Dear Listers, I am a new subscriber who is trying to help a new-found cousin in Australia trace her (our) Scottish ancestry. She sent me the following which I find fascinating!! >>> William Thom(p)son Tried and convicted at Stirling on 19.4.1843 for a theft committed 28/10/1842 with one Thomas Glover. Age given as 22 (dob c.1820). His statement at the time was that he lived in Edinburgh and, of course, was not guilty. Evidence given by a Paisley Policeman that he knew him as Thomas Bryson (also known as Brissland or Frael), convicted of theft at Burgh Court Paisley on 28.4.1837 and again at Glasgow Circuit Court on 6.1.1844. William was transported to Van Diemans Land (Tasmania) on the ship Lord Petre, arrived Hobart 15.10.1843. Convict record states William Thompson aged 22, native place Paisley, occupation Dyer and (unusual for the times) 5ft 7 ½ inches tall. Protestant, could read and write and noted as being "intelligent". William appears to have behaved himself here. He married Sarah Bickley at the Church of England Parish of Buckland on 28/4/1849. Their only son, James Bryson Thompson was baptised at Buckland on 23/4/1851. Here William disappears. James only lived until 1899, when he died of "Brights Disease of the Kidneys), aged 49, at Castlemaine Victoria. He left a widow, Mary-Anne (Polly) Blake Thompson, and 17 children whose descendants are scattered over Australia and New Zealand. I have contacted many of these and have fairly accurate records. There is a record of a death of a William Thompson in Hobart in 1851, the year James was baptised. This may be him but we cannot obtain proof at this stage. On the other hand, he may have turned into the James Frael who appeared in the Hawkesbury area of NSW in 1853 and established another family there who have no idea of his background! The kidney disease may be a clue. One of James sons' James also had a problem but he lived into his 70's. >>>> Would the records of the criminal trials be kept here in Scotland at NAS? Are BRYSON and THOM(P)SON (BISSLAND or FRAEL) familiar names from the area? Is anyone connected? Regards, Jane Kelly jane.kelly2@virgin.net in Scotland distantly related to this man.!!