Stephen Morris 1850 convict

[rm91]

Hi all,

A distant cousin, Stephen Morris, was sentenced in 1848 to 7 years transportation for night poaching in Hampshire (bit harsh if you ask me) and was sent to Australia on board the William Jardine, arriving at Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island on the 14th November 1850.

In 1861 his wife in Southampton states she is a widow, but has a child named Louisa Morris who was born around 1856.

If that child was his it means he must have come back but I cannot find a death record for him.

So my question is this: Is there any way to see if people came back from Australia once their sentence was served at all?

Thanks.

[groom]

As I understand it, very few people transported returned from Australia as it was just too expensive. Most settled out there after serving their sentences and started a new life.

Any child born to his wife would have been called Morris as that was her name when it was born, so it doesn't mean that it was Stephen's child. I would think she was able to call herself a widow as she knew that she would never see her husband again.

[rm91]

As I understand it, very few people transported returned from Australia as it was just too expensive. Most settled out there after serving their sentences and started a new life.

Any child born to his wife would have been called Morris as that was her name when it was born, so it doesn't mean that it was Stephen's child. I would think she was able to call herself a widow as she knew that she would never see her husband again.

Thank you. Would there be any way to find him in Australia?

I guess you're right - easier to tell a census enumerator you're a widow than say your husband is a convict in Australia.

[groom]

The Australians will be waking up soon, so hopefully one of them will be able to help find him for you. In the meantime do you have anything else that might help them eg parents, date of birth? 

[groom]

Just found this

Stephen Morris
Birth Year   abt 1825
Age   89
Death Sale, Victoria
Registration Year   1914
Registration Place   Victoria
Father's Name   Morris Stephen
Mother's Name   Elizth Russell

[groom]

An online tree has his convict record attached with a lovely description. It says he had a shallow complexion, brown hair, black whiskers and eyebrows, hazel eyes and a long nose.

The tree has him marrying Isabella Yarrow on 13th May 1855 in Victoria, they had 9 children. They give his death as 27th July 1914.

[rm91]

Wow groom that is incredible - thank you.

Indeed I'd say it was him. Although his mother was Jane Russell, not Elizabeth. He was baptised in 1824 in Fawley, Hampshire, so the age adds up too.

[groom]

The convict record is definitely him as it fits what you said in your first post.

So it looks as if he stayed, started a new life and raised a new family.

[rm91]

The convict record is definitely him as it fits what you said in your first post.

So it looks as if he stayed, started a new life and raised a new family.

Fascinating. Thanks again.

I wish I could contact the person who has the convict record and other info.