Is anyone able to shed light on my ancestors past? Was he a deserting husband? Was he a criminal? What was he?
Our family story is that John Frederick E? was born in Hamburg, Germany, c. 1828, father unknown, mother Elizabeth. He fled Germany by ship, as a cabin boy, age c.16 due to political turmoil. Upon arriving in Sydney, Australia, he jumped ship and keeping the initial E changed his name to the English sounding Edwards, because he did not want it to be known he was German.
I and many other relatives, have searched German Bounty Ships, Naturalisation Papers, Convict records and have found no reference to him.
He was married on 21.6.1854 to Eliza Ford of West Maitland, NSW, in West Maitland. In 18871 he became licensee of the Cross Keys Hotel, West Maitland which he held until his death on 17.2.1893 in the Leichhardt Hotel, Leichhardt, NSW. His death certificate says he was in the colony (NSW only) about 39 years. That has him arriving 1854 the year he married. He was age 26.
John and Eliza had 15 children. 1 grandson Neil remained in UK after the war, marrying Doris Hendry.
