Margaret PIGRAM, bigamy (!), and her husband Richard HOSIER.

 My immediate past post was providing some information on the third of three wives of Thomas Trevithick. Over ten years ago I wrote a post identifying where Margaret PIGRAM, Thomas' second wife, came from. Thanks to some recent emails with a fellow descendant I've decided to update that original post with new information, particularly regarding Richard HOSIER.

Thomas Trevithick, born Truro, Cornwall, migrated to Victoria then travelled to and finally settled in Hill End, NSW. He had three wives as described previously (http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2008/12/wives-of-thomas-trevithick.html).

While I knew fairly comprehensively about Thomas' first wife Elizabeth Randal CANDY (my ancestor, died 1871) and his third wife Mary Ann GREEN (married 1900, died 1949), I knew very little of his second wife, Margaret Hosier.

What I did know came from the Hill End Family History Register. It records their marriage as:
10 Sep 1881
St Andrews Hill End
Spouse Margaret Hosier (widow nee Pigram)
B Bishop Stortord ENG (THIS IS INCORRECT)
D 12 Apr 1892 Hill End
Parents: Joseph Pigram*
Bur Tambaroora

I do not know where the in information in the Hill End Family History Register came from, but assume it was from her death certificate (which I do not have). Their marriage certificate of 1881 revealed little useful information, other than that Thomas' son Thomas (Jr.) and daughter-in-law were witnesses. Apart from Margaret HOSIER being a widow (which will be important later), no other biographical information was recorded on her. Her occupation was listed as 'lady' suggesting that rather than working she may have been of independent means.

Transcript:

NSW Marriage certificate
Date and place of marriage: 10 September 1881, Hill End

Husband
Name and surnames of parties: Thomas Trevithick
Conjugal status: Widower
Birthplace: -
Usual occupation: Blacksmith
Age: -
Usual place of residence: Hill End

Wife
Name and surnames of parties: Margaret Hosier
Conjugal status: Widow
Birthplace: -
Usual occupation: Lady
Age: -
Usual place of residence: Hill End

Married in Hill End, according to the rites of the Church of England

This marriage was solemnized between us:
Thomas Trevithick
Margaret Hosier, her X mark

In the presence of us
Thomas Trevithick
Sarah Trevithick

By me Josiah ?, Officiating minister

While I could not read the name on the certificate, Josiah is Reverend Josiah Kimberley, who was stationed there from 1881-1883.

------------

Using marriage records in London and immigration records in Australia I have now traced Margaret back to England. I will present her information in chronological order (rather than in the reverse chronology that I uncovered this information in). To summarize, Margaret was born about 1822 - her birthplace seems to be conflicted, however I believe it was in London Middlesex (Holloway district) based on Margaret's own records shown below. Note that Bishop Stortford was probably erroneously put forward because a Margaret, daughter of Joseph was baptised there in 1825 - but there were two Joseph's of that name (at least homophonic to PEGRAM) in England.

I've now found Margaret's baptism in 1821 at St Mary, Islington.

Transcript:
Margaret, Daughter of Joseph and Charlotte Perrigam
Residence: Back Road 

Father's occupation: Labourer 

The first definitive record is Margaret's marriage in 1840 to George WRIGHT, that reveals Margaret's father as Joseph, that she was young when she married (under 21), and that her father and (probably) step-mother were witnesses. 

Transcript
1840 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of St Leonard Shoreditch in the County of Middlesex
No. 172
When married: 22 March 1840
Groom:
George Wright, of full age, bachelor, labourer
Residence Holloway, Father Jas Wright deceased, card maker
Bride:
Margaret Pegram, minor, spinster, laundress
Residence Holloway, Father Joseph Pegram, labourer
Married in the parish church according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by me John B Williams Curate
Solemnized between us: George Wright and Margaret Pegram (both signed)
In the presence of us: Joseph Pegram X his mark and Susan Pegram X her mark

WRIGHT is a common name, and I haven't found George and Margaret in the 1841 census, but the 'other' Margaret PEGRAM in Bishop Stortford appears with her family, unmarried, reinforcing that that person should be excluded as the candidate. Many George WRIGHTs died in London over the next ten or so years, so it isn't possible to tell when he died, but Margaret's next record was again a marriage in London in 1849 as a widow, to Richard HOSIER.

Transcript
1849 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of St Leonard Shoreditch in the County of Middlesex
No. 104
When married: July 15
Groom:
Richard Hosier, of full age, bachelor, labourer
Residence Brand Street, Father John Hosier, labourer
Bride:
Margaret Wright, full, widow, laundress
Residence Brand Street, Father Joseph Pegram, labourer
Married in the parish church according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by me
Solemnized between us: Richard Hosier and Margaret Wright (both signed)
In the presence of us: Joseph Pegram X the mark and Ann Carter X her mark

In the 1851 census, Richard and Margaret were living on George's Place in the village of Holloway, Parish of Islington, District of St James Holloway, City/Borough of Finsbury in London. Richard was 28, a brickmaker, born in Camberwell Surrey, and Margaret was 29, a Laundress born Islington, Middlesex. It appears that neither marriage produced issue.

1851 Census for Richard and Margaret HOSIER

Margaret's father can be found in the 1841 and 1851 census (where he has re-married). In 1851 they live in Brand Street, Holloway. Holloway is where both Margaret's marriages in London occurred and her stated address in her 1849 marriage. Parents Joseph (48, a ground digger) and step-mother Susan (40, charwoman) PEGGRAM, both born in Holloway, Middlesex. With them are children Maria (8), Mary A (6) and Frederick (18).

In 1856 the ship 'James Fernie' brought passengers to Moreton Bay (in what is now Queensland), having left Gravesend, London in October 1855. On that ship were Richard and Margaret HOSIER as assisted immigrants. Two separate immigration indents exist, this one conveniently has them at the top of the page and supports the information above:

Transcript:
List of Immigrants per Ship James Fernie as inspected by the Immigration Board on 6th January 1856
Married
Hosier Richd, Age 32, Occupation Brickmaker, Native place Surrey, Parents John and Sarah (no address given so presumed deceased), Religion C of E, Read or write: little.
Hosier Margt, Age 33, Native place Islington, Parents Joseph and Charlotte Pegram, father living Islington, Religion C of E, Read or write: little.

After this, I've found very little trace of them the Australian colonies till Margaret's marriage to Thomas Trevithick in 1881. In a way this makes sense - law abiding people without children don't have many opportunities to create 'records'. But there are two items where we find Richard HOSIER.

After their arrival, they must have moved towards Sydney fairly quickly, as New South Wales Gaol Entry Records for mid-1859 show a Richard OSIER , along with Henry OSIER (birth records in London suggest it's his younger brother). They were arrested for 'stealing oranges' and spent two weeks in gaol. I cannot find a newspaper record related to this. The two separate entries confirm it is "our" Richard HOSIER as he states he arrived on the 'James Furney', was born in Surry, and is a brickmaker by occupation.

A collage of a wide piece of paper showing gaol descriptions for Richard Hosier and his putative younger brother Henry.

The next entry for Richard is AFTER Margaret's marriage as a widow to Thomas Trevithick in 1881.... 

In 1884, Richard entered the Macquarie Street Asylum, Parramatta.

Macquarie Street  Asylum in Parramatta, circa 1880. Local Studies  Photograph Collection LSOP 114 (from https://historyandheritage.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/blog/2014/06/27/macquarie-street-asylum-parramatta-part-one)

The 'Register of Inmates, Government Asylums for the Inform and Destitute' has an entry for Richard Hosier entering the asylum. Under 'history' the entry states "Came to the colonies 30 years ago from Islington near London. By trade a brickmaker. Has worked at his trade and on the railways for a living. Has been unable to work for the last 5 years owing to rheumatism. Widower for the last 16 years."

So this is clearly the correct Richard HOSIER, three years after his wife married Thomas TREVITHICK. No other death records have been identified at an earlier date for Richard.

The only death certificate for a Richard HOSIER is consistent with the Macquaire Street Asylum (Parramatta) information, and was recorded in 1891, ten years' after Margaret's marriage to Thomas TREVITHICK:

New South Wales 11970/1891
Death Certificate
Date and place of death: 1891 12th March, Macquarie St Asylum 

Name and occupation: Richard Hosier, unknown

Cause of death: Chronic diarrhea

Medical attendant and when last saw deceased: Wm Bradley Violette 12th March 1891

Sex and age: Male, 76 years

Parents: Unknown

Informant: Certified by Brooke, Macquarie St Asylum

Registered: 13th March 1891, Parramatta

When and where buried: This body was in the first instance sent to the Anatomical College

Where born and how long in the Australian Colonies or States: Islington, London, England, 30 years

Place of marriage, age and to whom & children: Unknown

I've never seen a death certificate noting that the body is directed to anatomical research. As a side-note, fellow researcher Garrie Ellice has pointed out that the burial record for Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney where Richard was buried lists a burial date of 23 May 1891 - about two months after death (and use in medical school) before internment. This was a paupers grave with no headstone, and three others were buried in the same grave: Manfred Bulsham (bur 19 Apr 1890), James Wardrop (bur 25 Sep 1906) and Uranie Wilson (buried the same day as Richard - 23 May 1891). 

Why are there no other records, no newspaper notes for either of Hosiers in Australia? They didn't have children, were mainly law abiding, and didn't own property - so there aren't many opportunities to see them in records.  There are probably a few things that aren't transcribed that will emerge.... time will tell. 

Richard's death certificate for 1891 would suggest Margaret was - knowingly or unknowingly - a bigamist when she married in 1881. I have not shown or found any documentary evidence of Margaret's movements in Australia, and whether or not she was with Richard Hosier for long after they arrived in Australia. Both Richard and Margaret state their spouse is deceased at different points.

Clearly Margaret and Richard had gone their separate ways. Hill End is a long way from Sydney, and I don't think there was much risk of being 'found out' as a bigamist. Given that Margaret and her three husbands never produced issue, this is likely the only work that's been undertaken tracking the life of Margaret PEGRAM, and her first two husbands.

The marriage certificate of Thomas Trevithick of Hill End to Mary Anne Green.

 An email from a fellow researcher prompted me to post the marriage certificate of Thomas Trevithick and Mary Anne Green As can be seen, Mary Anne is nearly 40 years younger than Thomas. While they did not have children together, Mary Anne brought a child Winifred Green to the marriage.

NSW Marriage certificate
Date and place of marriage: 14th March 1900, Hill End

Husband: Names and surnames of parties: Thomas Trevithick
Conjugal status: Widower
Birthplace: Cornwall, England
Usual occupation: Miner
Age: 66 years
Usual place of residence: Hill End
Father's name: William Trevithick, deceased
Mother's name and surname: Ann Allen, deceased
Fathers occupation: Blacksmith

Wife: Names and surnames of parties: Mary Ann Green
Conjugal status: Spinster
Birthplace: Sofala, N.S. Wales
Usual occupation: -
Age: 28 years
Usual place of residence: Hill End
Father's name: Thomas Green
Mother's name and surname: Rosanna Bryson
Fathers occupation: Miner

Married in Mr Trevithick's house, Hill End
According to the rites of the Church of England

This marriage was solemnized between us
Thomas Trevithick
Mary Ann Green

In the presence of us
Tom Green
Mary Ellen Isabel Murray

By me, Stephen James Wilson, officiating minister

-----

While Thomas died in 1913, Mary Anne died in 1949 (in the same town her daughter lived in), and is buried at Rylestone General Cemetery.

Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative
Thursday 27 January 1949
Mary Anne Trevithick
The death occurred at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. H. Carl, on .January 15, of Mary Ann Trevithick. Deceased was born at Sofala 78 years ago, but spent most of her life at Hill End and Kandos. She. had dwelt for the past 23 years, in the last-named centre, and was held in very high esteem for the past two years. The remains were interred in the Methodist portion of the Rylstone Cemetery. Rev. Dixon carrying out the last sad rites. Deceased is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Carl, of Kandos, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.

Rylstone General Cemetery

In Loving Memory of

Mary Ann Trevitich

Who Departed This Life

8th Jan 1949

RIP

An update - What happened to Maureen D HALL. Born 1930, Young/Koorawatha NSW

This is an update (finally!!!) on my search to find what happened to Maureen D HALL. 

 Among my HALL ancestors, William HALL (1843-1912) and Eliza BLISS (1852-1925) had 15 children from 1868-1896 all registered in Yass NSW. They later relocated to Koorawatha NSW, and from time to time I update this post series on the fate of each HALL child: https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-children-of-william-and-eliza-hall.html (on that page my ancestor is Alfred Ernest HALL),

One of those 15 was Walter Henry HALL (1893-1950). In WW1 he served in B Company of the 45th Battalion AIF and was wounded in France. Afterwards he returned to Koorawatha and became a postman, dying in Concord Hospital (a suburb of Sydney, and a hospital for returned servicemen) in 1950 after finally losing his leg, and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery nearby. 

Walter married Marjorie A DONGES (1902 Young - 1930 Young) in 1928. Frank Hall (my grandfather's brother and a chemist at Wollongong University) dove into both the records and drove around NSW finding relatives to compile a HALL family history. The marriage for the pair was reported in the local papers:

 The Young Chronicle

Tue 18 Sep 1928

Of Walter he wrote the following (name of wife not correct, as noted above). Keep in mind this was written by in the 1980s by someone born in the 1920s, so the word choice is not up to 2020 standards:

"Walter H. He married Madge Dawson of Young quite late in life. He lived much of his life in Koorawatha of course operating at one time as a postman. His wife died at childbirth having a sub-normal daughter Maureen. To my knowledge she was still in a mental home at Stockton Newcastle in 1987."

Ever since reading this over 15 years ago I've wondered what happened to Maureen. It appears that almost immediately after birth, Maureen was placed in 'care'. This is a complex set of institutions at a time in Australia when 'mental hospitals' and institutionalization was standard practice, when the Indigenous stolen generation mechanism was well underway, as was the forced emigration of English orphans into Australia.

In 1987, aged 57, Maureen was still alive. But what was her fate? Who visited this only child after her father died in 1950? What was Maureen like? Where is she buried? I have a lot of questions.

Maureen's birth certificate isn't available, as she was born in 1930 (and there's a 100 year restriction in NSW). But I could confirm her name from her mother's death certificate:

NSW Death Registration 1930/17029
Name: Marjorie Alma Hall
Date of death: 7 Oct 1930

Place: Sacred Heart Hospital, Campbell St, Young ; late of Koorawatha

Sex: Female
Age: 27

Place of birth: Monteagle NSW

Father's name: John Christopher Donges, Farmer

Mother's name: Emma Simmons

Place of Marriage: Cowra NSW

Age at Marriage: 25

Name of Spouse: Walter Henry Hall

Children of Marriage: Maureen D, 9 days, living ; None deceased

Informant: W H Hall, Widower, Koorawatha

Cause of Death, length of illness: Chronic nephritis, myocarditis (12 days)

Medical attendant: A J Maurice Purchas
Date last seen: 6 Jan 1930 (I suspect this is mis-transcribed)

Date of Burial: 8 Oct 1930

Place of Burial: Church of England Cemetery Young

Minister and Religion: K L McKeown, Church of England

Undertaker: Patterson Bros

Witnesses: Frank Leach, Cecil T

Registered: 8 Oct, 1930 - Young

So Maureen was 9 days old when her mother died, and if the narrative is correct, she was placed in state (or religious) care. Possibly this was initially in the Young area, but the 'Stockton Mental Hospital for Children' was well established by 1941. My heart breaks thinking of Maureen, alone, and far from the HALL family base in Koorawatha (there were none in the Sydney or Newcastle areas), but clearly some extended family awareness of her location in 1987.

Newcastle Sun, 6 May 1941

In Jan 2020 the Property Officer - Cemeteries at City of Newcastle kindly checked the burial records for Stockton Cemetery, Wallsend Cemetery, Minmi Cemetery, and Sandgate Cemetery but no record of a burial for Maureen Hall could be found. 

As time has gone on I've continued to search all records each year as records are released - death certificates in NSW are released after 30 years. I've now found Maureen's likely death. The certificate in transcribed below. It doesn't reveal a great deal, but ties back to Maureen - father Walter, and born in Koorawatha. It states that Maureen passed away in late 1993, and lived at "Fairlegh Park" in Armidale NSW. Armidale is on the far north coast on NSW, a very long way from Koorawatha. Note that Maureen died in December 1993, but her death wasn't registered till February 1994.

My next job is to understand what 'Fairleigh Park' was. It now appears to be a Crematorium and memorial park.

NSW Death Certificate 4125/1994

Name: HALL, Maureen

Date of death: 8 Dec 1993

Place of Death: "Fairleigh Park" Uralla Rd Armidale NSW 2350

Sex and age: Female, 62 years

Place of birth: Koorawatha, NSW

Period of residence in Australia: Life

Place of residence: "Fairleigh Park" Uralla Rd Armidale NSW 2350

Usual occupation: Home duties

Marital status: Never married

Children: Not any

Mother's name: Maureen

Mother's maiden name: Not known

Father's name: Walter HALL

Cause of death: Carcinoma vulva 17 months

Name of certifying practitioner: Dr. B. H. Connor

Burial or cremation, Date: 9th December 1993

Place: Lawn cemetery Armidale

Informant: M J Field, "Fairleigh Park", no relation

George Bliss' family in Kent - their fate?

My ancestor George Bliss (1819 Otford, Kent, England - 1915 Yass, NSW, Australia) was a convict transported to New South Wales for life.

I've previously written several posts, including:

• Confirmation of George's name and origins in Kent
• George's FIFTEEN children and their fate.

One topic I haven't had a chance to explore was that of George's family - who were his parents and his siblings? Did any other family come to Australia? We know there were others named BLISS transported to Australia, for example. I did identify George's parents and siblings in a post, showing they were from Otford and Seal in Kent (two adjacent villages). 

In this post I'm going to outline George's parents and siblings, highlight what I don't know (and can't solve) about George's family, and introduce an exciting new discovery: George Bliss had a brother who was also a convict. I've also tried to display as many of the primary records as possible in this post, to make it clear what I have documentary evidence for.

Based on what I've pieced together, here is George's family and what I've determined so far. I've intentionally shown George's mother Elizabeth nee HOLLOWAY to highlight that she married a second time.

George's Parents

Richard Bliss (1770-1824) was born about 1770, origins unknown. The first record of Richard is his marriage on 2nd Dec 1810 in the village of Seal, Kent, England, to Elizabeth Holloway. The parish entry does not record whether Richard was a bachelor or widower, but it is estimated he was 40 years of age at marriage.

Seal, Kent marriages, 1810

Richard Bliss of this parish and Elizabeth Holloway of this parish were married in this Church by Banns this second day of December in the year 1810 by me William Humphrey Vicar. This marriage was solemnized between us Richard Bliss (Mark of) Elizabeth Holloway (Mark of) in the presence of William Austen (Mark of) R Walter.

Over the next nine years Richard and Elizabeth had four children, all baptized in the villiage of Otford, Kent (immediately adjacent to Seal):

• Ellenor Bliss, baptised 22 Dec 1811
• John Bliss, baptised 20 Feb 1813
• Eliza Bliss, baptised 1 Dec 1816
• George Bliss, baptised 21 Feb 1819

All four children were born to Richard and Elizabeth BLISS. The latter three entries in the parish records (using new standard parish books implemented ~1812) list the Bliss abode as 'Otford'. Richard's occupation was baker in 1813 but changed to labourer for 1816-19.

In the first cold weeks of 1824, Richard died aged 54, and was buried at Otford. Is is this parish entry for Richard that establishes his year of birth around 1770.

Otford, Kent burials, 1824 - 1824 Richard Bliss, Otford, buried Jany 14th 1824, aged 54

Richard does not appear to have a headstone. About nine months following Richard's death, his widow Elizabeth BLISS nee HOLLOWAY married again at Otford church. Of note, her daughter Eleanor Bliss (aged ~13) was a witness:

Otford, Kent marriages, 1824

John Austin of this parish widower and Elizabeth Bliss of this parish widow were married in this Church by Banns this 27th day of September in the year 1824 by me Thomas Hayman. This marriage was solemnized between us the x of John Austin the x of Elizabeth Bliss in the Presence of the x of John Owen the x of Eleanor Bliss.

Elizabeth and John AUSTEN do not appear to have had children, unsurprising given that Elizabeth was ~40 when she entered this marriage. The Seal, Kent parish register shows that John AUSTEN was buried on 1st June 1845, aged 66 (so John AUSTEN was born abt 1779), with his abode being listed in the burial register as 'Seal Chart'. Seal Chart is a distinct village immediately to the east of Seal. At the time, Seal Chart church was established in 1868, so it seems likely that Seal was the parish for burial. John's death in 1845 also opens a window to possibly find John and Elizabeth AUSTEN in the 1841 England census ; while there is a John AUSTEN living in Godden Green near Seal, I haven't found a good match yet for John and Elizabeth in 1841.

I have had better luck in the 1851 census, where Elizabeth AUSTEN appears, in the census entries for Seal, Kent. Elizabeth AUSTEN, living at Seal Chart, the head of a household, a 65 year-old widow, and occupation listed as Char Woman. In the entry for 'where born', Elizabeth's birthplace was listed as "Hampshire, M...?", but I cannot identify the village listed. Living with Elizabeth was Olly Gasson, a 74-year old widow and pauper originally born in 'Ockenden, Essex'.

   1851 Census, Seal, Kent

Elizabeth appears again in the 1861 census, now living in the hamlet of Godden to the immediate south of Seal. Elizabeth was entered as a lodger and widow aged 76. Elizabeth's occupation was listed as 'formerly labourer's wife' and her place of birth was entered as 'N.K.' (not known). 

   1861 Census, Seal, Kent

Elizabeth's burial is recorded in Seal's parish records, buried on 21 Mar 1865 aged 81 (so born about 1784) with her residence at death recorded as The Union Workhouse. Workhouse records - probably the Sundridge workhouse that served the Sevenoaks district - may reveal more.

---------

The children of Richard and Elizabeth BLISS. What became of each of the four children? One of course is George BLISS my ancestor, who was transported to Australia, but I've recently spent some time trying to determine the fate of George's siblings. There's a lot more work to do, but I had a major breakthrough with George's brother John, was also a convict, bit with a very different fate!

Ellenor BLISS, baptised 22 Dec 1811

Ellenor was born 1811, and was a witness at her mother's wedding to John AUSTEN in 1824 (aged around 13). This is the last definite record I have for Ellenor. On 26 Sep 1836 an 'Eleanor Bliss' married William TURNER at Cudham, Kent, but I am yet to further trace Ellenor and confirm her marriage.

John Bliss, baptised 20 Feb 1813

John was born in 1813. The first we hear of John is a note in the 'Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser' of "Prisoners Committed to the County Gaol.... John Bliss felony at Otford". The Criminal Register for Kent indicates that John was tried at the Michaelmas Session for 'Larceny by a Servant' and sentenced to 6 months. While there is an eight-year gap  

South Eastern Gazette - Tuesday 24 September 1839 

HORSE STEALING - APPREHENSION OF THE THIEF - On Thursday night last a horse was stolen from the farm-yard of Mr. B. Wickham, Goodhurst. Information having been received that a horse which had been stolen from Mr. Mannering, about a fortnight since, had been seen in Essex, in the possession of John Bliss (alias "Sevenoaks Jack"), a desperate character, Mr. T. Wackham and several other persons, thinking it probable that his horse had been similarly disposed of, went in pursuit, and found that a man had crossed the ferry with a horse answering the description of his own. Mr. T.Wickham traced him about thirteen miles, and found that it was as he expected - "Sevenoaks Jack" with the stolen horse. He seized the robber by the collar, and told him that he was his prisoner. "Jack" replied "Oh then, I'm done now." He had when taken a loaded pistol in his pocket. He is now in Chelmsford gaol.

Chelmsford is in Essex, north across the River Thames from Kent. For this reason, record searches had not identified this John Bliss as being from Seal, Kent. However, the articles above makes the connection between John committing a crime Otford, and in time becoming "Sevenoaks Jack". He was retained in Essex, and there tried and found guilty. John BLISS' defense received detailed coverage in a newspaper, and provided a great deal of detail about the crime.

Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 06 March 1840

John Bliss, aged 26, described as a tanner, but having the appearance of a labourer, and who evinced considerable shrewdness in cross-examining the witnesses, was indicted for stealing a mare, value 34 pounds, and a set of harness, the property of Benjamin Wickham, of Goudhurst, Kent - Mr Espinasse stated the case for the prosecution.

West Kent Guardian - Saturday 14 March 1840

Horse-stealing.—At the Essex Lent Assizes last week, John Bliss, (26) described as a tanner, and well known by the cognomen of "Seven Oaks Jack," a shrewd and daring character, was indicted for stealing a mare, value 34 pounds, and one set of harness, the property of Mr. Benjamin Wickham, farmer, of Goudhurst, Kent. Mr. Espinasse stated the case, and called Mr. B. Wickham. I am a farmer at Goudhurst; the 19th of September last I saw the mare in the stable between six and seven at night. It was missed the next morning, and I saw it again at Rainham, together with a set of harness which I knew to be mine. 

    Thomas Wickham.—l am the son of the prosecutor, and on the 20th of Sept. I went in pursuit of the mare to Gravesend, where, in consequence of information I received, I crossed into Essex, and went into Rainham; Mr. Travers was with me; we went to the Bell, and found the prisoner and the mare there; they were both in the stable ; I saw a set of harness there, which I thought belonged to father. I knew the mare directly I saw her, for my father bred her ; she is about seven years old. I had known the prisoner before, and when I saw him in the stable he asked if I first heard of him at Cobham, and whither I walked to Rainham. 

    Prisoner: Did I ask you whether you came through Cobham , or whether you heard of me at Cobham ?—Witness: You said—Did I hear of you at Cobham.—When you saw me was in the stable, or standing half in and half out ?— You had one leg in and the other out. —How many people were there my company ? —There was not any one in the yard; I collared you, and said, " You are my prisoner."— Who put the mare in the stable ?—I cannot say ; I didn't see her put the stable; the ostler was just coming with a feed of corn for it, and you were at the stable.—Could you see all over the stable?—lt was a small one, and I think I could. —How many stalls were there ?—I think three or four.— Then could you see all over it ?—I think I could—the mare, I think, was in the centre.—Now upon your oath, was I the man that put it there ? There was a man who put it there in the stable.—l did not see him.—You could not see all over the stable. There was a man lying under the manger.—l don't believe it; I didn't see him.—Who ordered the corn? —That I cannot say.—Where did the ostler Come from?— From the back part of the house?— The man that belonged to the horse, was he in doors, then, order this feed of corn ?—I cannot say; you are the man described to along the road.—Who described me ?—The man at the Ferry. 

    Edward Travers.—l keep a public-house at West Tilbury ; on the 20th of September I went to Rainham, I and the last witness, taking different roads; I saw the prisoner at Rainham, and he had the mare with him ; I saw him in the yard of the Bell, the head of the horse being in the stable, and he was in the act of driving it in; I saw no other person with her she had harness on. Mr. Wickham then came up, and we went and collared him. 

    Prisoner: Have you stated the same as you did before the magistrates ?—Witness : I have to the best of my knowledge.—Prisoner : l am sure you have not. You stated about the same as Mr. Wickham, if you recollect. The depositions were then read over to the prisoner, and he declined putting any other question. 

    John Everett.—l am constable of Rainham ; and on the 20th of September I saw the prisoner about half a mile from that place, with a horse and harness, going there; it was about one in the afternoon. I afterwards saw him at the Bell, and a horse was shown to me, which I believe I can positively swear was the same horse I saw him with before. The horse and harness were afterwards shown to Mr. Wickham in my presence. I took the prisoner into custody. I asked him if he had any unlawful weapons about him, and he said he was sorry he had one—it was a pistol, and was loaded with slugs. He said it was a bad job, and he was sorry for it. I asked him how he came to take the mare away, and he said he was persuaded to do it by another man he had been drinking with him at a beer-shop two days before he took it. He added, that the night he took the mare away he laid in the shed in the yard where the mare was, till morning, and that another man harnessed the mare and brought it out of the yard; but he then took it of the man, and they parted. It was between twelve and one when he left Goudhurst; and he had to go a great way round to avoid the turnpikes. 

    Edward Apps. I live about a mile from the prosecutor, and have known the prisoner five or six years. About seven or eight o'clock on the evening of the 19th of September, I met him going from the turnpike-road, in a direction to Mr. Wickham's stable he was about half a mile off.          

    Prisoner : Where was it you met me ?—Witness: Just by the water-mill.—Prisoner : Was it light ?—Witness : Not very, but it was light enough to know you. Mr. Wickham, sen., re-called, and identified the harness. The prisoner in defence said, he was a watchman on the railway, and having a holiday, he took the pistol with him from the station-house in the morning; he had to fire it off at 6 o'clock every morning, and the gentlemen of the railway knew he had it. The pistol was not meant for destruction at all. 

    Mr. Justice Littledale : The pistol has been introduced incidentally, but you are charged with stealing a mare—do you wish to say anything on that? 

    The prisoner said no. 

    Mr. Justice Littledale summed up the case, and said if the charge was that highway robbery or attack, the pistol might have something to do with the case, but it was not the sort of thing a person who meant to steal a horse usually took with him. 

    The Jury found the prisoner guilty. 

    The sentence was deferred, and when brought up the next morning the prisoner begged for mercy, observing that if he had been sentenced the night before he could have had a two years' character, but the gentlemen who would have given it were compelled to return to London. 

    His Lordship said, formerly persons were actually executed for this offence, but it was now reduced to ten or fifteen years' transportation ; he felt it be his duty in this case to inflict the full punishment. 

    The prisoner, in an affecting manner, implored for mercy. His Lordship paused, and then said—Well, the sentence is that you be transported for ten years. The prisoner expressed his thanks for this lenity.

The map above highlights the locations mentioned in the articles above. John Bliss was from 1. Seal (and committed his first recorded crime at Otford). The horse was stolen from 2. Goudhurst, then ridden north avoiding turnpikes, till arriving at 3. Gravesend (and passing through Cobham). At Gravesend, John Bliss took the horse across the Thames River on the ferry into Essex, then headed west till arriving at the Bell hotel in 4. Rainham. This is where the horse owners eventually caught up with him.

And so, John Bliss was convicted to 10 years transportation. This sentence was not to New South Wales like his brother, nor any other Australian colony. Instead, he was transported to Bermuda. Bermuda was an entirely different punishment ; it was not a penal colony, with convicts living aboard anchored hulks, and employed in building the Royal Naval Dockyard on Ireland Island. Those transportees that survived their period of punishment were returned to England.

John was placed on the prison hulk HMS York (at Portsmouth), and he is recorded in the York Hulk Register:

No. 9083, John Bliss, age 26

Convicted of horse stealing, sentenced 2nd March 1840, Sentence 10 years

Trade: Tanner, Gaoler's report: Not known

How disposed of: P Horatio, Bermuda, 18 July 1840

After a brief period in the hulks, John appears to have sailed to Bermuda in July 1840. Others on the same page of the Register were transported to New South Wales or Van Dieman's Land, but young & strong convicts were reputed to be selected for the back-breaking construction tasks of Bermuda. Once in Bermuda, John was transferred to the hulk Dromedary:

John was based on the hulk by night, and moved to land to build the dockyard by day. 

John survived two years in Bermuda. The prison hospital records in Bermuda show that John suffered from dysentery in July 1841 (as did many convicts in Bermuda), and 'made a good recovery'. A year later, on 3rd August 1841, John again entered the hospital (based on land), and died on the 24th August

UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1856, Bermuda Royal Naval Hospital, 1842

1848 Woodcut of HMD Bermuda, Ireland Island, Bermuda showing prison hulks (Dromedary at right) and Naval Hospital at left. 

Eliza Bliss, baptised 1 Dec 1816

Eliza was born 1816. Eliza appears to not have married, and her burial was recorded at Seal, Kent on 29 Oct 1843, aged 28, abode Seal Chart. This all matches her age, and where we know the BLISS family were living. No headstone identified.

George Bliss, baptised 21 Feb 1819

See the MANY posts on this blog for information about George's life.

Four children, and two sons, each of whom were transported. John died after only two years in the appalling conditions of life on a hulk in the tropics, while George ultimately established a successful farm, had 15 children and lived to be 96. I often wonder if Elizabeth AUSTEN nee HOLLOWAY formerly BLISS ever learnt of the death of her son John in Bermuda, or of the life her son George lived in New South Wales.

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Addenum: Where did Richard and Elizabeth come from?

So where did Richard BLISS come from? While I don't have the clinching evidence yet, I think I've managed to trace Richard back some way. I'm not ready to call this as 'solved' but want to share the pieces I have. 

There is no obvious baptism for a Richard BLISS in Kent

The first record I have of Richard BLISS is his marriage - he was 40 years old when he married Elizabeth HOLLOWAY. His marriage entry in the parish records of Seal, Kent don't mention whether he was a bachelor or widower. It's reasonable to assume a 40 year old man was previously married, so that was one line of inquiry. The second clue is that Richard's wife Elizabeth HOLLOWAY stated in the 1851 census that she was born in Hampshire - the town/village of birth is not clear. Did Richard meet her there?

The following leads seem tenuous. They are struck out as I think they are unlikely to be a match.

Look at Hampshire, a set of children born to a Richard Bliss are evident in Portsea. Portsea encompasses the royal dockyard of Portsmouth, a stepping-off point for ships, and for the movement of people.

• 31 Jul 1799, Portsmouth, St Thomas (Hampshire), Richard Slaney BLISS, parents Richard and Ann BLISS, born Oct 16 1798
• 26 Sep 1800, Portsea St Mary (Hampshire), Robert BLISS, parents Richard and Ann BLISS

This couple can be traced to a marriage in London at St Andrew, Holborn, by Banns, between Richard BLISS and Ann SLANEY around May 1791. Ann's maiden name being given to their child Richard Slaney BLISS clinches the connection.

Is this Richard BLISS the right one? Did Ann die in Hampshire? Did Richard meeting Elizabeth HOLLOWAY there afterwards? More research is needed, but this is a promising lead!!!

Finding Freda: Winifred MAUDSLEY nee FORD (1913 Reading Berks - 1994 Birkenhead, Cheshire)

This is an updated version of a previous post (https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2014/07/finding-freda.html). The primary additions are photos we've unearthed, and some further memories from my Aunt Liz.

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My grandmother Jean nee STANILAND had an English relative - a 'cousin' - with whom she corresponded, named Freda. They wrote to one another, and later in life met when my grandmother travelled to England on holidays. I never met Freda, but heard all about her, and my aunt Liz spent a lot of time with her when she moved to England. Given that my grandmother was born in Australia and had Australian parents, I wanted to know how distant this relative was. It is impressive that she was maintaining a family link back in England after so long.

My Aunt Liz shared some memories of what she knew of Freda such as: "I don't know how Mum and Freda came to know each other but they were writing as far back as I can remember. I thought it very odd that Mum sent her packets of sultanas and raisins at Xmas (it was later upped to those baskets of glace fruit) but of course England was still rationed for years after the war and exotic fruit was unobtainable. I can remember Mum being shocked when Freda's husband Eric died relatively young (in his 50s?) of a heart attack. When I stayed with Freda in the late 70s/early 80s, I remember her saying Eric had been dead for twenty years and she couldn't always remember what he looked like. They didn't have any children. At one point Freda lived in 4 Ullswater Avenue, Birkenhead, Merseyside, in an area known as The Wirral, which is a peninsular between North Wales and Liverpool."

"Freda came out to Sydney twice for a holiday and stayed with us in Croydon {12 Burns St, Croydon, Sydney, NSW}. The photo I've attached was taken in May 1974 at Croydon (they used to print the date on the back of photos back then!) - left to right Jean, Clare, Jack, Freda, Liz."

Photo of Freda visiting her extended family when Freda visited Australia May 1974. Photo taken in the back yard of my grandparent's house 12 Burns St, Croydon, Sydney. Left to right:, Jean HALL (1917-2003, nee STANILAND, my grandmother), Clare HALL (nee BORDER then YOUNGER, my mother), John ‘Jack’ HALL (1920-1996, my grandfather), Winifred ‘Freda’ MAUDSLEY (nee FORD), Elizabeth ‘Liz’ HALL (my aunt, later married Mark UNDRILL).

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What was the relationship between my grandmother Jean, and Freda? They evidently corresponded for 50 years or more.

After corresponding with (cross-examining) my aunt Liz, I have traced Freda, born Winifred FORD, back to my SNAPE family in Burslem, Staffordshire. Here is how, with the details my aunt provided in italics. What confused things was that Freda lived and married and died in Birkenhead area of England - a distance from where any of my ancestral lines lived, so I have to keep searching backwards trusting that a connection would emerge.

Freda and my mother worked out they were second cousins, though I don't know how exact that was. Freda was some years older than Mum {ed: Jean STANILAND born 1917}. They were related through Jim Staniland, my mother's father. I don't know the exact lineage. Mum and Freda's grandparents must have been siblings (?). Jim's sister Ethel CRANE, who lived in Lane Cove, and Freda looked very alike.

I can remember Mum being shocked when Freda's husband Eric died relatively young (in his 50s?) of a heart attack. When I stayed with Freda in the late 70s/early 80s, I remember her saying Eric had been dead for twenty years and she couldn't always remember what he looked like. They didn't have any children but were close with a friend's daughter Helen. Freda's married name was MAUDSLEY and she died in the early to mid 90s. No idea what her maiden name was. She had a sister but I can't remember her name. Actually, it might have been Ella.

Freda lived in Ullswater Avenue, Birkenhead, Merseyside, in an area known as The Wirral, which is a peninsula between North Wales and Liverpool. I'm just telling you this in case you come across the name. She lived there all the time that Mum was writing to her until the mid to late 80s (?)  when she moved to the nearby village of Upton, Merseyside. With the help of Google maps I think she lived in Slingsby Drive. To complicate things slightly, Merseyside was a county (like Somerset) which used to be called Cheshire until the 60s or 70s. It has recently gone back to being Cheshire. I stayed with Freda quite a lot over the years.

I was standing washing up and thinking of Freda and suddenly it was as though a voice said it out loud. I think Freda was Winifred Maudsley. Still don't know her maiden name. It is very difficult to find things in English records. I couldn't even find much on any Eric Maudsley - but of course they used middle names etc.

Anyway she died in late Sept/early Oct 1994. How do I know? I couldn't go to the funeral as it was on the day we set off for the Galapagos Islands AND in one of my carefully compiled scrapbooks is the itinerary showing start date 19th October 1994.

And so I used this information and turned to the records:

Death:
England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 about Winifred Maudsley
Name:     Winifred Maudsley
Birth Date:     12 Aug 1913
Date of Registration:     Oct 1994
Age at Death:     81
Registration district:     Birkenhead
Inferred County:     Cheshire
Register Number:     A20B
District and Subdistrict:     0371A
Entry Number:     196

OK so using this I can check on marriage - believe it or not in England they never developed a system to search for the two partners together in a marriage!!

So here they are:
Winifred Ford, Maudsley, married Jul-Aug-Sep 1939, Birkenhead Cheshire
John E Maudsley, Ford, Jul-Aug-Sep 1939 Birkenhead Cheshire

I assume the 'E' is for Eric. Knowing this I can now find his death:
Deaths December 1966
Name:     John E Maudsley
Birth Date:     abt 1900
Date of Registration:     Dec 1966
Age at Death:     66
Registration district:     Birkenhead
Inferred County:     Cheshire
Volume:     10a
Page:     31

While there is no suggestion J E Maudsley is the blood relative - he was from the Liverpool area:

Liverpool, England, Baptisms, 1813-1906 
Name:     John Eric Maudsley
Baptism Date:     22 Jul 1900
Parish:     Edge Hill, St Nathaniel
Father's Name:     John Maudsley
Mother's name:     Sarah Maudsley
Reference Number:     283 NAT/2/4

Well that doesn't solve it all of course. How is Freda related? So I looked into her birth... English birth indexes are useless as they tell very little - don't even show parents, but at any rate, many Winifred FORD's were born at the time so there are no obvious answers.

Her marriage certificate would be the most informative (British registrations ask for far less information than elsewhere). But then probate searching for Eric gave a stroke of luck:

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
1966
MAUDSLEY or MAWDSLEY John Eric of 4 Ullswater Avenue Noctorum Birkenhead Cheshire die 2 October 1966 at St Catherines Hospital Annexe Birkenhead Probate London 20 December to William James Threlfall local government officer. 1475 pounds.

This is important because I have found the marriage of an Ella FORD, and the implication is that Freda's brother-in-law (her sister's husband) was executor of Eric's will, and the THRELFALL's had moved to London area by 1966:

Marriages Jun 1939
Ford      Ella      Threlfall      Birkenhead      8a     1447
Threlfall      William J      Ford      Birkenhead      8a     1447

They had one child registered:
Births Dec 1940   (>99%)
Threlfall      Shelagh A      Ford      Birkenhead      8a     1264     
(Shelagh married in Birkenhead in 1963 to Lionel M HOWARD according to the records)

Ella's death:
England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 about Ella Threlfall
Name:     Ella Threlfall
Birth Date:     6 Nov 1916
Date of Registration:     Jun 1983
Age at Death:     66
Registration district:     Birkenhead
Inferred County:     Merseyside
Volume:     37
Page:     0674

Now I can use the birth dates (from death reg) of Winifred and Ella to find a common birth district, or a common maiden name for their mother, to tie the two together, and identify other children. Only the two girls match, registered in very different parts of England:

Surname      First name(s)      Mother      District      Vol      Page
Births Sep 1913   (>99%)
Ford      Winifred      Giblin      Reading      2c     696   
Births Dec 1916   (>99%)
Ford      Ella      Giblin      Wolstanton      6b     161 

Now that I know the father's surname FORD and the mother's maiden surname GIBLIN I can look for any marriages between these two parties, presumably prior to 1913. There is a marriage in 1889 (Sunderland), and one in 1912:

Marriages Sep 1912   (>99%)
FORD      Ernest      Giblin      Wolstanton      6b     287
Giblin      Kate      Ford      Wolstanton      6b     287      

I think this is a Burslem connection to SNAPE. The region WOLSTANTON fits, and I can  ignore GIBLIN as it is an Irish name, and the 1911 census indicates Kate was born in Ireland.

Looking at Ernest as a younger man born abt 1887:
1911 Census
7 Riley St, South, Burslem
William Ford     51 - born Burslem
Mary Ford     54 - born Burslem
Ernest Ford     24 - born Burslem, gas fitter
John Ford     21 - born Burslem
William Ford     19 - born Burslem

1901 Census
11 Riley St, South, Burslem
All five boys and parents alive, entered as above.

1891 Census
4 Barnes St, Burslem
William Ford     31 - born Burslem
Mary Ford     33 - born Burslem
Henry Ford     8 - born Burslem
Fred Ford     6 - born Burslem
Ernest Ford     4 - born Burslem
John Ford     1 - born Burslem

Ernest's parents:
Marriages Sep 1882   (>99%)
FORD      William            Stoke T.      6b     253  
SNAPE      Mary            Stoke T.      6b     253  

Mary SNAPE was born abt 1858 in Burslem. In 1861 and 71 she is living with parents John SNAPE and family, along with my ancestor, her sister, Ann SNAPE. Ann SNAPE came to Australia with another sister Lucy, Mary stayed behind (in fact she was married when the left).

Cracking this was pleasing - it took several years of occasional searching to get there. It was worth it. Freda and my grandmother's common ancestors were John SNAPE (1828 Yoxall, Staffs) and his wife Mary ROBINSON (1830 Newport, Shropshire - ??) - they were married 25 Nov 1850 at St. John's Parish Church, Burslem, Staffordshire where the SNAPES lived, ad John was a sawyer while several children worked at the potteries in Burslem. Sisters Ann (my great great grandmother) and Lucy emigrated to Australia together in 1883, following beaus to Australia (In Australia, Lucy married William SIMMONDS who was a boarder with the SNAPE family in 1881). Freda is descended from Mary SNAPE (1858 Burslem Staffs - ??), and Freda and my grandmother were therefore second cousins.

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Finally, my Aunt Liz unearthed three photos that had Freda (MAUDSLEY nee FORD 1913-1994) had sent to my grandmother in the 1960s. I think these are valuable because they also show Eric MAUDSLEY (1900 Edge Hill, St Nathaniel, Liverpool - 1966 Birkenhead, Cheshire). In each case I overlaid the handwritten note on the back.

June 1961 - Freda and Eric on the Riviera (I think)

The "I think" refers to the Riviera, not the identify of those in the photo.

Freda and Eric, Lake Gywnant, North Wales, September 1958

Eric is at left, Freda leaning against car. Identify of friend at right not known.

Freda and Eric, Lake Gywnant, North Wales, September 1958

Freda is at center, Erica at right. Identify of friend at left not known.