More info which I think I have discovered today.
I have ruled out the following men called Edmund Pearse:
1) The one born 1809, Hitchin: his parents were William and Eliz and I know (from his 1839 and 1842 and 1859 marriage records) that his father was definitely Thomas. Also this Edmund died 1835 age 26 years.
2) The one born 1816 in Easton, Wilts and baptised and married there; his 1839 marriage comes at the same time as MY Edmund's marriage in another place and to another woman
3) The one living in Tavistock Square London who was a surgeon, living with wife Isabella and son Reginald = wrong wife and child names and no record of anyone in my family being medical.This is the one who everyone on Ancestry has copied each other to give a death year of 1873 aged 57.
What I have found:
*A baptism record, 20 Mar 1801, Hitchin, Herts (so the correct location of birth as per later census records) (FamilySearch). Father: Thomas (correct) - labourer. Mother=Ann.
*I found the transportation record amongd found. He was found guilty of theft/larceny 18 Oct 1821 and - location of crimes = Hitchin. Sent to Van Diemen's Land (Ancestry) on the Prince of Orange 23 Mar 1822. For 7 years. So he was out there until at least 1829.
*I have found a possible marriage record: Edmund Pearce m Anne Martin 25 Nov 1833, Snake Banks, Longford, Tasmania. The name Jane Martin is on the wedding record and it's crossed out and Anne is written in instead and she signed with a X
I'm working on the theory that she died and he managed to return to England. Can anyone find his immigration back to England pls?
He then married in 1839, 842 and 1859.
And then, having discounted other deaths, I have found one that almost matches the year of baptism as 1801:
"Edmund Pearce, age 72, died of chronic bronchitis, Jan 20 1872, Marylebone workhouse"
I'm not sure that the death record is correct as he would have been 70 if he was born Mar 1801, not 72. Can anyone find another death record (that isn't the 1873 one of the Tavistock Square surgeon whose probate was given to his son Reginald).
Many thanks