Stephen MARTIN

[majm]

Hi there,

....Did the Parhurst boys go to Australia as well as NZ. as I have tried them in NZ

My suggestion as to checking the Parkhurst Boys is very very speculative.  So, I have not checked any lists to see IF by chance your lad was one of these lads.  It was simply an "outside the square" suggestion on my part, while trying to consider how your chap could have been a shoemaker in Melbourne before enlisting at age 21 in 1863 and then going to NZ with the Volunteer Militia.  Your Original Post states he worked as a shoemaker in Melbourne before he enlisted and I have checked various historic directories and not found any reference to him in Melbourne, nor as a shoemaker.   Perhaps the digitised newspapers (linked earlier) would help you locate him before he left Victoria in 1863 .....

Various public libraries should have books about the Parkhurst Boys.  Goggle search under the heading Parkhurst Boys gives many results.  Here is one link
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/dead_reckoning/private_archives/n-s/parkhurst_boys

The opening paragraph at that link includes the following statement
"The Parkhurst boys were juvenile offenders from the Isle of Wight's Parkhurst Prison, who were transported to the Australian and New Zealand colonies between 1842 and 1861. Under the scheme, the boys were to be granted pardons under certain conditions such as permanent exile from England and, in the case of younger boys, undertaking apprenticeship in the colonies. 1,499 boys are recorded as being sent to the colonies ......."

Cheers,  JM

[Maz72]

Hi. There's a fair amount of misinformation here on Stephen Martin. Stephen and his brother John sailed from Gravesend on the "Champion of the Seas" in March 1857. There ages were given as 11 and 9, and they don't appear to have been accompanied by any adults. They disembarked at Geelong, rather than Melbourne. As a descendant of Stephen I'm interested in why Toru4 is researching him.

[sarah]

Hi Maz72,

Welcome to RoostsChat

Toru4 is having problems with his email notifications as the moment I have sent him a message with link to your post but he will not see it until he logs in next.

Regards
Sarah

[sarah]

Welcome back to RootsChat toru4, thanks for updating your new email address.

Regards

Sarah