Thomas Birtles (bef. 1813 - 1886)

Born before 14 Feb 1813 in Astbury, Cheshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Lennon) Birtles — married 8 Jun 1843 in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 25 Jul 1886 after age 73 in Cardross, Yass, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Vivian Egan [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Birtles was a convict after the Third Fleet.

Thomas Birtles was born about 1813 ^[1][2] in Astbury, Cheshire, England & baptised there on 14th February 1813,^[3][4] the son of Thomas Birtles & Ann Taylor.

On 20th December 1833, Thomas Birtles aged 20 & George Whitehurst aged 22, were charged with breaking into the house of John Shaw at Hulme Walfield, near Congleton, Cheshire, England earlier that morning & stealing two silver watches, five sovereigns & other property, and were taken to the lock-up at Congleton. At the Lent Assizes in Chester in April 1834, they were convicted of burglary and a death sentence was handed down.^[5][6] The sentence was later commuted to Life to be Transported beyond the Seas for the term of their respective natural Lives.^[7][8] On 21st May 1834 they were transferred from Chester Castle & conveyed to the Prison Hulk "Fortitude."^{[9][10][11][12]}

Thomas Birtles & George Whitehurst were transported on the Lady Nugent from Sheerness, England on 3rd December 1834 & arrived in New South Wales, Australia on 9th April 1835.^[13][14]

On the Convict Indent of the Lady Nugent, Thomas Birtles was described as being aged 22; he could Read & Write; was a Protestant; single; his occupation was a Tailor, good. His physical description was Height: 5' 6¼"; Complexion: Pale; Light Hair; Grey Eyes; Particular Marks or Scars: Lost canine tooth right side of upper jaw, small raised mole lower part of right side of neck, scar on knuckle of fore-finger of left hand, scar back of left thumb, scar back of right wrist.^[15]

On 9th May 1843 he received his Ticket of Leave & was living in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.^[16]

On 30th May 1843, Thomas Birtles, age 29, Ship: Lady Nugent; Sentence: Life; Condition: Ticket of Leave was granted permission to marry Mary Lennon, age 23, Ship: North Briton; an Immigrant; Clergyman: Michael Ryan, Penrith.^[1] They were married on 8th June 1843 at Penrith, New South Wales, Australia by Michael Ryan, a Priest of the Catholic Church.^[17][18]

On 30th October 1847 it was recommended Thomas be granted a Conditional Pardon,^[19] which was eventually granted on 1st June 1848.^[20]

Thomas Birtles died aged 74, on 25th July 1886 ^[2][21] at Cardross, Yass, New South Wales, Australia & was laid to rest in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Yass, New South Wales, Australia on 26th July 1886.^[21]

Birth

Date: about 1813

Place: Astbury, Cheshire, England ^[1][2]

Christening

Date: 14 Feb 1813

Place: Astbury, Cheshire, England ^[3][4]

Transportation

Vessel: Lady Nugent

Date sailed: 3 Dec 1834

Place: Sheerness, England

Date arrived: 9 Apr 1835

Place: New South Wales, Australia ^[13][14][15]

Marriage

Date: 8 Jun 1843

Place: Penrith, New South Wales, Australia ^[1][17]

Death

Date: 25 Jul 1886

Place: Cardross, Yass, New South Wales, Australia ^[2][21]

Burial

Date: 26 Jul 1886

Place: Roman Catholic Cemetery, Yass, New South Wales, Australia ^[21]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Australia, New South Wales Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry 1825-1851 > 30 May 1843. Thomas Birtles & Mary Lennon.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Australia, New South Wales Deaths Index > Registration No. 14412/1886: 25 Jul 1886. Thomas Burtles, age 74 years, died Yass; District: Yass.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 database, FamilySearch accessed: 9 September 2017 > Thomas Birtles, 14 Feb 1813; citing Astbury, Cheshire, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 0823619 IT 5, 0823620.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Cheshire Diocese of Chester Bishop's Transcripts Baptisms 1576-1906 database with images > Astbury > 1593-1898 > Image 263 of 304; Entry No. 15: 14 Feb 1813. Thomas s/o Thomas & Ann Birtles, Tailor, of Astbury.
5. ↑ Newspapers & Periodicals - British Newspapers > London Courier and Evening Gazette > 9 Apr 1834 > Page 4, Column 3 > Lent Assizes. Chester > House Breaking.
6. ↑ Newspapers & Periodicals - British Newspapers > Staffordshire Advertiser > 12 Apr 1834 > Page 3, Column 4 > Assize Intelligence. Chester.
7. ↑ England & Wales, Crimes, Prisons & Punishments 1770-1935 Series HO13 > Correspondence and Warrants > page 368 & 369 > 1 May 1834. Thomas Birtles.
8. ↑ England & Wales, Crimes, Prisons & Punishments 1770-1935 Series HO13 > Home Office: Criminal Registers, England And Wales, 1805-1892 > Criminal Register > 1834 > Volume 1. A - L > Page 65: County of Chester > Thomas Birtles.
9. ↑ England & Wales, Crimes, Prisons & Punishments 1770-1935 Series HO27 > Correspondence and Warrants > page 11-13 > 20 May 1934. Thomas Birtles.
10. ↑ England & Wales, Crimes, Prisons & Punishments 1770-1935 Series HO8, Piece 40 > Home Office: Convict Hulks, Convict Prisons And Criminal Lunatic Asylums: Quarterly Returns Of Prisoners > Fortitude Convict Hulk > Quarter ending 30 Jun 1834 > Image 186 of 233, Page 184 > No. 1126 on S.B.: Thomas Birtles, age 20, Burglary, Chester, 29 Mch 1834, Life, Healthy.
11. ↑ England & Wales, Crimes, Prisons & Punishments 1770-1935 Series HO8, Piece 41 > Home Office: Convict Hulks, Convict Prisons And Criminal Lunatic Asylums: Quarterly Returns Of Prisoners > Fortitude Convict Hulk > Quarter ending 30 Sep 1834 > Image 146 of 232, Page 144 > No. 1126 on S.B.: Thomas Birtles, age 20, Burglary, Chester, 29 March 1834, Life, Sick, Good (behaviour).
12. ↑ England & Wales, Crimes, Prisons & Punishments 1770-1935 Series HO8, Piece 42 > Home Office: Convict Hulks, Convict Prisons And Criminal Lunatic Asylums: Quarterly Returns of Prisoners > Fortitude Convict Hulk > Quarter ending 31 Dec 1834 > Image 66 of 210, Page 64 > No. 1126 on S.B.: Thomas Birtles, age 20, Burglary, Chester, 29 March 1834, Life, N.S.W. 26 Nov'r 1834.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Australia, Convict Transportation Registers 1787-1870 > 1834 > Lady Nugent > Folio 240, Page 476: Thomas Birtles; Chester Assizes; 29th March 1834; Life.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Lady Nugent voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1834 with 286 passengers
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 > 9 Apr 1835. Thomas Birtles; Lady Nugent.
16. ↑ Australia, Convict Tickets Of Leave 1824-1874 > Convicted 1834 > Thomas Birtles; Vessel: Lady Nugent; Ticket of Leave: 9 May 1843, Ref. No. 43/1253; District: Penrith; Tried: Chester asss; citing Series: Ticket Of Leave Butts 1827-1875 (Nrs 12202).
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Australia, New South Wales Marriages Index > 1843 > Ref. 1906/1843 V18431906 92: Thomas Birtles & Mary Lennon; District: LJ.
18. ↑ Australia, New South Wales - Marriage Certificate > 8 Jun 1843. Thomas Birtles & Mary Lennon; New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Office, Sydney. Personal copy in the files of Vivian Egan.
19. ↑ Australia, Convict Conditional and Absolute Pardons 1791-1867 > 1847 > No. 315. Thomas Birtles; Ship: Lady Nugent (1); citing: Recommendations For Conditional Pardons 1826-1856 (Nrs 1173)
20. ↑ Australia, New South Wales State Archives & Records - Convict Index > 1835 > Ref. No. 48/1191. Thomas Birtles; Vessel: Lady Nugent; Conditional Pardon 1 Jun 1848; citing 4/4458; Reel 787 Page 491-492.
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3} Australia, New South Wales Deaths Index > 1886 > Ref. 14412/1886: Thomas Burtles, age 74 years, died Yass; District: Yass.