Maurice Evans (abt. 1790 - 1871)

Born about 1790 in Denbighshire, Wales

Descendants

Died 2 Aug 1871 at about age 81 in Fish River Creek, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Raven Manners [send private message]

Biography

Maurice Evans was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

Maurice Evans was born in Wales.

Maurice was born in 1790 near Denbighshire, Wales.^[1][2]

Maurice, commonly known as 'Morris', was convicted on February 1820 in Cardigan, Wales on the charge of uttering forged notes. He was sentenced to 14 years transportation. He spent time on the Justitia hulk prior to his voyage on the Elizabeth, which arrived in NSW later in 1820.^[3][1]

Halfway through his sentence in 1827, Maurice behaved well enough to earn his Ticket of Leave.^[4] Unfortunately for Maurice, this good behaviour streak was not to last.

A refusal to marry recorded by Rev. T. Reddall, of Campbelltown, indicates Maurice (age 37, bond, Elizabeth) attempted to marry Mary A Barrett (age 14, free) on Christmas Eve 1827. The reason stated for refusal was "Has no T. of L. as here presents".^[5] Forgetful Maurice did not re-attempt to marry Mary, and that was the end of that.

Between said fateful Christmas Eve and 5th of May 1828, Maurice wound up in gaol (again), for tens of newspapers declared he had escaped and was on the run (and conveniently held the certificate of Freedom of Robert Roberts, a fellow Welshman).^[6] Not to be out-done, he also attempted to set fire to the prison watch house.^[1] In the newspapers he was described as:

• a poor English speaker
• 5ft 8in tall
• dark, ruddy complexion
• grey eyes
• curled, dark brown hair.

He was eventually caught a few months later and admitted to Sydney Gaol.^[7] In punishment for his shenanigans, Maurice was sent to the notorious Moreton Bay Penal Colony for 3 years.^[8][9] For obvious reasons, Maurice's Ticket of Leave - which he'd had for barely a year - was cancelled:

Cancelled the holder having been transported to Moreton Bay for three years 25 Sep^r 1828 by the Campbell Town Bench.^[4]

On his return to the New South Wales colony, he stayed out of the gaol books, allowing him to receive his Certificate of Freedom in 1834.^[1]

Maurice passed away from "old age" in 1871 at Fish River, New South Wales.^[2]

Transcriptions

Hulk Record

Name: Morris Evans,

Age: 30 [b ~1790]

Received: 20 Jul 1820

Hulk: Justitia, Woolwich

Convicted: 29 Mar 1820, Cardigan Sess^s

Crime: Utt^g Forged Notes

Sentence: 14 years

Notes: Lo. 4 Aug^t 1820^[3]

Sydney Gaol Entrance Book Entry

Name: Morris Evans

Ship: Elizabeth

Admission date: 27 Sep 1828

Committed by: General Sessions, Campbelltown

Crime: Breaking out of Gaol

Punishment: Penal Settlement 3 years

Discharge date: 27 October

Discharged to: Hulk^[7]

Certificate of Freedom Butt

(Partial)

Name: Morris Evans

Age: 44

Native place: Denbigshire, Wales

Arrival: 1820

Vessel: Elizabeth

Trade: Labourer

Offence: Uttering notes

Certificate date: 3 Jun 1834

General remarks:

Was transported to Moreton Bay for Three Years 25^th Sep^tr 1828 by the Campbell Town Bench for attempting to set fire to the Watch house & breaking out of Gaol.^[1]

Research Notes

• No marriage certificate has been found between Harriett Piper and Maurice as of 2 Jan 2019.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} "New South Wales, Australia, Certificates of Freedom, 1810-1814, 1827-1867"; Ancestry.com [database on-line]; NRS 1165, 1166, 1167, 12208, 12210, reels 601, 602, 604, 982-1027. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Death Certificate of Maurice Evans, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages - New South Wales, Australia. Scanned copy in the files of J (Gormly) Manners. Provided by Ancestry user regyoung48.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849"; Ancestry.com [database on-line]; Home Office: Convict Prison Hulks: Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849. Microfilm, HO9, 5 rolls; Class: HO9; Piece: 4
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "Australia Convict Tickets Of Leave 1824-1874"; findmypast.com.au [database on-line]; Ticket Of Leave Butts 1827-1875 (Nrs 12202), Reel 910; State Records Authority of New South Wales.
5. ↑ "New South Wales Registers Of Convicts' Applications To Marry 1825-1851"; findmypast.com.au [database on-line].
6. ↑ ""Police Office, Campbell Town, May 10 1828", The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) 18 June 1828: page 3. Accessed 2 Jan 2019.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930"; Ancestry.com [database on-line]; State Archives NSW; Roll: 851; Sydney Gaol Entrance Book.
8. ↑ Chronological Register of Convicts at Moreton Bay, Queensland State Archives Series ID 5653; Name: Maurice Evans Age: 23 Native place: Warminster; image available here; accessed 2 Jan 2019.
9. ↑ "List of Convicts Transported to Moreton Bay"; State Records Authority of New South Wales; 4/3794-97; microfilm copy 1824-25 SR Reel 6019, 1824-53 SR Reels 749-750 [microfilm]; digital copy provided by ancestry user regyoung48.