A George Albert TURRELL, late of Gravesend Kent, died in 1890 in Benalla Vic. His will makes no mention of wife or family in Aust., only a sister in UK. Confirmed it's the same Geo Albert Turrell.

I suspect that divorce would have been highly unlikely in 1850-1860 either UK or Australia

So who was Henry G Turrell's father?
Did Elizabeth commit bigamy?
Wonder if James knew that Elizabeth wasn't totally truthful!

Would love to know the whole story (unlikely) but any small items would be advantageous.

Cheers
Di

Looking for the Events at Sea Index reported to be available via Vic BDM's web site.

Their BDM site seems to be running round in circles and hanging at the moment (at least for me)

I'm looking for the death/burial of : WORTHINGTON (Leonard) - died at sea June 1868 on ship Beatrice.
Hoped the death was on the usual BDM index but having a bit of a problem looking there so thought I'd try the Events at sea as well.

Don't quite know what I'm doing wrong but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Di

According to 972 family trees and various books, twins were born at Sydney/Richmond on 18 February 1796.

They were Elizabeth & Philis, daughters of James (Convict) and his free wife Ann Somerville (var spelling). Many report they were the first surviving twins born in the colony but that might be just a good story!

I know that 99% of the family trees have simply copied dates from various books but I'd like to find the actual source of their date of birth.

Can't see it on NSWBDM, nor Ancestry, nor FamilySearch or FindMyPast or St Phillips PR's or St Peters but I believe this date is probably correct.

Where on earth did someone find it?

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Di