Hi I am a new member continuing my search for information about my ancestors. I have been researching and writing a book on William Henry McGuire, convict, arriving in the Colony on October 12, 1836, sentence- 14 years, for punching a sergeant. He married Isabella Duncan Aitken in October 1845. They had six children, and the family lived in the Duval area in New England, NSW, moving to Hillgrove and later Dorrigo. I have put together some of the pieces and stories about their descendants through to my family- there are still glaring gaps- hoping to complete the book by the end of the year- but would be delighted to receive any help from any quarter! Colin.S

Hi Colin If you would like to include some background stuff on the voyage of the Lady Kennaway 1836, then you could have a look at the Surgeon's Journal for the voyage - its on AJCP Reel 3200 Piece 41, 6th ship on this reel. If you live in Sydney the AJCP reels are held at the State Library. It also sounds like he may have been in the army, although the sergeant may have been trying to recruit William. Does his death cert state his occupations? cheers Grahame On 11/10/2011, at 9:15 AM, Colin McGuire wrote: > Hi > > I am a new member continuing my search for information about my ancestors. > > I have been researching and writing a book on William Henry McGuire, convict, arriving in the Colony on October 12, 1836, sentence- 14 years, for punching a sergeant. He married Isabella Duncan Aitken in October 1845. They had six children, and the family lived in the Duval area in New England, NSW, moving to Hillgrove and later Dorrigo. > > I have put together some of the pieces and stories about their descendants through to my family- there are still glaring gaps- hoping to complete the book by the end of the year- but would be delighted to receive any help from any quarter! > > > Colin.S > > > > > > ---------------------- > To send a message to the Port Jackson Convicts List, send an email to > [email protected] > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Grahame Many thanks for your prompt and helpful reply. I will follow your suggestion up with a request to the QLD State Library. William henry did enlist in the Scottish regiment at aged 18, and was an exemplary soldier until his late twenties. Seems like he had a pretty nasty superior as he warned he was going to do something about it if things didn't change. Although he received 14 years and 200 lashes, his life eventually in the Colony turned out to be quite fulfilling once he received his Certificate of Freedom. He went from a Court Martial to the Colony to farm labourer to house servant to shepherd to farmer owning land! Quite an interesting tale. I've been able to track down where he was a shepherd and visit the property as well as locate the land he farmed. Thanks again for your help. Next email: QLD State Library, "Ask a Librarian" Cheers Colin On 11/10/2011, at 9:04 AM, Grahame Thom wrote: > Hi Colin > > If you would like to include some background stuff on the voyage of the Lady Kennaway 1836, then you could have a look at the Surgeon's Journal for the voyage - its on AJCP Reel 3200 Piece 41, 6th ship on this reel. If you live in Sydney the AJCP reels are held at the State Library. > > It also sounds like he may have been in the army, although the sergeant may have been trying to recruit William. Does his death cert state his occupations? > > cheers > > Grahame > > On 11/10/2011, at 9:15 AM, Colin McGuire wrote: > >> Hi >> >> I am a new member continuing my search for information about my ancestors. >> >> I have been researching and writing a book on William Henry McGuire, convict, arriving in the Colony on October 12, 1836, sentence- 14 years, for punching a sergeant. He married Isabella Duncan Aitken in October 1845. They had six children, and the family lived in the Duval area in New England, NSW, moving to Hillgrove and later Dorrigo. >> >> I have put together some of the pieces and stories about their descendants through to my family- there are still glaring gaps- hoping to complete the book by the end of the year- but would be delighted to receive any help from any quarter! >> >> >> Colin.S >> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------- >> To send a message to the Port Jackson Convicts List, send an email to >> [email protected] >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ---------------------- > To send a message to the Port Jackson Convicts List, send an email to > [email protected] > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Colin McGuire