Ann Dawson, convict

[gensec]

I am trying to find Ann's family - according to the convict records Ann was sentenced at Manchester in November 1851 to 7 years transportation. At that time she was aged 20, single from Manchester, religion RC. The records also show she had the following relations, all living in Liverpool:
father Michael, mother Ann, brothers Michael, Connor, Patrick and Edward, sisters Rose and Bridget.
I have been unable to trace any of the above in the 1851 census for Lancashire nor have any of the children been baptised or married in Liverpool according to Ancestry.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Gensec

[MaryA]

We have a project about "Naughty Girls" undertaken by some of our members in the Leigh area, they are investigating the English part of the lives of those transported. They may have Ann in their database, but if not they will have suggestions as to which sites might give some clues.

I'll send a message to the Co-ordinator of the project and ask her to post some suggestions.

Sounds to me like they came from Ireland, don't suppose you have any idea when they immigrated? or do you have any idea whether they returned there?

[MaryA]

Thinking Bridget might be a more unusual name than some of the others I checked Findmypast and discovered a "sister" however the link wasn't connected to the right image. I also didn't find her on Ancestry. So did a search using the reference
Registration district Liverpool
Archive reference HO107
Piece number 2180
Folio 466
Page 42

She has been mistranscribed as "Dainton", but as she is apparently married to either the head of the household Thomas Fritton, or his wife Catherine, I don't think she is any connection to your family, unless she married one of the males, which as she is only 19 the marriage must have been quite recent, so it's possible.

I'm not being very logical here, but looking all around the subject.

[gensec]

Thanks Mary - I'll pursue the Bridget Dainton line (I had tried Dowson,
Danson and Damson).
This is part of the Female Convict project but I thought perhaps someone
in the wider membership might have a bright idea.
Gensec

[louis]

What was her last known address from the Indictment Record?
____________________________
Louis

[gensec]

No address found except "from Manchester"
Gensec

[louis]

I’m surprised there is only Manchester on the Indictment Record as the Registers normally give a prisoner’s last or usual place of residence, and for large cities you may get a street address, sometimes with a number.

Ann Dawson was convicted of stealing on two other occasions before she was transported to VDL in 1852. If the records survive there should be other Indictments for her.

Most Australian convict records will give the native place either as a town, city, county, or country, with the amount of information varying depending on the timeframe. If you have focused your search solely on the Tasmanian convict records you are unlikely to find a street address in England. Unless you can narrow the search parameters it will be difficult to locate the family in the 1851 Census, if they were in England.

Another point to consider is the 1851 Census for Manchester was severely water damaged so if any records exist for the family they may be unreadable.
____________________________________________
Louis

[gensec]

Thanks, Louis
I have been searching the "crime" records on both FindMyPast and Ancestry but only
the 1851 Sessions at Manchester has come to light. The newspaper archives via FMP also
appear to have ignored Ann and her misdeeds.
St Chad's in Manchester was the mother church for Roman Catholics in the first half of 19th
century and it may be that Ann and her siblings were baptised there but unfortunately the
registers are not available online.
Gensec

[Blue70]

This is useful for Manchester Catholic records:-

http://www.mlfhs.org.uk/data/catholic_search.php


Blue

[louis]

Manchester City Council Archives hold some records which may provide additional information on Ann Dawson.

It may be worthwhile to contact them as many records would not be online.

Here is the link to the Quarter Session Court Records :-

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/448/a ... _records/3
_____________________________________
Louis

[gensec]

Thanks Blue
Unfortunately Ann does not appear in the baptisms but I am
sure that the website will be useful for other Roman Catholic
families in the Manchester area.
Gensec

[gensec]

Thanks for website link Louis
I'll see if I can find any references for Ann Dawson
Gensec