I did some research for a lady in Australia, one of her ancestors had been transported out there in the 1834. The man's father was a Cow Keeper in the New Brentford area, he had however been born in Pentridge, Dorset (abt 1776), and made enough money in Brentford to pay for his remains to be sent back to Pentridge for burial (1822). He is on some of the Land Tax Assessments for the area (1816-1820 inc.). Although these give the amount paid per year, they don't give the acreage, merely whether sums assessed are to be exonerated (from tax) or not.. His Will includes instructions regarding his leasehold and copyhold lands, and mentions horse, cart and livery, plus household items. As far as we can tell there were no other members of the Cow Keeper's Dorset family in the "London" area, and no tales survive as to why he left home. The rest of the Dorset family are believed to have been Ag Labs in and around Pentridge. It is believed that the son (convict) was a cooper, but was often in trouble with the law, hence the deportation for life. He became a very respectable man out there - but not a cow keeper! JK On 30 January 2013 22:51, Philip Maddocks <listenat@talktalk.net> wrote: > My greatgreat grandfather was a cowkeeper his father was a market gardener > and his brother a dairyman all in Peckham > > I believe that he took his cattle out to a farm to feed them up and brought > them back to Peckham to sell their milk, he named his son after the farmer > and his daughter after his wife. > > I believe that they were Welsh immigrants in early 1800s but open to debate > > Philip Maddocks > >