Released from Norfolk island

[Steve Kean]

My Great great great grandfather (a solicitor) was sent to Norfolk Island in 1844 for "false utterance" of will worth £14,000. I have found his record for the duration & that he was released in 1850, but cannot find a trace of him after that. His name is James Kean, b 1811 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, he was convicted in Lancaster Assize and had been living in Liverpool.

Can anyone suggest how I might work out what happened to him? Are there any crew lists for ships off the island or access to Australian Census data or death certificates. I do not think he returned to England, but cannot be sure. He certainly did not rejoin his wife & family after transportation.

 

[horse]

We know he has a TOL and pardon (not sure which type, probably conditional).

If this is him in 1851 Tasmania, (scroll down the left side box about half way), it may be a start...

Link > HERE

Geoff

 

[horse]

This looks like his Pardon, the image indicates his sentence may have been commuted to 15y..

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859
James Kean
Vessel: David Malcolm
Province: Tasmania
Title: Pardons
Year(s): 1849-1851
Place of Conviction: Lancaster

 

[horse]

This is the 2nd part of the image..

 

[DaveHam9]

Name:
Kean, James
Record Type:
Convicts
Arrival date:
25 Aug 1845
Departure date:
13 May 1845
Departure port:
Downs
Ship:
David Malcolm
Voyage number:
367
Remarks:
Off Norfolk Island per Tory May 1847
Index number:
38781
Document ID:
NAME_INDEXES:1407901
Conduct RecordCON33/1/80
IndentCON14/1/29 Page 290

 

[DaveHam9]

There is more than one James KEAN in Tasmania. One arrived free.

There are births in Tasmania with father = James KEAN and three different mothers. Only one marriage showing.

Name:
Kean, James
Record Type:
Marriages
Gender:
Male
Age:
Adult
Spouse:
Cullen, Elizabeth
Gender:
Female
Age:
Adult
Date of marriage:
27 Oct 1860
Registered:
Launceston
Registration year:
1860
Document ID:
NAME_INDEXES:863003
ResourceRGD37/1/19 no 423



The marriage was Presbyterian. James is listed as a Bachelor of full age. He signed his name and Elizabeth by her mark. There are four witnesses.

No mention of being 'Free by servitude' or arrival vessel. Nothing at all to say which one of the two or three this one is.


I read the original image as 27 Decr. 1860 not October.

 

[horse]

Yeah, not an easy one, Dave... Been trying to stay with the Liverpool 'James Kean' - I can't see anything after 1850 ish for him...

 

[horse]

Yeah, not an easy one, Dave... Been trying to stay with the Liverpool 'James Kean' - I can't see anything after 1850 ish for him...

Having said that, 1860 is interesting because 15y would be up by then

 

[DaveHam9]

Sarah born 1848 with father = James KEAN and others up to and after 1860.

It's going to be very difficult sorting out the two or three by that name.

I have a convict in my tree who died in Tasmania. There is nothing in what I'm about to post that says he was a convict or list his parents or native place, etc...

No. When Died Name and Surname *** Age Rank or Profession Cause of Death When Registered
7759 19th Feb 1869 Cascades Invalid Depot Hugh Noble Male 70 Pauper Senility 22 February 1869

Death #7759 Hugh NOBLE 70 Hobart RGD No. 35 1869

 

[horse]

Yep, would agree, just looking through some texts re. Norfolk Island, doesn't sound a pleasant place.. James Kean gets a mention, but not found it yet.

Just a thought, he was a solicitor, I suspect his mental survival skills would be at a premium

Geoff

 

[DaveHam9]

It took from Nov 1846 until May 1847 before he left Norfolk Is.


Just enter Kean, james and search

http://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/


It's not a convicts only site.

 

[horse]

Yep, he was on NI 1y/2y or less...

 

[DaveHam9]

It's not Wednesday or Saturday but I'm off do prepare my usual. :biggrin:

Back later.

 

[horse]

It's not Wednesday or Saturday but I'm off do prepare my usual. :biggrin:

Back later.

hahaha... enjoy :biggrin:

 

[horse]

This is an interesting piece of research, not pretty reading... If you scroll down to the foot of page 26, you will see the short transcript re., James Kean.

Link > HERE

If you don't want read the full article, this is the excerpt...

" However, the majority of Millbankers were also transported for non-violent crimes against property. Most thefts were, like those of the Maconochie men, of fairly limited extent and ranged from a duck to a shawl, to higher-value goods like cattle and handkerchiefs. Edward Lunn burgled the home of John Steele near Huddersfield of £1,300 worth of property, while others were even more ambitious. John Kenyon Winterbottom, a banker and Mayor of Stockport, was convicted of forging the receipt for an insurance policy of £5,000, and the Liverpudlian solicitor James Kean uttered a forged will for property to the sum of £14,000"

Geoff

 

[horse]

Whilst the Tas NI is very helpful it is basic and would take a fair bit of cross-referencing to reach conclusions. Interestingly, there doesn't appear to be a death recorded.. Would that suggest he moved on, to the mainland, say?

Geoff

 

[DaveHam9]

CP approved 29 Jan 1850.

Conduct record says 30 Jan 1850 'To Freedom'.

There is a James KEAN departing in 1853.

Name:
Kean, James
Record Type:
Departures
Rank:
Crew
Departure date:
5 Mar 1853
Departure port:
Launceston
Ship:
Gazelle
Ship to colony:
Gazelle
Bound to:
Melbourne
Document ID:
NAME_INDEXES:570805
ResourcePOL220/1/3 p88


I say there is no way of knowing which is which or if it's two or three of them. Remember there are children born from 1848 onwards with father = James and three different mothers.

 

[Steve Kean]

WOW! What a response, guys, thanks very much.

I have found a few of those myself already but there are several new items I need time to look at properly & I am off to pick up the G-kids from school shortly (it's only a 100 mile round trip ) But I shall try to get back to you when I can.

But yes, he is the dodgy solicitor & has at least one previous conviction for duelling (hence the scar on his thigh I guess) and may even have stolen 2 shirts from an attorney he worked for in Uttoxeter.

He left a wife & 3 kids in the UK & the family seems to have obliterated him from their public past as a "bad sort". My dad always told me that the family came over from Ireland in about the 1850's but this shows a very different reality!
Steve K

 

[Steve Kean]

This looks like his Pardon, the image indicates his sentence may have been commuted to 15y..

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859
James Kean
Vessel: David Malcolm
Province: Tasmania
Title: Pardons
Year(s): 1849-1851
Place of Conviction: Lancaster

That's him, convicted December 1844, Life commuted to 15 years, but actually served 6. He had an earlier conviction for fighting a duel, sentenced to 7 years transportation, but seems to have only served 6 months in Kirkdale House of Correction (now Walton Gaol, Liverpool). Either it was common to give a big sentence (to frighten people) and then commute it later, or he was a very personable & convincing rogue.

Unfortunately, I cannot make out what is written in the last column.

 

[Steve Kean]

This is an interesting piece of research, not pretty reading... If you scroll down to the foot of page 26, you will see the short transcript re., James Kean.

Link > HERE

If you don't want read the full article, this is the excerpt...

" However, the majority of Millbankers were also transported for non-violent crimes against property. Most thefts were, like those of the Maconochie men, of fairly limited extent and ranged from a duck to a shawl, to higher-value goods like cattle and handkerchiefs. Edward Lunn burgled the home of John Steele near Huddersfield of £1,300 worth of property, while others were even more ambitious. John Kenyon Winterbottom, a banker and Mayor of Stockport, was convicted of forging the receipt for an insurance policy of £5,000, and the Liverpudlian solicitor James Kean uttered a forged will for property to the sum of £14,000"

Geoff

Yes, I read that. Basically it was pointing out the NI wasn't quite the "hell hole" it was painted by many. Definitely my GGG Grandaddy!