Genealogy Chat

Thanks to Di, Valerie and Helen for your replies. Just got back and seen them. I did wonder if her parents had been in Australia in some official capacity and she just happened to be born there before returning. I suppose they may have been returning convicts but Joseph Townsend was obviously a well-to-do sort of person, landed proprieter etc. Thanks for the tips I'll keep looking, Jennifer

Have you considered the possibility that her parents were in Australia representing the British Government, what would today be a foriegn office official. This may explain why she was born there but returned to England. It may be worthwhile seeing if any information is available about English officials in Australia at that time. Helen

Hi It was not unknown for people to return to England from the colony. Most convicts who had served their time were free to return if they could save up the fare. These are the Jane's baptised in Sydney 1798-1800 in the colony of NSW. The baptisms have been translated into the birth registers. Some of these are double-ups because of the way the church registers were recorded. V1798731 1A/1798 BUCHANNAN JANE WILLIAM ELIZABETH V1798527 4/1798 BUCHANNAN JANE WILLIAM ELIZABETH V1799798 1A/1799 COLLINS JANE NORAH V1798743 1A/1798 DRING JANE UNKNOWN ANN V1798534 4/1798 DRING JANE F UNKNOWN ANN V1798550 4/1798 JOHNS JANE BENJAMIN KATHERINE V1799729 1A/1799 PECK JANE JOSHUA MARY V1799525 4/1799 PECK JANE JOSHUA MARY There are no marriages in NSW for Joseph Townsend and Jane. Di

Hi there, The NSW State Library has an 'Ask a Librarian' service - (Query Form on-line). They will check their records for you - they have some early BMD's and various censuses -though not too sure of the earliest year. Worth a try. Also - NSW BMD are on line. I'll try and do some checking for you too. - Valerie (WA)

I am fortunate to have in my possession at the moment the original 1846 document ‘Apportionment of the Rent Charge in Lieu of Tithes in the village of Edith Weston’ which I am transcribing before it goes to the archives. Then we are going to put the copy in the church so everyone can see it. If anyone gets the chance to look at one of these fascinating documents then do so. There is a detailed map of the village as it was in 1846 from the Church down to the smallest pig sty and hovel. The plot numbers then tell you who was the land owner, occupier and how much rent they were to pay. It gives a clear insight into how the village was at that time. The Assistant Tithe Commissioner who carried out the survey was Joseph Townsend of Wood End, Buckinghamshire born c 1793 Great Marlow, Bucks, and being an inquisitive person I am trying to find out about him. I have him on 1841,51 & 61 census, he dies in Jan 1862 (Times Newspapers). He was appointed Asst. Tithe Commissioner in Sept 1837 & was a land owner & JP. Now the Australia bit. On the census returns his wife Jane born c 1799, has her birthplace recorded as Sydney, New South Wales and it just intrigues me how she came to be in Buckinghamshire. I always thought that it was the English who went out to Australia not the other way round! Any ideas about where further to search gratefully accepted. Thanks Jennifer PS. just seen Aus thread so will check it all out.

See below in a moment