Blogging A-Z – April Challenge – G is for …..

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Julie Goucher

G is for…… .Goucher
A few years ago I became aware of a Henry Goucher who was tried at the Old Bailey. The trial was fairly standard of the time, Henry called one witness who said he was of good character and Henry was received the verdict of death.

I next turned to Ancestry. The Convict records reveal that Henry Goucher was aged 35 years and had been convicted of horse stealing at his trial held on the 9th January 1811 at the Old Bailey.

The Prison Hulk records reveal that Henry was in fact transferred from the prison where he was held, probably Newgate on 25th May 1811 and subsequently held on board the vessel Retribution which was moored at Woolwich.  He was then transported for life on 14th August 1811.

This is confirmed by the Australian Convict Transportation Registers, which reveal that Henry was transported on board The Guildford to New South Wales for life.

The New South Wales Settler & Convict List reveals that Henry survived the voyage and arrived in January 1812. He was placed as a labourer within the Colony and the Government employ and that appears to be the case from 1812 through until 1821.

The Colonial Secretary Papers from 4th Oct 1813 reveal that Henry is recorded as being sent to Newcastle on board the Estramina. A similiar document dated 8th Jan 1814 reveals that same and the additional note that the men listed (Henry was one of about 5) were being sent because they were “industrious and well behaved” The same papers reveal on 4th & 5th April of 1814 that Henry is sent to Derwent on board the Windham. The next reference to dated 26th April 1820 when Henry is sent back to Newcastle on board the Elizabeth Henrietta and is recorded with a trade of shoemaker.

 Henry Goucher timeline

  • 1775 – approx year of birth
  • 18th Dec 1811 – Indited for stealing 
  • 9th January 1811 – Trial at the Old Bailey 
  • 25th May 1811 – Transferred to Hulk Ship Retribution 
  • 14th August 1811- Transported on board The Guildford
  • January 1812 – Arrived New South Wales
  • 1812 – 1821 – Government employ as labourer within Colony
  • 4th Oct 1813 – Named on Colonial Secretary Papers  – Newcastle on board the Estramina
  • 8th Jan 1814 –  Named on Colonial Secretary Papers  – Newcastle on board the Estramina
  • 4th & 5th April 1814 –  Named on Colonial Secretary Papers  – Derwent on board the Windham
  • 26th April 1820 –  Named on Colonial Secretary Papers  -Newcastle on board the Elizabeth Henrietta
Once I had got past the excitement of locating so much of Henry I read again the documents that appear in the Colonial Secretary Papers. The convicts selected were required to fell trees and literally with their sweat and hard work a colony was built. Sobering thoughts. An addition post about Henry is HERE

The link for the A-Z Challenge 2011 post is HERE

Tagged , | 2 Comments

Sepia Saturday 120 – Library

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Julie Goucher
A subject after my own heart!
Published as part of the Mowbury Series, this dates from circa 1950
Picture of the Library of New South Wales Sydney Australia
Library of the Inner Temple circa 1910 & published by Tuck
The Bowring Institute in Bangalore
 Taking part in Sepia Saturday
Tagged | 9 Comments

Sepia Saturday 119 – Work

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Julie Goucher

A recent find, that I was delighted to come across. This dates from around 1950 and shows, F. W. Woolworths on the left hand side of the High Street at Guildford. My Grandmother worked for Woolworths, or as she affectionately called it, Fred’s back in the 1920s.

Sadly, a casualty of the recent recession, all attempts prior to their demise to locate early employee records failed and a small chapter of my Grandmother’s life closes.

Circa 1950, High Street, Guildford Surrey
Taking part in Sepia Saturday
Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sepia Saturday 118 – Going Out

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Julie Goucher
Taken at Shoeburyness Essex beach circa 1954 – My Grandmother is the one wearing the hat!

 It is no surprise that my Grandmother is wearing the hat in the photo above. My Grandmother was a great one for a joke. If she was in a store that sold hats, she just had to try them on.

In my early 20s and I would regularly meet my Grandmother and Aunt for a coffee and lunch at Debenhams in Guildford. The deal was, I would meet my Grandmother at Marks and Spencer’s at Guildford, make our way to Debenham’s at the bottom of the High Street to meet my Aunt and possibly a cousin or two. If I got my Grandmother to the restaurant without her being tempted to try the hats on Aunt bought my lunch and if she didn’t I bought Aunt’s lunch.  Guess who bought the lunch? Such happy memories.

Brighton Beach circa 1953
My Grandfather at Brighton, with my Mum as a little girl at his feet. I guess by the look on Mum’s face that her Dad was ensuring she didn’t wriggle off and Mum was none to pleased!
Taking part in Sepia Saturday
Tagged | 1 Comment

Golden Fleece Public House Elstead

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Julie Goucher
Posted in Archive - Imported from Blogger | Tagged | Leave a comment

Weekend Cooking – Good Friday Dinner

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Julie Goucher
As is customary, it is traditional to have fish on Good Friday. A few weeks ago hubby went fishing and caught some trout. As he went to a fishery, they had to be bought home and after being gutted and filleted they were destined to spend a few weeks in the freezer. So, it seemed appropriate to have them for dinner on Good Friday.
So I placed four fillets (there were three of us!) in a lasagne dish lined with tin foil
Here they are with a couple of knobs of light butter, salt and pepper and lemon juice from a fresh lemon.
I then fold in the tin foil and place ready for the oven.
Next boil some potatoes and then mash with butter and milk, as well as salt and pepper.
Add some cheese (depending on how cheesy!)
Mix in together and add to a dish. A few slices of tomato to garnish and a smattering of cheese and pepper.
Cheese & Potato Pie ready to go into oven.
Add the trout and the cheese and potato pie to the oven for around 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the cheese and potato pie looks like this 
……And after 20 minutes!

Taking part in Weekend Cooking, hosted by BethFishReads
Tagged , | 10 Comments

Elstead Village

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Julie Goucher
Posted in Archive - Imported from Blogger | Tagged | Leave a comment

Blogging A-Z – April Challenge – F is for

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Julie Goucher

F is for…… .Flora & Fauna
When we see a picture of a Kangaroo or Kaola we probably immediately think Australia. We certainly know what they are. Imagine being transported to an unknown land, far from home, one that takes 3 months to get there. Even the free settlers had the traumatic experience of a long and potentially dangerous sailing, even if they had made a conscious decision to start a new life.

So, having got off the ship and encountered the heat and dryness what of the animals, or indigenous people in this new amazing land? Think of the amazement of observing a marsupial, such as a Kangaroo or Wallaby, a Wombat or Kaola. 
One of the things that still amazes me, despite living in the Country is the size and geography. From where some of my family live to Sydney is around 500 miles, a small distance to travel in comparison to the size of the Country. Further comparison, from my home to that of my husband’s family is 400 miles and we have travelled not quite the length of the Country. 
It would have been an incredible learning curve for the settlers, and one I think we underestimate in the 21st Century. 
I noticed as I write this post, the Australian Tourist Board are promoting Australia as a holiday destination, with the slogan of  …….the wonder of Australia…..” 
Absolutely!
The link for the A-Z Challenge 2011 post is HERE

Tagged | 4 Comments

John Hunt Butcher & his link to sheep..

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Julie Goucher

I was having a trawl through the Australian Newspaper Archives a while ago and came across this article which relates to my Butcher ancestors from Hascombe Surrey. John Hunt Butcher had inherited the estate called Park Hatch at Hascombe Surrey. He sold the estate in 1814 and migrated to Tasmania with his family in 1821.

The Lanceston Examiner (Tasmania)
Saturday, 6th April 1901

John Hunt Butcher died in Tasmania in 1839 and at the time of his demise he certainly had a substantial flock of sheep as you can see…

Colonial Times 19th November 1839
What I did find curious was the sale of the furniture. John’s widow Sarah Butcher did remain in Tasmania, although she did return to England for a short time. Had her intention been to remain in England so selling her belongings was the only option, but at some point she changed her mind and returned to Tasmania?

Posted in Archive - Imported from Blogger | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Blogging A-Z – April Challenge – E is for …..

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Julie Goucher

E is for…… .Ellis
Turning back to the sibling of convict Robert Turpin, I have established that his sister Sarah married John Ellis in the Surrey parish of Elstead in 1842.

At the time of their marriage Sarah was recorded as a lace maker, as was her father. There is no evidence to suggest that Sarah’s parents moved to Elstead, nor what exactly bought Sarah to such a rural parish, but she did arrive in Elstead and worked as a lace maker at Elstead Mill.
Between the time of their marriage and the migration to Victoria Australia they raised a family of 6 children, starting with Robert baptised in Elstead in 1843, Thomas baptised in 1844, Frederick baptised in 1846, Wilhelmina baptised in 1849, Rosetta baptised in 1853 and Josiah baptised in 1851.
John and Sarah migrated, as free settlers to Victoria in 1854. Sailing on board the “British Empire” from Southampton on 17th October and arriving in January 1855. It has always been unclear what prompted their migration. Were they inspired by the gold rush; although there is no evidence they were involved once they arrived in their new Country? Were they encouraged by Robert, who had become a free settler? again there is no evidence of that either. 
Sarah’s brother Josiah Turpin also migrated with the family, although he sailed on a different ship; The James Baines. He was accompanied by his nephew, young Josiah Ellis who would have been only a little boy of around 5 years old. I wonder how Josiah felt being separated from his parents for the duration of the journey. Another pondering is why the family did not travel together. Was their perhaps not enough berths on the ship, or had illness or funds prevented it?
John and Sarah along with their children arrived in Victoria and made their home in Geelong and I am sure they eagerly awaited the arrival of Josiah Turpin and young Josiah. Once in Australia, John and Sarah added a few more children to their family; Jane baptised in 1855, perhaps conceived just before they left England, Catherine baptised in 1858, Sarah in 1860 and John Henry George in 1862. 

Will of John Ellis. Probate 30 Nov 1900

Some sadness did occur, with the death of both Rosetta and young Josiah. There were successes too, daughter Jane became a student teacher in Germantown Geelong and the family seemed to have been content in their new home. 
John lived a happy and long life, passing away on 8th August 1900 and Sarah 23rd August 1903. Josiah Turpin remained close to his family. Sadly he never married and from what I have discovered there is no mention of the family meeting up with convict Robert. 
It would have been tragic if the family had been in the same Country all the time and not spent some time together or been aware.
The link for the A-Z Challenge 2011 post is HERE

Tagged | 4 Comments