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Ive just been told that a relation of mine was one of the last convicts to be sent to Australia. His name was Samuel Swain (sent for stealing boots apparently)
I do not know what year this was or much more about him as yet as Im just starting on this one
Can anyone advise me as to where to look for info about people sent to Australia in these circumstances and where info may be held?
Any advice very much appreciated
many thanks
Cas :-0 :-0
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TonyOz does convict lookups - see if you can find his posting - if I find it I'll give it a nudge
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found it - it's on this page now
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Hi Cas.
Is this your Samuel SWAIN. There was one only, but he wasnt the last group of convicts sent to Aussie. This chap was sentenced in 1838 and the last convicts sent here were in 1860s.
It appears this Samuel SWAIN was caught for theft & receiving goods, and it appears to do with footwear ( slippers )
Australian Convict data base.
Title: Samuel Swain, one of 266 convicts transported on the Theresa, 05 October 1838.
Sentence details: Convicted at Central Criminal Court for a term of 7 years.
Vessel: Theresa.
Date of Departure: 05 October 1838.
Place of Arrival: New South Wales.
Central Criminal court ( Old Bailey ) Trial can be read on-line
SAMUEL SWAIN, Theft > receiving, 2nd April 1838.
Reference Number: t18380402-1071
1071. SAMUEL SWAIN was indicted for feloniously receiving, of a certain evil-disposed person, 3 lasts, value 9d.; and 1 pair of slippers, value the goods of George Sergeant, well knowing them to have been stolen; against the Statute, &c.
GEORGE SERGEANT. I am a shoemaker. On the 22nd of January any place was robbed—I was ill at the time—next day I went to the prisoner, who is a marine-store dealer, in Golden-lane, which is the neat street to me—I said, "Mr. Swain, have you bought any boots, shoes, or lasts?"—............. ( More to read on line )
http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/
If you feel this is your Samuel, i can help further by checking references for him in Aussie....if it helps?
Some folk prefer to check for themselves.
Tony (Australia )
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nice one Tony - I'll send the poster a message!!
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Cheers Ann.... :-)
Will wait to see if this is the right Samuel SWAIN, and if Cas needs further help, as there was another Samuel SWAIN...but imprisoned in the U.K
Name:Samuel Swain
Date of Trial:8 Apr 1850
Trial Year:1850
Location of Trial:Middlesex, England
Sentence:Imprisonment
And it seems one other, but in 1832
Samuel SWAIN arrived 1833 on the Mary 111 (4 ) sentenced at Gloucester 1832 Life
Tony :-)
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Thankyou ever so much everyone for the replies and especially Tony Oz for the great info!
Im actually waiting for another relation to give me his date of birth etc. Im told he stole boots so it looks like the first one was the right one.
Wonderful Thankyou all!!
Regards
Cas :-D :-D
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Hi TonyOz
Re the info you so very kindly sent me - seems this is the right Samuel Swain. he was aged 53 when he was sent to Oz in 1838. Is there any way I could find out what happened to him after that?
As I have decendants of his over there I assume he married and had children? Am I right in thinking people couldnt take their own familes over with them when they were deported?
Many thanks for any answers.
Cas :-)
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Hi Cas - send Tony a message - he might think this is done and dusted!!!
Ann X
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Hi Cas.
To answer your question re....:"Am I right in thinking people couldnt take their own familes over with them when they were deported?"....
Married convicts( in most cases ) that were sent here and never allowed to return to the U.K were normally allowed to have family ( spouse/children ) follow them out to the colony. Some did follow their spouses out here, but also many did not. Convicts already married back in the U.K were also given special rights to re-marry if they were never to return home.
Some of my own Convict relo's spouses....... came out to Aussie ( paid for their own passage )...and some passages out here paid by certain members of the church/clergy.Some Convicts Masters/Employers sent for family and paid for them to come....... Some Government funding also paid the way out for some spouses of Convicts. So yes.....some did follow there hubbies out.On occassion i have found records of a son/s who followed his father out. Both took to the Gold Fields after his release.
Once your term of sentence was finished ( Free by Servitude ), you were free to roam the Country. Remembering the majority of Convicts were "Petty crimes/misdemeanor, and the object was to colonise the Country by any means.
Looking at various State records ect, ect.... regarding the surname, it had a few variations on our records. SWAIN....SWAINE.....SWAYNE
If your Samuel SWAIN was 53 when he arrived in 1838 then i cant see him re-marrying at this age and starting a family, but that is not conclusive, and my thoughts only. There are no registered marriages i can find of a Samuel SWAIN on NSW index's from 1838 to 1870s....nor in the state of Queensland or Victoria.
If you can supply me with his wifes name, and/or childrens names ( if any ) i can check for imigration of them arriving, if you think they may have came out here. ( and if listed )
Early Colonial Newspapers are also a good source of info.....TROVE ( NLA )
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home
EG:
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Monday 12 September 1842
Union Assurance Company, £1325 10s. George Yeomans, £678 1s. 4d. the estate of the deceased Samuel Swain, £3257 12s. 7d. This meeting was adjourned till Friday fort- night.
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Wednesday 14 September 1842
INSOLVENT COURT.— Friday, Sep 9.
158.; Union Assurance Company, .£1325 10s.George Yeomans, £C78 Is. 4d.; Estate of deceased Samuel Swaine
38815 Swain Samuel - 1848 16 February Ravensworth MM
Apprehended Charles Cooper 4 miles from cottage at Ravensworth. Accompanied by Mr. Bowman and the gardener
92902 Swain Samuel - 1852 18 August At Wambrommurra, Dr. Jenkins' Station near Hanging Rock gold fields MM
Marriage of George Swain, eldest son of Samuel Swain to Harriett, eldest daughter of Thomas Avaid of Falbrook on 2 August. Minister Rev. Edward Williams of Tamworth
135242 Swain Samuel John - 1856 10 June Wambromorara, the station of Dr. Jenkins MM
Marriage of Samuel John Swain and Eliza, eldest daughter of Mr. Jordan of Tamworth. Minister Rev. E. Williams of Tamworth
135245 Swain Samuel John - 1862 29 July Tamworth MM
Witness at the inquest into the death of Stephen Pratt
135246 Swaine Samuel - 1854 7 June Wambromorrow, Peel River MM
Notice - Offering reward for return of or conviction of thief of a mare missing from Cann's Plains Peel River
Convict Ship "Theresa" Arr: 2nd February 1839 Port Jackson... Source: The Colonist
Arrival of the barque Theresa, Captain Young. Departed Sheerness 10 October with male prisoners. Edward Holditch, Esq., R.N., surgeon superintendent. Guard, Captain Kitson and Ensign Cookney of the 80th regiment and 35 rank and file of the 51st and 30th regiment
Records show there were 3 SAMUEL SWAIN/E in NSW around this period 1830s - 1850s One being Samuel SWAIN who arrived on the convict ship "Mary 111 in 1832"....and received Ticket of Leave and Conditional pardon. This Samuel did have family follow out after him.
And a Samuel John SWAIN ( Free Immigrant )......along with your Samuel SWAIN ( Convict ) arriving in Feb 1839. ship
Given that he was 53 in 1838 when transported, then one might assume that he would have died within the next 30 - 35 years making it around 1870, and he would be aged around 90 which would be cassified as a very long life in those days. Most peeps passed away of old age ( given the conditions of this harsh country and era ) at around 60 plus if lucky.
NSW records only show two possible death recorded. ( The 1st V184......is an early "Parish record entry" ) age at death would be approx, and could be as far as 5 to10 years out, or even a mistranscription/ error
Death 1842
V1842259 26B/1842 SWAIN SAMUEL AGE 47 ( parents not listed )
Death 1870
6006/1870 SWAIN SAMUEL Fath: CHARLES Moth: UNKNOWN District: TAMWORTH
There were also two early "Parish Church" births recorded in NSW ( 1842 & 1844 )....but this would make your Samuel about 58 years of age!!
V18422878 33A/1842 SWAIN ALFRED Fath:SAMUEL Moth:PATIENCE
V18442879 33A/1844 SWAIN FRANCIS Fath: SAMUEL Moth:PATIENCE
The State of Queensland shows no registered death for a Samuel SWAIN/E 1829 to 1889.....nor does the state of Victoria or Tasmania ( given that his birth year was c.1785 )
Its also of a benefit to remember that many an ex-convict changed his/her name to give him/herself a chance to find employment. Some added or dropped letters of a given name or surname, and many used a second given name.
Tony :-)
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Swain,
Found grave for Samuel Swain buried Tamworth General Cemetery, Anglican Section Row R5 died 1/10/1870 aged 64 years, husband of Patience. Very large stone with extensive inscription shown in photo.
http://austcemindex.com/inscription.php?id=7510613
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Wow
Thankyou everyone for the great info!
Really sorry for the delay in replying but my internet was down and only just got back online.
Extra special thanks to Tony for all the wonderful info - got plenty to be going on with now!.
Best wishes to you all from a very hot (oh yes we do sometimes get sun here) Yorkshire England.
Cassie :-D
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