Adam LIDDLE, born 1824 (?), Falkirk, Stirlingshire

[BAC3]

Hello,

I have been unable to find any birth, baptismal, family details for the above......please note there are numerous criminal records which sadly have not helped (He was transported in 1842 to NZ as a "Free Immigrant"!!!).   Alternative spellings, such as LIDDELL, have been considered, but nothing positive.

Possibly SKS can solve the problem

Thank you

BAC3

[eilthireach]

You don't mention any specific criminal records, but if you go to the online catalogue of the National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/search.aspx) and enter the search term Adam Liddell (that spelling!) and select "Phrase", you will get an entry confirming that they have the trial papers: (Click on the blue Reference"and  you get the details describing the item).

National Records of Scotland
Reference    JC26/1838/216
Title    Trial papers relating to John Buchanan, Adam Liddell for the crime of robbery. Tried at High Court, Stirling
Dates    17 Sep 1838
Access status    Open
Location    On site
Level    File
Finding aids    19th Century Solemn Database
Previous numbers    JC26/714
Accused    John Buchanan, Verdict: Outlawed, Verdict Comments: Outlaw and fugitive, Sentence: Outlawed and put to the horn. Note: Tried with Adam Liddell.
Adam Liddell, Verdict: Guilty, Verdict Comments: Guilty in terms of own confession, Sentence: Transportation - 5 years. Note: Tried with John Buchanan. Pannel cannot write.

You might be lucky and the papers might give some backgound information about Adam.

We see that he was tried at the High Court in Stirling in September 1838. It is strange that you say he was transported in 1842, and one wonders why there was such a long time between the sentencing and the transportation.

("Pannel"  - variant spelling historically of the noun panel, which in Scots law meant (https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/panel) "A prisoner at the bar of the court, an accused person in a criminal action from the time of his appearance in court"

To "put to the horn" in Scots law in historical usage was to declare a person an outlaw.

[Neale1961]

Do you have an age for Adam, at any point - when convicted, when married, when died?
The 1841 census (he is a prisoner) had his age rounded to 15, which doesn't help much.

[Neale1961]

Information from the trial papers, mentioned in reply #1

Adam Liddle
16 July 1838 – he was aged 15 
He had no proper place of residence
Once was a moulder but ceased that employment about Ύ year ago
Since then  no employment

.....

Other records from Austarlia also state his occupation as moulder

[Neale1961]

The register from the prison hulk says Adam was born in Falkirk, and his family and friends are resident in Falkirk.
Note - his age here is 14 yrs.

Some speculation here ----- 

In the 1841 census we see a Liddell family where 2 sons are ‘moulders’.
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590576d2e9379091b14aa667/alexr-liddell-1841-stirlingshire-falkirk-1821-?locale=en

I can see baptisms for some of the children for this family , but not James.
Is it possible Adam is part of this family, and like James, there is no baptism record?

If not a son for this family – somehow related to this family?

In 1851 census the males of this Liddle family are mostly still working as moulders.


Also another Liddle family in Falkirk 1841 where children are apprenticed to the iron foundry
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59057832e9379091b14b8e0d/alexr-liddle-1841-stirlingshire-falkirk-1806-?locale=en

[Neale1961]

We see that he was tried at the High Court in Stirling in September 1838. It is strange that you say he was transported in 1842, and one wonders why there was such a long time between the sentencing and the transportation.

He was on the prison hulk “Euralys” at Chatham from 1838 - 1842.

He arrived in NZ in 1842 onboard “St George”. Aged 17 yrs.

[Neale1961]

Just adding – the possibility that Adam Liddle was an illegitimate child.
Some selections from the Falkirk Kirk Sessions


Falkirk Kirk Sessions 3rd Feb 1822
Appeared Mary Liddle who says she is with child in fornication to George Sorely who has acknowledged himself the father

Falkirk Kirk Sessions 6 Feb 1825
Appeared Margaret Liddle having brought forth a child in fornication to John Weir, who has acknowledged himself to be the father. …..

Falkirk Kirk Sessions 4 Sept 1825
Appeared George Sorely who was again rebuked for antenuptial formication ….with Mary Liddle …

Added
1841 census
Margaret Liddle with nephew? Andrew Sorely
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59057899e9379091b14bc5c1/margaret-liddle-1841-stirlingshire-falkirk-1816-?locale=en

possibly another sister named Elizabeth.

[trish1120]

Andrew Sorely Christening 21 April 1822, Falkirk, Parents George Sorely/Mary Liddle

Margaret Grosart Weir Christening 13 March 1825 Falkirk, Parents John Weir/Margaret Liddle

Cant see anything for the 3rd entry found by Neale1961

Both on F/S.Org

Trish

EDIT Mary Liddle likely married William Bauchop 27 Jun. 1828

1851 Census
William Backop 54 Head Journeyman Shoemaker
Mary Liddle 49 Wife born Falkirk
James Bachop 20 Son

It also looks to me that George Sorely was already married to Mary Taylor when he fathered those children.

[BAC3]

Happy New Year,

Thank you for your interest in Adam LIDDLE or LIDDELL.   Sadly, his birth, parents etc. still remain a mystery.

During my research I came across a newspaper report that mentioned a Matthew LIDDELL being assaulted as part of the narrative about Adam, but although I think I found his family details there appeared no connection to Adam

The search continues

BAC3

PS:   The question was raised about the time elapse before he was transported to NZ.   This was spent at Parkhurst Prison, then a reformatory establishment, where he was taught basic skills useful in a "frontier society".