William FRANCE (FRANCES,FRANCES) and wife Christina (nee NEED)

[DeeBee58]

I have just found an article in Avoca Times https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201296778?searchTerm=John%20jago#

[Neale1961]

More here
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5882643?searchTerm=Jago%20AND%20Rathscar

[sparrett]

Much of the man's conduct seems to have parallels in our modern society.
What a horribe man.

Bankruptcy doesn't seem enough! IMO

Sue

Adding
This 1873 news clip tells the same story but adds some details I had not seen before.
It again states that Alice EDIT SARAH was Rycroft's sister in law.
 
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/113593976

 

[DeeBee58]

No, not a very nice man. And no real justice for Sarah.
She certainly had a lot of tragedy and trouble in her young life. I feel such sadness for her.

I think I can say that my search has come to a close and I can now document it with the confidence that I am being true to what actually happened.

Thank you all so much for filling in those missing years. I really do appreciate it.

Debbie

[Neale1961]

Trying to find some background for William France, I have looked further at his criminal records, both in England and Australia.
Before being sent to Tasmania as a convict, he had a few previous convictions in Liverpool. In fact the sentence for his last offence (due to previous crimes) was originally death, and this was commuted to 14 yrs transportation. Looking at Willam’s age cross all the documents, there is a conformity that his birth was abt 1819 in Liverpool (not 1814 as previously posted). This puts his age closer to his buddy Joseph Rycroft.

The only possible baptism I can find is this (but may not be correct)
Baptism: 21 Jun 1818 St Peter, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
William France - Son of William France (labourer) & Elizabeth
    Abode: Cunliffe St
   
William’s father’s occupation is “labourer” & I feel this is more in line with his son’s which was recorded as labourer / groom/ carter on convict records.

[Neale1961]

This 1873 news clip tells the same story but adds some details I had not seen before.
It again states that Alice EDIT SARAH was Rycroft's sister in law.
 
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/113593976

it say's she was Rycroft's "adopted daughter and sister-in-law."
Need to look into the sister-in-law bit?

[Neale1961]

FOUND IT!      Yes sister-in-law might be almost correct.

Joseph Rycroft married Annie BENTLE in 1865
Annie was quite a bit younger than Rycroft. She was born in 1844 in Tasmania - the daughter of  George BENDALL (BENTLE) and Christiana MEAD / NEAD.
I think that must be Christiana NEED. The marriage to George Bendall was in Hobart 8 July 1833.

Sister-in-law is not right, is it?
Christiana Need was the mother to Joseph Rycroft's wife. Christiana Need was Joseph Rycroft's mother-in-law. I can't work out what that correct relationship for Sarah is, without getting my brain in a knot!

ADDED: George Bendall died in Melbourne in 1852, which would leave time for his widow Christiana to partner with William France and have a child in 1856.

[DeeBee58]

It really is a tangled web 
Sorry to cause you further brain scramble but I just found this article on Trove which may or may not discount convict links...also mentions that Sarah is his adopted daughter....
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201297297?searchTerm=Joseph%20Rycroft

[sparrett]

In 1862, Joseph Rycroft had a child named Louisa and the mother was Ann Francis.

Louisa RYCROFT
 
Mother Ann FRANCIS
Father Joseph
BARK
1862
10098/1862

Sue