James GREER (Convict)

[haney]

Wow John Taylor had a bad day then!!  Incredible these two James and Mary B, must have sort each other out when they got to Tasmania, wonder how that worked but they stayed together right until the end.  I did find out today a very sad story about their daughter Eliza who is my ancestor.

  In 1867 she was raped (or an attempted rape I think) from the newspaper report it confirmed
everything re her parents, where she was born.  Also James was locked up in Bathurst Gaol that year, this all happened in NSW so now I know a bit more on their movements.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130957234?searchTerm=James%20greer


Couldn't find out these things without the wonderful help everyone has given me.  Thanks so much for your input.  Kindest regards Dianna

[Maiden Stone]

Yes! I just went and checked and further down the page…sentenced to six months…”Mary Birtcliffe, 18, for stealing potatoes, the property of John Taylor”.

Poor John Taylor…also getting seven years….”Thomas Ryan, 17, for stealing a handkerchief, the property of John Taylor”….and…(sorry, missed this bit)…”James Conroy, 19 and James Greer, 19, for stealing a hamper of potatoes, the property of John Taylor”

James Conroy and James Greer were charged with stealing the potatoes and Mary with receiving stolen goods (the same potatoes) so they definitely knew each other 

Was Mary Birtcliffe sentenced to 6 months? She wouldn't have been transported for a short sentence. Did she have other convictions?

[jomcd967]

Well it’s kind of a sweet love story really…

Mary Britcliffe, baptised 6 Aug 1826, d/o John & Hannah, Rochdale, Lancashire

4 Sept 1845, Mary Britcliffe, 19, Manchester Borough Sessions, larceny from person, before count of felony, sentenced 10 years.

Milbank Prison Registers: Female Prisoners, Vol 1
Mary Britcliffe, 19, factory girl, sentenced 4 Sept 1845, Manchester Sessions, felony and prior conviction, 10 years, from Salford Prison 24 Sept 1845, Comments: before convicted; and ten times imprisoned for vagrancy; lived by crime for seven years.

A hard life, living on the streets by age 12, I think they were soul mates.

Edited to add: The Manchester Courier, And General Advertiser, Saturday, September 13, 1845….”Mary Britcliffe, 19, stealing two sovereigns, 10 years…”

Jo 

[Maiden Stone]

Mary Britcliffe, baptised 6 Aug 1826, d/o John & Hannah, Rochdale, Lancashire

4 Sept 1845, Mary Britcliffe, 19, Manchester Borough Sessions, larceny from person, before count of felony, sentenced 10 years.

Milbank Prison Registers: Female Prisoners, Vol 1
Mary Britcliffe, 19, factory girl, sentenced 4 Sept 1845, Manchester Sessions, felony and prior conviction, 10 years, from Salford Prison 24 Sept 1845, Comments: before convicted; and ten times imprisoned for vagrancy; lived by crime for seven years.

A hard life, living on the streets by age 12, I think they were soul mates.

Edited to add: The Manchester Courier, And General Advertiser, Saturday, September 13, 1845….”Mary Britcliffe, 19, stealing two sovereigns, 10 years…”

Was Mary a sister of Charlotte Britcliffe?
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=853530.msg7215124#msg7215124
 What happened to the parents?

[haney]

Hi Maiden Stone
     Yes Charlotte was Mary's sister.  Two other siblings were James Briercliffe and BETTY.  Betty (Elizabeth) married William Lowe and James married Alice Cottam.

Mary's mother died in 1854 and is buried in St. Stephens in Salford.  Mary's father John BRIERCLIFFE is completely unknown.  I have tried to find out what happened to him for years now, nothing.

On Hannah's death certificate she is listed as a widow?? (True or not, I don't know).

On the 1841 Census Hannah is living in Salford with her daughter Betty/Elizabeth, I think the spelling of the name is BRICLIFFE on that Census.  Hannah was a Char woman living with quite a few other people.  John has never turned up on the 1841 Census.  I just assumed that he died between 1831 and 1841??  May never know.  Thanks very much kind regards Dianna

[jomcd967]

John Briercliffe married Hannah Belfield, 6 Oct 1825 at Rochford, note: of Wardleworth
Mary, baptised 6  Aug 1826, Rochdale
James, baptised 20 1828, Rochdale
Betty, baptised 24 Aug 1831, Rochdale
Charlotte, baptised 2 Sep 1833, Rochdale

The convict indent for Mary names her family as mother Hannah, brother James and sister Jane. No mention of father and I have yet to find a baptism for Jane?

Given a (mentioned) daughter called Jane and son James, have you ruled out this baptism? John Britclif, s/o James & Jane, of Goodshaw, 19 Aug 1789 (born 14 Aug) at Rossendale Ebenezer Chapel (baptist).

Jo 

[Maiden Stone]

John Briercliffe married Hannah Belfield, 6 Oct 1825 at Rochford, note: of Wardleworth
Mary, baptised 6  Aug 1826, Rochdale
James, baptised 20 1828, Rochdale
Betty, baptised 24 Aug 1831, Rochdale
Charlotte, baptised 2 Sep 1833, Rochdale

Transcriptions on Lancashire Online Parish Clerks:
https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Search/indexp.html

Marriage 6th October 1825 St. Chad, Rochdale
John BRIERCLIFFE bachelor, Cheetham Street
Hannah BELFIELD (X) spinster, Smallbridge

Baptisms of their children in St. Chad's register, surname BRITCLIFFE, same 4 as above:
1826 Mary, daughter of John & Hannah, abode Smallbridge, occupation labourer
1828 James child of John & Ann, abode Smallbridge, occ. labourer
1831 Betty child of John & Hannah, abode Manchester, occupation labourer
1833 Charlotte child of John & Ann, abode Smallbridge, occupation porter

 St. Chad burial register 9th November 1828
Mary BRITCLIFFE, wife of Hargreaves BRITCLIFFE
Age 65, abode Cheetham St.
Note: Burial at St. Mary's chapel

St. Mary in the Baum, Wardleworth
Burial 9th Nov. 1828
Mary BRITCLIFFE, wife of Hargeaves BRITCLIFFE

St. Mary in the Baum, Wardleworth
Burial 27th April 1838
Hargreaves BRITCLIFFE age 83, abode Cheetham St.

Baptisms of 4 children of Hargreaves BRITCLIFFE & Mary in St. Chad's register.
1787 William
1797 Elizabeth
1799 Robert
1802 Sarah
Marriage 1786 St. Chad's, Rochdale Hargreaves BRITCLIFFE & Mary LEEACH

St. Mary in the Baum, Cheetham Street, Wardleworth, Lancashire
Also known as Baum Chapel, it was a chapel of ease for St. Chad's, Rochdale from mid-18th century. Transcriptions of baptism register on LAN-OPC start 1827.
https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Rochdale/Wardleworth/index.html

Monumental inscriptions St. Mary in the Baum for William and Robert, 2 sons of Hargreaves & Mary, grave P022.

I noticed BRIGHTCLIFFE surname in Bury parish registers. That could be another variant of Britcliffe.



 

[Maiden Stone]

Transcriptions on Lancashire Online Parish Clerks:
https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Search/indexp.html

Marriage 6th October 1825 St. Chad, Rochdale
John BRIERCLIFFE bachelor, Cheetham Street
Hannah BELFIELD (X) spinster, Smallbridge

Baptisms of their children in St. Chad's register, surname BRITCLIFFE, same 4 as above:
1826 Mary, daughter of John & Hannah, abode Smallbridge, occupation labourer
1828 James child of John & Ann, abode Smallbridge, occ. labourer
1831 Betty child of John & Hannah, abode Manchester, occupation labourer
1833 Charlotte child of John & Ann, abode Smallbridge, occupation porter

Some registers of St. John the Baptist Church, Smallbridge were added to Lancashire Online Parish Clerks site last Friday.
www.lan-opc.org.uk/Rochdale/Smallbridge/stjohn/index.html
Page for list of churches in District of Smallbridge
www.lan-opc.org.uk/Rochdale/Smallbridge/index.html

[haney]

HI Thanks for that!  I thought I had possibly found a John Briercliffe being born in Manchester to a JAMES and HANNAH in 1802 (BRIARCLIFFE/BREARCLIFFE) but just the other day I found his death at 8 months and buried Dec, 6 1802, St. John's Manchester.

I thought he may have been the husband to Hannah/Ann Belfield and father to the 4 children BUT obviously it isn't. 

So I have NO birth for a John BRIERCLIFFE (with many variant's) or a death anywhere!  I thought he must have died between 1833 and 1841 as he does not seem to appear on any census's.

No matter what I've tried including professional researchers in England nothing has ever been found for him, not even a burial.  Will just have to accept it unfortunately as he is my "Brickwall".  Thanks for your time.  Much appreciated.  Regards Dianna