"Scott Wishart" <[email protected]> writes: > > I've been researching my GGGG Grandfather John WISHART who was transported > aboard the Bengal Merchant in 1838, arriving in NSW in July of that year. > To date I've quite a bit of information about him up until that point, and > again in 1844 when he was granted a certificate of freedom, after which he > disappears completely from any further records. > State records have an entry for a John Wishart per Bengal Merchant in their convict bank warrants index, but I guess you saw that? Name: John Wishart Ship: Bengal Merchant Year: WarrantNo: 44/21 Condition: Free Reel: 596 Item: [4/4547] Remarks: -- Martin

Hi Lesley & Martin, Many thanks for your messages. Yes, I haven¹t found a death for John yet, I¹ve seen several certificates, but none as yet are my man. I¹ve also entertained the idea that he returned to the UK, but have not found any evidence of this either. The convict bank warrant states that he had £2 owing, and his ticket of leave doesn¹t really give anything away other than that he was in NSW. I think I know of the Government Gazettes you mentioned, one reference to a ticket of leave is definitely my John, whilst others (with the possible exception of a few Sydney Postal unclaimed letters) are related to the John Wishart who arrived on the Maitland. John was indeed a bigamist, and a bigamist on quite a grand scale as he had no less than six wives living at the same time, all in different locations (in London and Glasgow) and even having the nerve to marry two of the wives in the same church! It seems nobody cared much for him when he was transported as no claims for clemency were filed. I doubt any of the local libraries here will have Joan¹s microfiche, so I¹ll try the larger London ones. Thanks again for your advice, Scott

Please will you tell me what the convict bank warrants index is? I have two convicts I'd like to check there. Also how would one find out if anyone made a claim for clemency? Cheers Janine.