Hi,

I am researching a William Hale born in West Dean c1805 parents Thomas Hale and Sarah Hadley. He was convicted of stealing and sent to Australia in 1832. His shipping papers indicate he was married to a Sarah, maiden name unknown, and left behind 4 children, 3 sons and one daughter. I believe the daughter may have been called Mary Ann born 1832.

Is anyone able to advise me if parish records are available for West Dean in Gloucestershire to enable me to trace his wife and children.

Thanking you,

Andcarred from Brisbane, Australia

West Dean is a not a Parish, it is an extra-parochial area of the Forest of Dean.
An Extra-Parochial Place was an area which did not belong to any parish.

East Dean and West Dean explained
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=1422

Early Map of the Parishes in the Forest of Dean
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/joomla/the-forest-of-dean/maps-of-the-forest

In searching the parish records we have, I am unable to find any reference to a baptism of William or a marriage of him to a Sarah.

Using the Advanced Search facility, I found four baptims recoded of children born to a William and Sarah HALE between 1825 and 1831 at Littledean:

Naomi
Mary Ann
Harriet
Sarah

This eliminates one Naomi c1826

Naomi HALE - christened 16 June 1825, St Briavels, parents: William (Collier) and Sarah

1841 Census, Ross, District Little Dean Prison, Bridwell

Naomi HALE - age 16

Marriage: Naomi HALE - 25 February 1849, (father William (Collier) - St Briavels
Joseph MALPAS - witnesses: Mary Ann SAUNDERS, Leonard MALPAS

1851 Census, Herefordshire, Walford, District 8b
Old Hill

Josiah MALPAS age 25 - Gardner, born Glos. Cam
Naomi MALPAS - age 26 born Little Dean
Eliza MALPAS - age 1 born Little Dean
Sarah HALE - Visitor, age 49, Annuitant, born Northamptonshire, Wellington
Samuel HALE - Visitor, age 6, born Glos Little Dean (Son of William & Sarah)

1861 Census, Little Dean

William HALE age 64 + Sarah HALE, born Northamptonshire + their family inc Samuel age 16 are living in Little Dean

Ancestry: England & Wales Criminal Register 1791-1892

There isn't a William HALE listed in 1832 for transportation - there are a couple of William HALE's listed either side of 1832, but either acquittal or imprisonment.

The nearest in 1832, is William HALL - transportation 1832

Hi,

Thank you so much for this information. According to the Indent of the ship Camden on which William Hale was transported he was 33 years of age in 1833 so it looks like I have the wrong William Hale. The convict I am looking for was tried in Gloucester on 11 August 1832 and given a life sentence and transported 1833 so, if the records are accurate, he would have been born 1800 not 1805. He was said to be married with 4 children, 1 dau and 3 sons.

William Hale was eventually given a Pardon by the Governor of NSW. He had formed a relationship with another convict and they had a son in 1851 but did not marry until 10 years later, 1861, which leads me to think his wife in England may have died that year leaving him free to marry legally.

Maybe if I can get the trial records (if they have survived) from the Gloucester County Record office they might give more information.

Thanks again,

Andcarred

Ancestry have photocopied the handwritten pages of the Criminal Records Book Gloucestershire.

The only William HALE in 1833 is Lent 1833 (Imprisonment for Larcency)

The only other two are:

William HALE c1798 Epiphany 1834, Acquittal

William HALE - Epiphany 1830 - Acquittal

William HALL - Summer 1832, Transportation, Larceny in a Dwelling House

Hopefully the Gloucestershire Records Office help.

The Gloucester Gaol Index has this entry:
SURNAME FORENAME COMMITTAL AGE PARISH/TOWN OCCUPATION REF:
HALE Wm. 11 Aug 1832 23 Tewkesbury Nailor Q/Gc5/4

Date matches date of his trial.

My understanding is that his wife would have been free to marry again 7 years after his transportation.

There is a marriage for a Sarah HALE in Tewkesbury Registration District in 1839:
Marriages Sep 1839
COLE Thomas Tewkesbury 11 522
Done Susannah Tewkesbury 11 522
Fisher James Tewkesbury 11 522
Hale Sarah Tewkesbury 11 522
Herring William Tewkesbury 11 522
Hodges William Tewkesbury 11 522
LEWORTHY Elizabeth Tewkesbury 11 522
Scott Ann Tewkesbury 11 522

The IGI tells us that Sarah HALE married Thomas COLE at Tewkesbury on 28 July 1839

Mike

Baptisms at Tewkesbury Holy Trinity

Sarah : William (Blacksmith) & Elizabeth, 10 November 1822, Barton Street
John: William (Nailer) & Elizabeth 8 March 1825, High Street
Eliza: William (Smith) & Elizabeth, Barton Street,22 June 1828
Ann Maria : Mother: Elizabeth, no father's name, 23 September 1932, High Street
Elizabeth: William (Nailer) & Elizabeth, Oldbury, 30 July 1837 ***

although William said, he said 1 daughter and 3 sons and married to a Sarah

1841 Census Tewkesbury

Thomas HOLBROOK age 30, Butcher
Eliza HOLBROOK - age 40
James HOLBROOK - 5 ***(christened 30 July 1837 - Elizabeth & Thomas HOLBROOK- address Oldbury)
Thomas HOLBROOK - 3
John HALE - 15
Eliza HALE - 10
Elizabeth HALE - 10

Tewkesbury Holy Trinity

So, Elizabeth HALE - mother Elizabeth - father - William (Nailer) address Oldbury, christened 30 July 1837
and James HOLBROOK - mother Elizabeth - father- Thomas (Labourer) - address Oldbury, christened 30 July 1837

1861 Census, Tewkesbury, District 2

John HALE - 36, Ag Lab, all born Tks (transribed as this also)
Mary HALE - 37 - Stocking Maker
next door
Thos. HOLDBROOK - age 54, Butcher
Eliza HOLDBROOK - age 61 - Chairwomen
Thos. HALE - age 29 Cordwainer
Henry HALE - age 19 Cordwainer

.........

There are also two children, born to John (Nailer) and Sarah HALE in Tewkesbury

Sarah Ann HALE - 1 December 1833, address High Street
William HALE - Nailer - address Oldbury - 2 July 1837

(again High Street & Oldbury - as William & Sarah HALE?/)

are John/William brothers? - if so, John age 28 - was not born in Gloucestershire

1851 Census, Tewkesbury

William EDGWICK age 26, Labourer, born Worcs
Sarah EDGWICK age 35, Dressmaker
Sarah Ann HALE - age 17
William HALE - age 15 - Nailer

1841 Census, listed as HELE - but is HALE

John HELE, age 25, Nailer - not born in County
Sarah - 25 - born in County
Sarah - 7
William - 5

A John HALE married Sarah HODGES, at Tewkesbury 13 May 1833

I have carried out further research on Thomas COLE and Sarah HALE and can eliminate them. Sarah appears in the 1851 Census as a Widow aged 28.

The HOLBROOK/HOLDBROOK finding looks promising. This is the family in 1851:
Piece Folio SchNo Town Surname Forename Relatn Marr Age Occupation County Place
1974 0370 220 Merretts Yard High St HOLDBROOK Elizabeth HD W 85 Pauper Spinner GLS Tewkesbury
1974 0370 220 Merretts Yard High St HOLDBROOK Elizabeth DL M 49 Chair Mender GLS Tewkesbury
1974 0370 220 Merretts Yard High St HALE John GS U 26 Lab GLS Tewkesbury
1974 0370 220 Merretts Yard High St HOLDBROOK James GS U 16 Butcher GLS Tewkesbury
1974 0370 220 Merretts Yard High St HOLDBROOK Thomas GS U 13 Scholar GLS Tewkesbury
1974 0370 220 Merretts Yard High St HOLDBROOK Henry GS U 9 Scholar GLS -
1974 0370 220 Merretts Yard High St HENRY Thomas VR U 22 Lab GLS Tewkesbury
1974 0370 220 Merretts Yard High St COOMBS William VR U 27 Tinplate Worker LND London
1974 0370 220 Merretts Yard High St HOLDBROOK Thomas SO M 45 Butcher GLS Tewkesbury

The marriage took place in 1849:
Marriages Mar 1849
Hale Elizabeth Tewkesbury 11 532
Holbrooke Thomas Tewkesbury 11 532

1861 Census Tewkesbury:
Thos Holdbrook 54
Elizth Holdbrook 61
Thos Hale 29
Henry Hale 19

and next door:

John Hale 36
Mary Hale 37

Mike

Hi Shepway,

Thanks so much for you help. I think the William Hale born in West Dean 1805 is not the correct William Hale. It doesn't help that the Court records show my William Hale as 23 when charged in 1832 then the shipping records in 1833 show him as 33. It seems he was born in Tewkesbury rather than West Dean. Are they close together?

Thanks again,

Andcarred

It is about 30 miles from West Dean to Tewkesbury so not far but it takes you outside the area covered by this website. So some suggestions for you.
There is a Tewkesbury Historical Society with a website at http://www.ths.freeuk.com/index.htm
Also Gloucestershire Family History Society - http://www.gfhs.org.uk/
and Gloucestershire Archives - http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=17142
On the archives webpage you will see a link to a Genealogical Database. Incuded is the Gaol Index. You will also see that there is an enquiry service and you can get copy of the entry for Wiliam Hale which may give you more information and possibly some family details. Alternatively there may be someone on this Forum who may be able to get details for you whilst on a visit to the Record Office.

Best wishes
Mike

Hi Mike and Dave,

Thanks once again, I have emailed the Gloucester Archives re Gaol records so will await their reply.

Andcarred

I am also researching this William Hale, as I think he may be the father of William Hale who married Margaret Ann Hudson, who is on one of my Hudson lines. I Would like to compare info. I am in Brisbane, Australia.

Regards
Lorayne

Hi
I am also researching William HALE
In the National Archives, Kew there is a record of a petition for clemency
Williams wife- Elizabeth petitions Williams' sentence along with 69 people from the New Unity Benefit Society,Tewkesbury (where William stole 39 sovereigns )
There is also a covering letter from Mr Dodswell MP of Pull Court, Tewkesbury requesting clemency.
'grounds for clemency; has a wife and 4 small children who are destitute and in great distress, previous good character- hardworking, industrious and inoffensive, has been a member of the New unity benefit Society for 13 years and has an unsullied reputation. Initial sentence transportation for life' Item ref.HO 17/46/151
I hope this clears up the identity of Williams wife.
Can anyone explain what the New unity Benefit Society was
Thanks
janellewood from Sydney Australia