Links to Interesting Stories in my Family Tree

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: World

Links to interesting profiles;

Interesting Convict Stories in my Family Tree

James Maguire Middle aged convict, unsuccessful in bringing his family to Australia, chose Sisley from the Parramatta Female Factory. They travelled to the Snowy Mountains where an unexpected child was born, then onto Wagga, NSW where they bought a townhouse and small farm. .

Sisley Naghten A washerwoman from County Mayo, whose official age is wrong by 13 years, never assigned, rather spent her whole sentence in the Parramatta Female Factory. Later in life she had a violent relationship with her daughter over Matilda's choice of "tenant" in her bed.

John V. Dowdle Illegitimate birth, whose mother married 16 months later to a man who did not legitimise John. In 1827 when John was found guilty of Housebreaking, then sentenced to transportation for life, he arranged for a coin memento to be made for his mother. This 1827 memento is in the possession of an Australian collector. John died in the Western Goldfields of Victoria, run over by his own wagon.

James Jackson Originally guilty of Highway robbery. In Hobart after emancipation he was a shoemaker and pimp of his convict wife Kitty, with whom he had a violent relationship, resulting in numerous court appearances. In middle age he was found in possession of a firearm, then sentenced to a 2nd convict term, this time at Port Phillip (Melbourne). On his return he found Kitty bigamously married and pregnant. He began bigamy proceedings, however, he "disappeared" before their trial making the charge null.

Kitty Bannister Prostitute before conviction, she resumed after assignment and marriage to James Jackson. After James is sent to Port Phillip she bigamously married William Dann and they became successful shop-keepers in Hobart, then the family moved to gold-rush Victoria. She ran numerous brothels across gold mining towns in Victoria up until her death.

Agnes Tozer Agnes's father died when children were still young resulting in whole family depending on Church charity. Mother remarried but children remained in care until apprenticed at 9-10 years old lasting until 21 years old. Agnes stole from her employer and was sentenced to 7 years transportation. She married David Anderson, a sailor on her convict transport, having many children, however, David's mental state deteriorated, causing hardship. 3 youngest children died in 1834 . She died during 11th childbirth in 1838.

Stephen Vane Surname (Wain or Vane) was the name of a Gypsy wagon so experienced prejudice as a convict and free. Black Elizabeth would have been one of the few woman prepared to "marry" him. Unlike most emancipated convicts, applications for land were refused, so must live as a well-sinker. He died when children are 17 and 15 years old.

Elizabeth Mandeville Described as a "black girl" in London, she lived on the streets there, enticing men into rooms where she could hold them while the smaller Ann rifled their pockets. Caught and transported to Sydney, she accepted assignment to gypsy Stephen Vane and life as a farmer's wife. After she had 2 children she travelled into Sydney city for only the second time while 9 months pregnant at 36 years old. She died on the street in the Rocks district.

Gentlemen Bigamists - Laurence Halloran & Thomas Parmeter

Interesting Other Stories in my Family Tree

Andrew Parr Andrew & Harriot Parr were married in Kirkburton, West Yorkshire in 1820 where they were presented with silver spoons to commemorate the event. When they migrated to Australia they brought the spoons with them & they are still held by the Parr family today. I was contacted by the previous holder of these spoons and provided with pictures. When Andrew died "on the road" there was no death recorded, adding to difficulty of finding his parents.

John Henry Bannister (1812-1882) {Brother of Kitty above} John used old surname of Burniston in Hampshire England, married under that name & registered 1st son Robert (1843). From children's births family travelled to Canada in 1844 where they changed surname to Bannister (as had many of the family). After 1861 Canadian Census family moved to Buffalo, USA. When Eliza Bannister died 1st in 1871, her husband was responsible for her headstone hence Bannister. When John Bannister died in 1882, his son, who had returned to Edwin Burniston, appeared to have been responsible for the headstone, thus John Burniston.
(The USA Bannister family) never knew that information about Burniston. It makes sense because I was always told the woman gave up her royalty to marry a commoner. Afterwards, he changed his name.<KC>

Eliza Adams escaped domestic violence, moving from Bendigo to Deniliquin, only to be followed by her husband and children. Her daughter "Lily" Newton hoped to escape poverty by a good marriage, but when this failed she suicided at 19 years old.

William McMillan The grandchild of a convict, his early career was as a school teacher, then enlisted in the Soudan Campaign 1882 which was the 1st time any Australian had served overseas (no action). On his return remained in the Permanent Artillery at Victoria Barracks, Sydney. Died in 1900 of diabetes complications at 41 years of age.

Mary Ann (Faulkner) Carroll Named after her step-grandmother, Mary Ann accompanied her mother and step-father to the early settlement of Melbourne in 1843. Both mother and step-father died shortly after. She had 1st hand experience of the Eureka Riot, however, her claim to have known William Buckley the white man who was so long living with the blacks, brought into Melbourne in 1835 was an exaggeration.

Elizabeth Augustine (Rose) Wild About 1900 Lizzie Rose gave a gold locket to her departing friend Tilly Hanson which the Hanson family still hold today. This token of wealth comes as a surprise.

Roy Hole Dec 1911 Roy rescued young Lena Stephan from the surf at Bondi after which he is thanked by her older sister Lily (Elizabeth Stephan). They started a relationship but her mother told Roy that she had married a Frederick Fuller. Sep 1913 Roy Hole was pursued by the police to provide child support to Elizabeth Henrietta Stephan. She claimed he was "Frederick Fuller".

William Hubbard WW1 Army Deserter who is sentenced to 7 years in Pentridge Gaol but released on return to Australia. Assume he never told family, but then in later life was not admitted to the Repatriation Hospital, Concord as he was without discharge papers.

Alan Butters Alan Butters was an Officer Diver in the Commonwealth Marine Salvage Service at the time of his death in November 1943. His ship the "Tanbar" had just returned to Townsville after salvaging a Dutch ship at Ono Bay Papua New Guinea. At Ono Bay a Dutch officer had invited the Australian officers to the Netherlands Club on their return to Townsville. When refused entry to that same club, due to a private function, a fight resulted in Alan hitting his head on the road edge and dying of a cerebral haemorrhage.