A missing Convict in Australia.

Discussion in 'Empire & Commonwealth' started by The Artful Dodger, Mar 7, 2014.

  1. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    I'm still alive and kicking up the snow on my Nixon's.

    Welcome in foxstorm and I am more than willing to share with you any details of Samuel as well as his 8 siblings as well as his parents Mary Rowledge and William Nixon.

    Like you, I have always wondered about the length of time between his marriage to Ellen Connor and the birth of James in 1839. Your theory about an undocumented child born c. 1834 named Thomas makes lot of sense.
     
  2. foxstorm

    foxstorm New Member

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    Thank you for the warm welcomes!

    My ancestry entry for Thomas John Nixon is
    Code:
    https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/116739630/person/280157613481/facts
    with some source documents, including link to death certificate with father's name SAMUEL.

    There's nothing in NSW BDM that I can find relating to his birth. The only thing I have is that gaol entrance that says Thomas Nixon was born in colony 1834, native of Parrmatta
    Code:
    https://www.ancestry.com.au/interactive/1783/41491_329449-00070/909025?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/116739630/person/280157613481/facts/citation/862237327841/edit/record
    But where is that birth record?!

    And I am supposing it was feasible that Thomas married Eliza Belgrove Moxon on his release in 1858. The Moxons were well established in the Bathurst area, and there were convicts among the the Moxons (see
    Code:
    http://moxonsdownunder.blogspot.com/
    ) - so the families could have already had connections.

    Failing that, there is an immigrant Thomas Nixon whose birth date is c1834 but entered the colony via Melbourne. This Thomas's occupation is "Joiner". I have not yet traced back who this ones father is... hopefully not another Samuel.

    Thomas John Nixon is listed on my great grandmother Constance Nixon's marriage registration:
    Code:
    https://www.ancestry.com.au/interactive/61177/45578_sha^ma18981909-00089/900363632?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/116739630/person/280157517336/facts/citation/860351644376/edit/record
    - occupation "Contractor" (I think?).

    They were known for the building work and were involved in some major building projects in Bathurst -- this could be a skill that Thomas John picked up in Parramatta Goal doing his 2 years hard labour, or there's the migrant "Joiner" who entered via Melbourne, which is a reason I found that particular record a little interesting.

    Ben
     
  3. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    I have just noticed something on NSWBDM. Thomas Nixon birth registration 525/1839 gives his parents as Thomas and Frances Nixon but Thomas wasnt with Frances (Foley/Elizabeth Johnson) Samuel was. Could this be an error on the part of the informant?
    Maybe this is the missing Thomas, age out a bit at death. Thomas J Nixon 71/1907 would make an age of 68. Father Samuel.
    Nice avatar @foxstorm. Hope that train was stationary :eek:
     
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  4. The Artful Dodger

    The Artful Dodger R.I.P.

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    After perusing my notes and reviewing my Nixon line, I am inclined to agree with you about Thomas John being the undocumented son of Samuel and Ellen.

    Samuel was "quite the lad" in that he started "relationship" with Frances Elizabeth Johnson sometime in 1823/4 when she gave birth to a daughter Louisa. At that particular time Frances was married to a convict John Foley but appears no children were born. I don't believe that she ever divorced John and that her relationship with Samuel ultimately caused Samuel's Ticket of Leave to be revoked. I presume that Samuel spent some time apart from Frances and she had another child in 1832. Frances was now aged 34 and her children were:
    Louisa 1824
    Samuel George 1826
    William 1829
    Mary Ann 1832.

    Samuel then took up with Ellen Connor an Irish convict who arrived 9 March 1833. Ellen was born 1813 and baptised 3 September 1812. Permission to marry Samuel was granted 13 June 1834 in Parramatta and they married 15 July 1834.
    In addition to the possible son Thomas John they had the following children:
    James - born 29 June 1839 died 25 December 1841
    Ellen - born 5 April 1841
    Jane - born 1843
    John Henry - born 21 April 1845
    Harriet - born 29 March 1847 died 7 June 1848
    Henrietta - born 1847
    Ellen was killed 1 January 1849. I have details of her death.
     
  5. foxstorm

    foxstorm New Member

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    Sorry I have been absent. It's been quite a big year for me. And sorry for breaking the forum rules about including those links above, etc.. I was just being a bit enthusiastic.

    Some exciting news!

    I have been DNA-matched to a descendent of Jane Nixon (documented child of Samuel Nixon / Ellen Connor). This helps my theory my 2nd great grandfather, Thomas John Nixon is an undocumented child of Samuel Nixon, named by Samuel in honour of his own younger brother, Thomas Nixon.

    As discussed earlier there is a NSW BDM birth cert 525/1839 V1839525 133 shows a Thomas Nixon was born to father "Thomas" and mother "Francis", but this is probably wrong, and should likely be Samuel and Francis. Thomas John Nixon's NSW BDM death cert 71/1907 shows the father as SAMUEL, but no mothers name given.

    I'm going to try to trace down more DNA matches to compare myself with other descendants of Francis and Ellen. Both lines should have some DNA match, but one side stronger than the other.
     
  6. foxstorm

    foxstorm New Member

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    Yes! I found the age difference of 5 years at death is a little uncomfortable to deal with, but my newly discovered DNA matching certainly gives weight to this theory.

    Maybe Thomas lied about his age, otherwise he would have been 2 years younger than his bride Eliza Moxon when they married, and that might not have been the cool thing to do in those days???

    (PS - yes the train was stationary. I had just put it to sleep for the night.)
     
  7. foxstorm

    foxstorm New Member

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    DNA lines proving the case for Thomas John Nixon. Ellen and Jane were children of Samuel and Ellen Connor. Still hoping to match with a different descendent of Frances Elizabeth to compare relative strengths.

    Screenshot from 2020-08-07 12-26-37.png Screenshot from 2020-08-07 12-28-26.png
     
  8. foxstorm

    foxstorm New Member

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    There are also matches to Samuel's siblings.

    Screenshot from 2020-08-07 12-45-17.png
     
  9. Bellaquattro

    Bellaquattro New Member

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    Hi,
    Newbie here can I please join in this conversation re Thomas and Samuel Nixon
    Cheers
    Bellaquattro
     
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  10. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Great to have you but our original poster is sadly no longer with us. If we could be of help to you please ask away or let us into anything else we should know. They were a great family to research.
     
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  11. Bellaquattro

    Bellaquattro New Member

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    I would like to know if anyone knows the name of the woman that Thomas Nixon 1808? My 3rd Great Grandmother was Ellen Nixon born around 1841. My dilemma is that she is not the Ellen Nixon that Married Robert Forrester and then ___ Freeman. My Ellen's marriage certificate said her father is Thomas and her mother is Eleanor. Apparently from Merrylands NSW. I believe that she is the daughter of Thomas Nixon convict, that is Samuel's brother, but her mother is not Elizabeth any clues would be helpful. My Ellen married John Hadwick in 1861 at Goulburn.
    Thanks heaps people.
     
  12. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    This is such a mixed up family but I will do my best.......
    Ellen Nixon born 1841 is registered to Samuel and Ellen. Ellen Snr died in 1849 after an accident. Ellen jnr 1841 I think went to live with her uncle Thomas, Samuels brother. Thomas, convict, Samuels brother, married Elizabeth Burnside 1825 and Elizabeth Downing 1842 (although I cant find the 1825 marriage)
    I have tried to find the death of your Ellen Hadwick, no luck. That could let you know the names of her parents. Maybe.
    To add. Ellen wife of Samuel was also known as Eleanor
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2022
  13. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Eleanor Connor
     
  14. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    I think Ellen Nixon is very fluid with her first name. There are countless children born to John Hadwick. Most the mother is Ellen, one is Susan another is Maria. There is only one marriage of a John Hadwick and that is to Ellen Nixon but Ellen Hadwick and Ellen Nixon are nowhere to be found.
    Your Ellen Nixon is definitely not the daughter of Samuel Nixon because, she married Forrester and Freeman. Thomas Nixon didn't have an Ellen as far as registration goes. I dont think your Ellen is the one on various trees as born in Richmond in 1841 and marrying John Hadwick as that is Samuels daughter. Your Ellen is a real mystery.
     
  15. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Gee whizz. Poor Ellen. John Hadwick was married to Bridget Day in 1849. Bridget died in 1860 and is buried in Goulburn. John Hadwick and Ellen Nixon married in 1861. I guess he desperately needed a mother for his 9 children......
    There is a burial in Rookwood for E Hadwick 11/1/1887 no known birth. No other E Hadwicks death as yet so I wonder if this is her. Rookwood was the burial grounds for inmates at the nearby assylum.
     
  16. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Ok it seems that John Hadwick died in 1884 although I cant find the registration then Ellen Hadwick married John Mulreenen in Young in 1887. Again I cant find a death under that name. That would or could give her parents names.
     
  17. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Found a death of an Ellen Mulrenen in Young in 1918. Her info on Family Search has her age at 89 giving a birth year as 1829 and her father was Arthur G.
     
  18. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Here we are.....

    t the great age of 90 years, there
    passed away at Young on Friday night
    Mrs. Ellen Mulrenen, a lady who had
    been connected with the life of the
    district since the town's earliest days.
    The deceased was a well known iden-
    tity, and for very many years follow-
    ed the occupation of a nurse. Death
    was due to senile decay. Deceased
    was a native of Merrylands (N.S.W.),
    her maiden name being Nixon. She
    was twice married, the former union
    being with the late Mr. John Hadwick
    whom she married at Goulburn when
    only sixteen years of age. The sec-
    ond marriage to Mr. John Mulrenen,
    took place at Young. The
    members of the family by
    the first marriage are:—Mrs.
    Spencer (Melbourne), Mr. Thomas
    Hadwick (Melbourne), Mr Frank Had-
    wick (Melbourne), Mrs. J. Farragher
    (Parkes), Mrs. Grosvenor (Sydney),
    Mrs. Elijah King (Kingsvale), Mrs. J.
    A. Basham (Monteagle), Mrs. Jamie-
    son (Young). One son is deceased.
    The only issue by the second marriage
    was one son Jack, who resides at
    Young.
    She was married at Goulburn at the
    age of 16 years, and with her hus-
    band conducted the Royal Arms Hotel
    at Goulburn. When the diggings
    broke out here, they came to Young,
    and established the old Exchange
    Hotel situated In Lower Burrowa
    street, on the site of the Chinaman's
    garden. During that time she saw
    many exciting scenes. Disposing of
    the hotel later on she opened a gen-
    eral store and bakery, where For-
    sythe's and

    I got there in the end. :D
     
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  19. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    The obit says she was 16 when she married. No! The marriage is registered in 1861 making her 32 so I think they just got on for a few years without the paperwork. :D
     
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  20. Chimp

    Chimp Moderator & Cheeky Human IMP Staff Member

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    Goulburn Evening Penny Post - Tue 21 Oct 1884 - Page 2
    An Old Resident.
    ONE of the oldest identities in the district has passed away in the person of Mr. John Hadwick, his death occurring on Friday, after a short but severe illness, at the ripe old age of nearly four score. Mr. Hadwick was at one time in affluent circumstances, and in the early days of Lambing Flat had a very large business as publican and afterwards as storekeeper. Misplaced confidence in a Sydney firm with which he dealt largely - and no fault of his own - brought about his commercial ruin. Old John Hadwick was the personification of probity. Strictly honest himself, his misfortune was to assume others to be so. Of late years the deceased occupied a very retired position in the district, in no way identifying himself with public matters. Mr. Hadwick was twice married and had, we believe, the enormous progeny of 25 children, many of whom are of tender years, and as we fear ill provided for. Mr. Hadwick was always a generous giver when his means afforded. A great need now exists for assistance to the widow and children. Old Goulburn residents will remember Mr. Hadwick as a resident of that city in its earlier history. - Burrangong Chronicle.

    His surname has been entered as HaRdwick on his death registration

    John Hardwick
    Death year 1884
    Registration district - Young, New South Wales, Australia
    Father - John
    Mother - Mary
    Registration number 14156
     
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