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Author Topic: Convict returning to England  (Read 692 times)

Offline cynmac

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Convict returning to England
« on: Wednesday 04 May 22 13:36 BST (UK) »
I am trying to find any info re my convict ancestor returning to England .
His name was John Moah and he served his sentence at Freemantle. He received  a free pardon in Feb 1861 and appeared on the 1871 census in England. Could someone point me to any records of his time in Australia from 1858 ( on the Nile )and finding how he would get back to England i.e. any letters from his wife etc. Would he have been able to save the cost of his ship's ticket, would his wife send him the money or would he sail back as crew. I am completely stuck.  Any info or ideas where I can look gratefully received. Thank you.

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Re: Convict returning to England
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 04 May 22 15:36 BST (UK) »
Having read details of his crime it would never surprise me if he had money tucked away somewhere for the return trip. ;D

John

Offline cynmac

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Re: Convict returning to England
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 04 May 22 16:05 BST (UK) »
It surprised me to find him back in England working as an Accountant...so much for a CV.

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Re: Convict returning to England
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 04 May 22 16:11 BST (UK) »
I see he married in 1836 an Elizabeth Norfolk. Did John have a brother Joseph who married a Mary Norfolk?

John

Offline cynmac

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Re: Convict returning to England
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 04 May 22 18:40 BST (UK) »
Yes he did. My direct ancestor is actually John's sister Eleanor.

Offline Ashtone

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Re: Convict returning to England
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 04 May 22 21:02 BST (UK) »
John Moah's name rings a bell. Wasn't he discussed on another forum several years ago?

Offline LizzieL

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Re: Convict returning to England
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 05 May 22 14:41 BST (UK) »
I have one who was transported for life in 1843, but got a ticket of leave in 1855. Then he turns up in Canada in 1861. Meanwhile his wife is at home in England in 1861, with her children, including one with another man.
By 1871, wife and children have gone to Canada and the family is together again.
They were Agricultural labourers, so not well off.  I can believe the husband might have worked his passage to Canada, but I wonder where his wife got the money for her and the children to join him. His crime was burning ricks, so no ill gotten gains of a robbery hidden away.

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=828710.msg6928956#msg6928956
Berks / Oxon: Eltham, Annetts, Wiltshire (surname not county), Hawkins, Pembroke, Partridge
Dorset / Hants: Derham, Stride, Purkiss, Sibley
Yorkshire: Pottage, Carr, Blackburn, Depledge
Sussex: Goodyer, Christopher, Trevatt
Lanark: Scott (soldier went to Jersey CI)
Jersey: Fowler, Huelin, Scott

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Convict returning to England
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 05 May 22 16:10 BST (UK) »
Quote
John Moah's name rings a bell. Wasn't he discussed on another forum several years ago?


There's this thread from last year: https://tinyurl.com/y4ecz5p6


UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

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Re: Convict returning to England
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 05 May 22 18:44 BST (UK) »
Having just read the post request on the site supplied by ShaunJ did you find Elizabeth in 1861 census.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7BJ-SYJ

Recorded as MOAB on Ancestry.

John
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