Thomas Henry EMMS

[regross]

I am trying to find when and how Thomas Hnery Emms arrived in Australia. From his death certificate the est is 1826 which would make him 7 years old!!!

I can find no records of anyone this age and name.

He married under that name in 1845 in Morpeth NSW. His family have the infomation that he may have used the name Burley at one time. But no matches can be found under this name.

He could have been a soldiers or a convict's child but I can find no matches for these either.

Any assitance would be welcomed.

[CuriousDiana]

He certainly could have been a convict or Soldier's child.  A convict named David Emms  came out on the convict transport Arab, arriving 1822.(reference: Archives Office of NSW Reel 2417, p.137).
Another convict, named Robert Emms came out on the convict transport Earl St. Vincent, arriving 1826. This ship went to Hobart, but some convicts were offloaded and sent on to Sydney on the Portland. (ref: AO of NSW Reel 2420, and for the Portland Reel 2426). 

[behindthefrogs]

Children who travelled steerage on an assisted passage with their parents were often not named.  have you looked for possible parents?

David

[regross]

Thanks for the two suggestions. I have been researching immigration lists for years and teh number of Emms Hemms Elms Emmes etc is very limited in the years I am looking at.

Another researcher is visiting teh records office in Sydeny (Ilive 7 hours from Sydney) and we ahd not found the two convicts mentioned. I will be in Sydney in MArch and will look up the references and see what I can discover.

Robyn

[CuriousDiana]

There were actually five convicts with the surname Emms, who were transported to Tasmania between 1822 and 1840.  You will find them listed on the Archives Office of Tasmania website (just Google "Archives Office of Tasmania).  Go to Index of Convicts. 
On the same website you could also go to Colonial Tasmanian Family Links Database, where you will find a number of Emms people, but unfortunately no Thomas Henry. 
Even if Thomas Henry went to Tasmania, he could have come to NSW after he had served his sentence.
A suggestion   -  the AOT is usually very helpful if you write to them.

[regross]

Thanks for this information but we have already pursued the Tasmanian Emms with no luck. All the Thomas' or Henrys are in the wrong age group completely.

As the death certificate states he was burn in Ireland and we can find no records of his birth here we are still looking for his arrival. unfortunately there are no parents names on the death certificate of the marriage certificate.

He had to have arrived some how and we will keep loking.

thanks

Robyn

[regross]

Hello,

It has been a while since I posted re Thomas Henry Emms.

After lots of research we have arrived at the following hypothesis:

He was the son of James Emms and his wife.

James was a soldier with the 39th Regiment of Foot .

The 39th regiment was in Dublin in 1819. They came to Australia in 1826 serving in Norfolk Isalnd, Raffles Bay , King George sound amongst the many postings before they left for India in 1832.

These dates cioncide with Thomas being born in Dublin in 1819 and arriving in Australia in 1826 aged 7.

I have documentary support as James and wife and family (no names) are referrred to in:
1) the Diary of Captain Collett baker who was in charge of the Raffles Bay Settlement later abandoned.

2) Letter written to the NSW Colonial Secreatry by James Emms referring to the land he purchased with his gratuity that he took in 1832 instead of going on with the Regiment to India. Again no names just "my wife and children".

3) AJCP microfilm of the pay records of the 39th Regiment. Again no names for his family.

I have purchased a transcription of a death of a James Ammes 23/5/1859 aged 66. He died in the Parramatta Asylum and no details were given. He was buried in the All Saints cmetery Parramatta  with C of E  minister officiating.

Any help in how to find access to the records of this asylum and the cemetery records would be appreciated.

regards

Robyn