Hi all, Sorry, this is long, but there's no easy way to tell the story. This woman is driving me nuts. Margaret KENNY age 24 arrived on the Asia 1830 to NSW sentenced to 7 years for stealing cloth. In 1836 (still on bond) she applied to marry John BERWICK (ToL) of the Champion. It was approved but only 2 banns were published and no marriage is registered. In 1838 she (free) applied to marry Thomas LEATHEAD convict of the Layton (free). Presbyterian Marriages solemnized in the Parish of Whittingham in the County of Northumberland, New South Wales in the Year 1838 DATE OF MARRIAGE 15 September 1838 PLACE OF MARRIAGE Dalswinton GROOM Thomas Leithead of Merton BRIDE Margaret Kenny of Merton WITNESSES IO Pagan and James Edwards MINISTER Irving Hetherington of Patrick's Plains, minister of Saint Andrew's Church In 1839 the same minister baptises: NAME Elizabeth Leithead BAPTISM 7th February 1841 BIRTHDATE 10th July 1839 FATHER Thomas Leithead ABODE Dalswinton QUALITY OR PROFESSION Servant MOTHER Margaret Leithead PLACE Parish of Whittingham, County of Northumberland (This child is again baptised on 9 Feb 1841 with a birthdate of 10 Sep 1839 according to the Singleton Presbyterian Church registers.) In Nov 1840 Margaret KENNY (not Leithead) (free) of the Asia, spinster applies to marry Thomas BRIGGS convict of the Florentia (free) bachelor. Presbyterian Marriages in the Parish of Whittingham in the County of Northumberland New South Wales in the year 1841 GROOM Thomas Briggs (his x mark) STATUS Widower of Hunter River BRIDE Margaret Kenny (her x mark) STATUS Widow of Hunter River DATE OF MARRIAGE Ninth day of February 1841 PLACE OF MARRIAGE Singleton RELIGION Presbyterian WITNESSES Thomas H Robinson and Andrew Smith MINISTER Irving Hetherington of Patrick's Plains, minister of Saint Andrew's Church Now it gets complicated... 3 children are baptised in NSW to Thomas Briggs and Margaret. Sarah BRIGGS Bapt 13 Mar 1842 born 20 Sep 1841 (mother's maiden name not stated) CoE Parish of Althorpe, County of Durham minister John Morse chaplain of Scone & surrounds. Henry BRIGGS bapt 3 Nov 1844 born late 1841? (mother Margaret Kenny) Roman Catholic West Maitland Parish. Alice BRIGGS bapt 3 Nov 1844 born Sep/Oct 1843? (mother Margaret Kenny) Roman Catholic West Maitland Parish. But... Margaret Kenny is sentenced to transportation to VDL for 7 years 17 Nov 1841 and arrives 12 Dec 1841. With her apparently is her 3 year old daughter Catherine (born NSW 1838/39 according to death cert). So, having been searching for this woman for 23 years, have I really found TWO Margaret KENNY who marry two Thomas BRIGGS? Did Thomas Briggs, a protestant convict change to RC after Marg was transported, marry another Margaret and have more children? Where is Catherine's birth?????? Why did she leave Elizabeth behind but bring Catherine with her? Where is Thomas Leithead's death? Any suggestions welcomed. Minuet ---------- *Earth is the insane asylum for the universe* ----------