Hello Researchers! I am currently undertaking research that concerns a Christopher Vincent, known to be at Sutton Forest in the late 1830s. Any connections or references greatly appreciated. Details as follow: Information concerning Christopher Vincent held by the Greater London Record Office was obtained via the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children, London, now built on the site of the Foundling Hospital. It reveals that Christopher Vincent was born on 6 January 1814 to Martha Lewis, aged 21 years. She came from the town of Montgomery, Wales and her parents are described as ‘poor but honest’. Martha Lewis moved to London to live with a woman she had known as a child in Wales, a Mrs. Watkins of Swallow Street. She obtained domestic work with Mrs. Marsh, 6 Polygon, Somers Town, now the London Borough of Camden. She re-established a relationship with John Price, a stonemason. Price had also moved to London from Montgomery, to live at Little Brook Street. When Martha Lewis became pregnant to Price, Mrs Marsh arranged for her to stay with an elderly woman friend. Martha Lewis last saw John Price on 20 September 1813, after which time he is thought to have ‘gone to sea’. As a single woman unable to support her child, Martha Lewis applied to the governors of the Foundling Hospital for her son to be admitted. Upon his admission, the child was given the name Christopher Vincent. He was fostered to Frances Eagle at Addlestone, Surrey where he remained until age five years. He then returned to the Foundling Hospital in Guildford Street, and stayed until he was apprenticed on 26 March 1829. The Apprentice Register notes that he was apprenticed to ‘Joseph Gurney of 56 St. James’ Street in the parish of St George Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex, Tailor, to be instructed in household business’. His apprenticeship was shortlived. The Old Bailey Session Papers (FM4 5846, 15 April 1830 p.329) show that barely twelve months later, Christopher Vincent, at the age of 16 years ‘was indicted on 11th April, 1830 for stealing one book value 1/- and one neck stock, the goods of James Thomas Spice, to which he pleaded guilty’. The circumstances surrounding the charges are not known, however, for his crime, he was sentenced to transportation to the Colony of New South Wales for seven years. Following his conviction he was held in the London Gaol Delivery. Then on 4 September, 1830, he was confined on board the ship York, at Sheerness, at the mouth of the River Thames. The York (1) was 429 tons built at Southwick in 1819. There were 199 male prisoners and 40 guards of the 17th Regiment on board under Captain Daniel Leary and Surgeon Campbell France The voyage from London took 156 days, sailing via Teneriffe in the Canary Islands (Bateson 1959:301). The York arrived in the Colony of New South Wales on 7 February 1831. In the Convict Indents Christopher Vincent is described as aged 17 years, 4 feet 8 inches in height, black hair, hazel eyes and with a sallowed freckled complexion. The register notes he was ‘from London’, that he could read and write, and his occupation was a tailor, for one and a half years. Upon arrival in the Colony of New South Wales, Christopher Vincent was assigned to Harry Marr of Sydney. By 1837, Christopher Vincent, who was then aged 23 years, had been granted his Ticket of Leave, and was a resident of the district of Sutton Forest (NSW General Return of Convicts for 1837 - No. 26218 Ticket of Leave. p.147). Any information much appreciated. Jennifer Lambert Tracey Historical Archaeologist Cultural Heritage Research Centre UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA Tel. / Fax (02) 6295 6795 Mobile Tel. 0419 011 860 e-mail: jtracey@ozemail.com.au