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phillip
28-05-2010, 1:58 PM
For my Crawcour distant relatives including the Bushell/Laurance lines via Sarah Anne Bushell nee Laurance I have new data on Aaron Crawcour son of David Crawcour. The 1854 trial of Aaron Crawcour for gold bullion theft shows on copies of the original indictment that he had already served imprisonment for theft but under the alias of John Williams. The previous prison sentence was in Newgate for 2 years 6 April 1840.
A search of the Old Bailey Trials online indicates that there was a John Williams age 26 who was transported for 7 years- however Aaron Crawcour was born in 1818 and died in 1901 Melbourne having changed his name to Charles Lawrence/Laurance after marrying Sarah Anne Laurance nee Bushell.
The later trial in 1854 for theft contains some important data which is confusing including reference to a prison sentence of 2 years hard labour and later reference to 7 years transportation for Aaron Crawcour.
Further research is needed to confirm that John Williams in 1840 and Aaron Crawcour in 1854 are one in the same.
I hold a set of copies from the National Archives UK which are from the original trial indictment if any distant relatives are interested.
It is also possible that Aaron Crawcour alias John Williams alias Charles Laurance/Lawrence used other alias and served further sentences.
Phillip

phillip
13-03-2012, 11:40 AM
The following data is a follow up to clarify the relationships between Aaron Crawcour alias Charles Lawrence/Laurance; Sarah Ann Bushell and her son Charles Edward Bushell. Although there are several family trees on the Sarah Ann Bushell and her son Charles Edward Bushell none of them have sought to look at the original sources which indicate the relationship to Aaron Crawcour. This data is based on census and other primary sources:
I will identify the various records in turn- first of all the Australian Marriage Records Index record; Sarah Anne LAWRENCE marriage to Aaron CRAWCOUR Victoria 1870 Reg No 2549 with an additional inclusion of Sarah's name spelt LAURANCE.
The Australian Birth records Index show David LAURANCE father Charles LAURANCE mother Sarah Ann Bushell Born Melbourne Victoria 1865. David's death is recorded as David LAWRENCE Victoria age 2 father: AARON and Mother Sarah. Other records include the death of Amelia Taylor Malvern Victoria 89 1952 father Charles LAURANCE mother Sarah Bushell and death Catherine LAURANCE Richmond Victoria 1913 age 54 father Charles LAURANCE and mother Sarah Bushell. I have posted on this thread and elsewhere that Aaron and Charles Lawrence/Laurance were one in the same and there is also the marriage of Sarah Ann Bushell to Henry Lawrence June Qtr 1853 Thanet 2a 927. A researcher has kindly posted data on this marriage which indicates Henry Stephen Lawrence Agricultural labourer -father Thomas marrying Sarah -father Peter Bushell.
I have looked at Free BMD plus the London Marriage Banns and Marriages and can see no marriage for a Charles Frederick Laurance/Lawrence/Lawrance which family trees have cited as the marriage of Sarah in London in 1857. I would also question whether or not such a marriage ever occurred and would welcome confirmation of an original record. I would also welcome any one confirming the census record of Henry and his father Thomas in 1841-1851 because as yet I cannot identify it. Unfortunately no dob is given for Henry on his marriage.
The record for Sarah A Bushell and her son Charles Edward Bushell appears in the 1851 Census HO107 16 23 220 6 ( Crown Copyright, TNA) at Bridges Union Workhouse Kent- Sarah is age 23 Unmarried b Kent Ickham and Charles Edward age 2 was born in the workhouse.
I will add the census records of Peter Bushell and his son Thomas Bushell later because Charles Edward was to live with his uncle Thomas and later marry Sarah Ann Bushell daughter of Thomas and emigrate to USA.
Phillip

Kerrywood
13-03-2012, 12:13 PM
there is also the marriage of Sarah Ann Bushell to Henry Lawrence June Qtr 1853 Thanet 2a 927. A researcher has kindly posted data on this marriage which indicates Henry Stephen Lawrence Agricultural labourer -father Thomas marrying Sarah -father Peter Bushell.

FamilySearch (extracted from the parish register of St Peter, Thanet) has slightly different data ...

Groom: Henry Lawrence
Bride: Sarah Ann Bushell
Date: 10 Apr 1853
Place: St. Peter, Kent
Groom's Father: John Lawrence
Bride's Father: Peter Bushell

I'll search the census later, unless somebody else does it first.

phillip
13-03-2012, 12:53 PM
Many thanks for the summary data on the marriage. I have looked on the 1851 Census using the combination of Henry Lawrence and father John for the Kent area but can see no likely names but this assumes Henry was living with his parents and his father John was alive. By circa 1865 Sarah was in Australia as the birth of her son David in 1865 indicates.
The 1861 Census RG9 518 150 11 ( Crown Copyright,TNA) records:
Peter Bushell H M 58 Agricultural Labourer b Ickham;Elizabeth Bushell wife 58 b Ash;Harriet Bushell dau 13 b Ickham;Charles E Bushell son 12 Ag Labourer
Charles E Bushell is the illigitimate son of Sarah suggesting that she had left him with her parents and may have gone to Australia pre 1861 census.
Phillip

Kerrywood
13-03-2012, 1:39 PM
I have looked on the 1851 Census using the combination of Henry Lawrence and father John for the Kent area but can see no likely names but this assumes Henry was living with his parents and his father John was alive.

Possible 1841 census, but some of the ages are obscured ...
HO107/468/6 folio 5 page 2
Fullers Cottages, St John the Baptist, Margate
John Lawrence 29 Labourer Y
Louisa Lawrence 22 Y
William Lawrence ? Y
Henry Lawrence ? Y
Emma Lawrence 2 (?) Y
Louiza Lawrence 1 Y

There's a BUSHELL family on the facing page, though not that of Peter BUSHELL.

The equivalent 1851 for this LAWRENCE family appears to be HO107/1629 folio 516 page 1. Henry is not present. There are several possible candidates for Henry living separately from his family in 1851.
(records held by TNA, Crown copyright)


By circa 1865 Sarah was in Australia as the birth of her son David in 1865 indicates.
I'm probably being a bit slow here, but I don't understand why you think this Sarah Ann BUSHELL who married Henry LAWRENCE in Kent in 1853 was the one who went to Australia.

Assuming your Sarah died in Australia, what does her death certificate say about her origins?

phillip
13-03-2012, 2:01 PM
I have already posted data on the records relating to Sarah but as a recap her death record Australian Death Index;
Sarah Ann Lawrance Kew Victoria age 76 Parents; Peter Bushell; Elizabeth Petley Death 1905 Victoria Reg No 5849 Est Birth Year 1829. She is buried with her father in Melbourne Cemetery. One of my distant cousins in Melbourne has copies of the various records plus the Cemetery Records and photographs of the graves. My reference to the various records posted comes from my own access to one of the major pay sites plus the data from my cousin all of which are based on primary sources.
The main reason for my posting again is to see what other family records might exist on Sarah and Aaron via relatives of Sarah and in particular her son Charles Edward Bushell. I was contacted via this site by a relative of Charles recently but my request for confirmation of data went unanswered so my hope is that other relatives may respond.
Phillip

Kerrywood
13-03-2012, 2:08 PM
Thanks for the explanation.

helachau
13-03-2012, 8:30 PM
Reporting Aaron's trial, The Morning Chronicle, 14 July 1853, recorded the Judge's summing up which included "... and if a former conviction had been proved against him, he should have felt it his duty to transport him for a very long period; however, as that was not so, he had only power to imprison him, which he should do for the longest period the law allowed, namely two years, and he accordingly passed that sentence on the prisoner"

Reporting Aaron's father's appearance in Court, The Morning Chronicle, 24 August 1853, recorded "Mr David Crawcour, surgeon, of Windsor Terrace, city Road, again appeared upon his recognizance charged with having harboured and assisted his son, Aaron Crawcour, who stands convicted and sentenced to seven years transportation for having been concerened in the gold dust robbery on board the Lady Flora, Australian Vessel".

So, was a "former conviction proved" between the two dates above to cause the change in sentence?

phillip
13-03-2012, 9:17 PM
The original copies of the trial I hold show Aaron received 2 years and his father had no charge against him.
Phillip

phillip
18-03-2012, 10:12 AM
The following USA Census returns show Charles Edward Bushell also known as Laurance/Lawrence son of Sarah Ann Bushell/Laurance/Lawrence with his family in the 1880 US Federal Census Record Russell Big Creek Kansas ( Copyright, The NA Gov USA)- Big Creek County Township County of Russell Kansas District 3 P22 Enumeration District 287 Image 0610
He had dropped his first name of Charles:
Edward LAWRENCE W M 31 farmer b England ( Parents English)
Sarah LAWRENCE wife W M 26 Keeping House b England ( Parents English)
Charles LAWRENCE son 3 W b Kansas
Flora LAWRENCE dau 1 b Kansas

Another daughter Catherine Amelia Laurance 1890-1983 was to be born later and her married name was Watkins.

Following the death of Charles Edward in a railway accident- he was a coal miner Osage Kansas- Sarah re- married to Walter Langden:
1900 US Federal Census ( Copyright The NA USA Gov) Roll 494 P11B Enumeration District 123 Osage Kansas
Walter Langden H WB b England 1860 Coalminer Year of Immigration 1885
Sarah Langden W Wife 45 b England b April 1855 Year of Immigration 1875
Charles Laurance stepson W b 1877 Kansas coal miner
Carries A Laurance step dau b June 1890 Kansas

I am searching records to identify if Charles Edward went to Australia and similarly when his mother Sarah immigrated to Australia.
Phillip

phillip
21-03-2012, 7:50 AM
I am enclosing further data on the Sarah Ann Bushell ( parents Peter Bushell and Elizabeth Petley) born Ickham Kent and died Melbourne Australia.
This series of postings on the Aaron Crawcour and Sarah Bushell relationship has already confirmed that Sarah was married twice- first to Henry Stephen Lawrence in 1853 and then in 1870 to Aaron Crawcour in Melbourne.
As a follow up to this data the Australia Birth Index 1788-1922 has a record of the birth of Sabina Lawrence 29 Dec 1853 North Adelaide SA p265 Vol 4
Father Henry Lawrence - mother Sarah Ann Bushell
The Australia Death Index 1787-1985 has the death of Sabina Lawrence age 4mths 7 May1854 Adelaide SA father Henry Lawrence.
In addition, as part of the Death Records there is the death of a Henry Lawrence 23 Dec 1853Adelaide age 34 b abt 1819.

There is no proof that these records relate to the Henry Lawrence who married Sarah but the dates suggest the possibility that Henry and Sarah emigrated to Australia following their marriage June qtr 1853 Thanet Kent and that Sarah Ann Bushell mother of Sabina is one in the same person.
The Argus Melbourne Sat 11 Oct 1913 records the death of Catherine LAURANCE of Coleridge St Kew 8 Oct 1913 eldest daughter of the late Charles and Sarah Laurance late of North Melbourne and beloved sister of Millie Laurance -interred privately Necropolis.
The Australian Electoral Rolls for 1903 and 1909 had shown Amelia and Catherine living at 34 Coleridge St Kew .
If the records of Henry and Sarah listed above show the correct relationship which I suspect they do then Sarah was a widow when she married Aaron in 1870 but earlier records also show she and Aaron ( calling himself Charles) had Catherine; David and Amelia pre their 1870 wedding. It is also my belief that the reason for Aaron calling himself Charles Lawrence/Laurance was probably two fold- his relatives were living in Melbourne and there was a family stigma relating to his criminal record and it is also possible he had further convictions and was trying to cover up his real name. Other Crawcour and Aaron relatives had changed their names because they had criminal records as the various postings on these lines has shown.
Phillip

phillip
21-03-2012, 8:54 PM
As a follow up to the previous post the site The Ship List: Immigrants to South Australia (UK,assisted Passage) 1847-1886 records that Henry Lawrence age 28 ans Sarah Lawrence age 25 sailed on the 'Olivia' from London/Plymouth on 30 July 1853 and arrived Port Adelaide South Australia on 14 Nov 1853.
The previous post referred to the mother's maiden name of Sarah Lawrence as Sarah Ann Bushell which appeared on the birth record of Sabina Lawrence. Importantly, the age of 25 in 1853 for Sarah matches her actual dob in the family trees and baptismal records as being born in 1828.

Given the Australian and UK records cited as primary sources in previous posts including the marriage of Henry and Sarah in Thanet in 1853 June qtr it appears that Henry and Sarah did emigrate to South Australia where they had a child called Sabina born Dec 1853 and died 1854.
However, the Henry Lawrence who died 23 Dec 1853 age 34 in Adelaide does not match the dob for Henry Lawrence husband of Sarah who was born abt 1825. There is another death record which records Henry Lawrence ( Australia Death Index 1787-1985) 16 Jan 1868 Port Adelaide age 42 giving an approx dob as 1826. If this Henry Lawrence is the husband of Sarah then the birth records of the children of Sarah and Charles Lawrence/Laurance suggest that David Laurance/Lawrence b 1865 Melbourne and died 1867; Amelia b1863 and Catherine b 1859 were not his children.
The age variations for individuals in the census and other records does however signal a note of caution and the actual copies of the death certificates of the two Henry's may give clarity on the relationships.
Phillip