Genealogy Chat

I am trying to find out whether an ancestor THOMAS COCKIN[G] came back from Australia to England some time during the period 1865-1880. He was a convict and sent out there in 1853. A story in the family says he sold sheep to pay for his passage back but I cannot verify this. I know he obtained his Freedom Certificate so it is possible he came back. I just want to find a return passenger list with his name on so any information would be much appreciated.

When was he born Cathryn?

Hello Claire,

He was born 1801 or thereabouts in Curdworth, Warwickshire. Lived in Tipton, Staffordshire, England, when he was sentenced to 7yrs deportation to Australia.

Ahh he's not the person I was looking at then.

Thomas would have been nearly 60 when he was released. I don't know how much a ticket to the UK was but I would expect it would take a considerable amount of time for him to save. Would he be too old to do this?

(background info. on below)

Chris :)


http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1346772?page=0

Valerie Report 17 Nov 2014 05:53

Another researcher on 'Genforum' (2000) notes that Thomas Cocking returned to the UK after selling his sheep for 6 pennies ...... and appears on 1881 census in a Burton-on-Trent workhouse.

Valerie (WAus)

This will be the census they mean - but this one was apparently born in Ireland:

Thomas Cockin

in the 1881 England Census
Name: Thomas Cockin
Age: 80
Estimated birth year: abt 1801
Relationship to Head: Inmate
Gender: Male
Where born: Mayo Co, Ireland
Civil Parish: Horninglow
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England
Street address: The Burton On Trent Union Workhouse
Marital Status: Widower
Occupation: Farm Labourer
Registration district: Burton Upon Trent
ED, institution, or vessel: The Burton on Trent Union Workhouse
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2767
Folio: 136
Page Number: 4

Don't know if this the same person, in 1891 - born Staffordshire:

Thomas Cockin
in the 1891 England Census

Name: Thomas Cockin
Age: 91
Estimated birth year: abt 1800
Gender: Male
Where born: Tutbury, Staffordshire, England
Civil Parish: Horninglow
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England
Registration district: Burton Upon Trent
ED, institution, or vessel: Union Workhouse
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2207
Folio: 107
Page Number: 16

For that matter, I can't see him in censuses before he was convicted - unless this is him:

Thomas Cockin
in the 1841 England Census
Name: Thomas Cockin
Age: 35
Estimated birth year: abt 1806
Gender: Male
Civil Parish: Rowley Regis
Hundred: North Seisdon
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England
Registration district: Dudley
Sub-registration district: Rowley Regis
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 997
Book: 1
Folio: 22
Page Number: 36
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Cockin 35
Sarah Cockin 11
Thomas Cockin 9

????


Thomas Cockin
in the England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915

Name: Thomas Cockin
Estimated birth year: abt 1801
Registration Year: 1892
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 91
Registration district: Burton upon Trent
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 333

Thomas Cocking
in the England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892

Name: Thomas Cocking
Date of Trial: 15 Oct 1849
Trial Year: 1849
Location of Trial: Staffordshire, England
Sentence: Transportation

Crime: Killing a sheep with intent to steal.

I thought the name sounded familiar.
There was a lot of information given on this thread as mentioned by Chris above

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1346772