Thank you for this Tony, not everyone's ancestors make the newspaper (twice) - not sure if this is a good thing though. This has given me another name and area to try. At least I now know we are on the right track with Herts. Just out of interest, if you are ever looking at the Hertfordshire Genealogy site, there is an answer to a question posted about another Hertford. convict named Rueben Blazeley. James Knapsey's son married Rueben's daughter, and their eldest daughter was my great grandmother. Thanks again, I'll let you know how the puzzle turns out. Patti -----Original Message----- From: Tony Flynn [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, 30 April 2002 1:39 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [TAS-CONVICTS] James Knapsey/Knapsley Hi Patti I read through your page on the Hertfordshire Genealogy site which explained the problem. I've now had a look at the local paper and I don't know how much help it has been. If he didn't use a made up name, I'm wondering about his accent - a famous example is the city of Norwich which is pronounced something like 'Narge' Should I have inspiration and locate any other references I'll be in touch straight off. Interestingly the village of Waterford you mention is some 20 miles NE of Watford, a huge town, also in Herts. Regards. Tony But for now the two articles (by the way, I've checked that I have it spelled exactly as per the article): **************************************************************************** ****************** Stamford Mercury - Friday, December 2, 1842, page 3, column 6 At the Town-hall, Stamford, on . . . Wednesday a man calling himself James Knapsey, from Whatford, Herts, was committed for trial on the charge of stealing two silver watches, value 5l., from the shop window of Mr. Norton, in High-street, which he broke for the purpose of abstracting the property. **************************************************************************** ****************** Stamford Mercury - Friday, January 6, 1843, page 4, column 3 STAMFORD SESSIONS, Dec. 31. - Jas. Knapsley pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing, on the 30th November, two silver watches, value 5l., the property of Robt. Norton, watchmaker, of High-street, and was sentenced to seven years' transportation. **************************************************************************** ****************** ==== AUS-TAS-CONVICTS Mailing List ==== Please link your webpages to the Australian Families Webring and Tasmanian Convicts - let's unite!!! The navigation bar is located at: Http://hometown.aol.com/romniroser/myhomepage/newsletter.html ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237