Samuel & Henry Eaton

[marypeaton]

Hi everyone,
I am looking for information about Samuel Eaton who was transported to Australia on the Joseph Soames. He was convicted of theft at Dorchester Assizes on 16th July 1845. He was sent to Millbank and then Pentonville prison. Finally setting sail on the Joseph Soames in 1847. I would be grateful for any information about him

Edit by Moderator: subject title changed at OP's request.

[rosie99]

Hi

Welcome to rootschat

When & where was he born. Was he married before he left England

Rosie

[marypeaton]

He was born about 1823, baptised in November that year, but 1841 census says he is 15!! Born in Canford Magna near Wimborne, Dorset and was single when transported.
Mary

[rosie99]

1841 census rounds down ages to the nearest 5 for those over the age of 15.  Children under 15 have there ages shown as they are.  Therefore if he was 18 it should show 15

[rosie99]

You appear to have his baptism.  What information are you after 

[marypeaton]

I want to find out what happened to him after he was transported. I have his parents and siblings. After his arrest his brother, Henry, disappears. No census or death record for him, nor prison record. Thought he may have been involved in the theft and decided to make himself scarce.

[rosie99]

Hi

So that others can see the family this is the 1841. 
Henry Eaton   25
William Eaton   20
Samuel Eaton   15
Elizabeth Eaton   50
H0107/Piece 287 Book 3 Folio 19 page 2

It may be a good idea to start a new thread on the Australia boards about Samuel and his life over there.  I have asked the mods to change your subject heading as I thought maybe people were looking for Joseph Soames and not the Eaton brothers as I did at first 

[rosie99]

There is a marriage at Sturminster Marshall (father George) to Maria Singleton in 1844 - could this be your Henry.  In 1851 Maria is lodging with Joshua Cox, two of her children Henry & George are with her parents

[marypeaton]

Yes Henry married Maria Singleton on 21st May 1844. Their two children Francis Henry (bpt. 6/10/1844) and George (bpt. 4/10/1846). In 1851 census she is a housekeeper for Joshua Cox. She has 2 more children:- Haram bpt. 1/4/1849 and Seth bpt 6/4/1851. Henry is listed as their father in the baptismal record. They both later take on the surname Cox. On 6/1/1855 another child is baptised, Joshua Collins Eaton or Cox, again Henry is listed as the father. Charles William was baptised on 3/9/1859 and Edith Collins bpt. 15/3/1863, but now only Maria on the register. Joshua Cox died in 1865, but another baptism is registered on 20/12/1868, Tom, who later is called Whiffen. Maria marries David Legg Whiffen on 9/11/1872.

 All very complicated but no mention of Henry in any census or death records. Was he really the father of the later children?