Genealogy Chat

I saw “Petitions for Clemency and Judges Reports” in National Archives website and I am interested to know about it. My ggg grandfather Henry Godfrey was tried in Middlesex for housebreaking on May 1832 and transported to Tasmania for life on Oct 1832. And I am unable to find his family in London for many years. He had a large family from court reports. I wonder if the petition will tell more about Henry's parents and siblings. I hope it will! Have you seen it some original petitions or microfilm/fiche? Does it tell more information about families? I would like to hear about it. Regards, Steven from Melbourne, Australia.

It says on TNA site: 'The formal petitions (with lists of names attached) and personal letters often give information about the individual's background, previous employment and some reference to their feeling of regret as to their crime. On occasions (see example above) the petition may originate in the local prison or court some way into the prisoner's sentence. Where ordinary petitioners are listed you may find details of their occupation or social status and provide some indication of what part of the community was petitioning on the behalf of the prisoner. '

Steven Have you got his convict record? I don't know about 1832 because mine came out as convicts on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fleets. Sounds bad doesn't it? But when my 4x great grandfather came in 1791 his wife and two children came out as free settlers with him. Apparently they wanted to populate the country and too many men together got up to 'unnatural acts' according to the powers of the day. My convict seemed to have been assigned to his wife, as he lived with her and continued to breed. Horses, cattle and children.

Hi Nell, thanks for the information. I see that there might be no details about families? Hi, Elizabeth, yes I have lots of his convict records but no mention about his family. He was with two of 'friends' to Tasmania. He was 20 years old single. He was married in Tasmania. I have his marriage and death certificate that are no records about his parents. He and his family went to England around 1854. His wife died in Newington, Surrey on Jan 1855. He and their children returned back to Tasmania in 1858. It is very difficult to find out about his family. I only know that he had a niece from his will in Tasmania.

Steven I've copied your info and I'll have a play with it. Sometimes it's really hard. I've got agg grandfather who came out here with his family and that's the last I've got on him. His wife remarried about ten years later. They had oodles of money, so not sure if they just 'hushed up' a problem or what. But it really gets me that i can't find anything.

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for your help. I understand about this. I could not believe that I have lots of information where he worked, travelled to England, got his wife’s death certificate in Surrey and everything. But nothing about his family. What a mystery!