John Harris born around 1811 in Leicestershire, I think.

[Lynn Black]

Hello, I live in Australia and I am looking to find so info on my gggfather, John Harris born around 1811 in Leicetershire, England. He was married in South Australia to Mary Belman in 1845. I cannot determine when he arrived here or who his parents are. He may even have been a convict and if so that would be great as it tells lots of information. Thanks Lynn

[Annie65115]

Hello,welcome to RC.

Harris is not an uncommon name and John is very common indeed! So to try to identify your John, we'd need a lot more info. Do you have any idea whereabouts in Leicestershire he may have come from? There are 35 baptism entries showing on FindMyPast when you search for John Harris, b 1811+/- 2 years, Leicestershire!

Do you know if he was a free man (or at least with a ticket to leave!) in 1843?

I can only see one John Harris who was tried at the Leicester assizes and deported in 1828 - no others. There's a newspaper report from Oct 1826 in which a boy called John Harris, "scarcely 14 years of age", was convicted of theft (not for the first time), and sentenced to 7 years' transportation; I wonder if this is the person who was then deported 2 years later, having spent some time on one of the prison hulks first?

[Lynn Black]

Thank you for the info but I don't have any other details on him or even know who his father was.

Maybe he was the young convict.

Lynn

[Annie65115]

Where did you find the information that he was from Leicester (or Leicestershire)?

[Lynn Black]

Hello, I don't remember, I started family history about 30 years ago and Harris was one of the first to research or maybe could it be Oxfordshire.

thanks
Lynn

[amondg]

What does his death certificate say?

In Australia it names parents if known.

What does his marriage certificate say re parents names?

[Lynn Black]

He was married and died in south australia but I do no have any certificates.

[trish1120]

Buying the cert is very important 

[Annie65115]

I agree. I think you need to get the marriage certificate and then we'll have some facts to help you search. (Personally I think I'd go for that first, rather than the death cert, as details on the latter will have been given by someone else rather than by John).

Without that certificate, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack, without even knowing if you're looking in the right haystack.