Thread: Looking for William Renshaw and his criminal record

Hello



I am at the beginning of my family history search. I have been advised that my g.g. grandfather William John Renshaw was born c. 1791 in Chester, Cheshire, England, and was convicted of burglary. I have the following information:

10 April 1814 - Chester Sessions, Cheshire. Death Senternce commuted to Tranportation for Burglary. Age 23 years. 5' 7 1/2 " tall, pale complexion, black hair, dark eyes. Occupation - Weaver, native of Cheshire.

15 April 1815 - Distribution of Convicts aboard "Indefatigable to Windsor/ Wallis Plains.

1 July 1818 - Prisoners recommended fro mitigation of Sentence

31 July 1818 - Convict Pardon - Assistance at Bathurst, NSW, Australia.



Does anyone know how I might find the actual details of his court hearing?



Many thanks

Donna

Hi Donna,



Are you sure this is your William John Renshaw.



My Great Grand Aunt Anastasia Cummins married Felix Peter Renshaw. His father was William John Renshaw who married Catherine Mary Kenny in 1838 in Sydney. They arrived in 1838 on the Strathfieldsaye. Both were born in Ireland. William John was born c 1816 in Ireland. They went to and lived in Orange and died there. I have a very extensive family history of the Renshaw family including some photos.



With the William John you have mentioned the only information I can find on him is his convict records of being sent to Australia. I have searched our bdm site and cannot find a marriage for him, no births and no death for him. So either he went to another state or he just disappeared.



By the way your not the Donna from Hartley are you?

Hi Kate



Yes, I am the Donna from Hartley, NSW. Thanks for your reply. I was contacted by another distant relative who advised their records had William John RENSHAW as having been born in England, prior to having been convicted and transported to Australia where he met and married Catherine. I am trying to gather more information to confirm or deny this. They also indicated they thought, but did not have proof, that William may have been married before Catherine.



Any insights?



Donna

Would that have been Maggie that you have been in contact with? I found some of her Cummins information to be incorrect. It appears to be pretty certain that William John was Irish and came to Australia on the same ship as Catherine Kenny and that both came from Tipperary. They married pretty soon after landing in NSW. It is probable that William Renshaw knew William Cummins in Ireland, they were about the same age and William Cummins and his brother came out a few years later. Family history does not have that William Renshaw was a convict but a free settler as was Catherine Kenny and my Cummins family. The whole family were pretty staunch Catholics with their daughter Bridget Margaret becoming a Nun. From my contact with other family members the information I have on William Renshaw is correct and that he was born in Ireland c 1816.

Hi Donna, Your William Renshaw, may well be my GG grandfather too. i have limited imformation and settlement in Orange area, Orange library has the name of the farm that he setttled on as afree man and started fruit orchards. I went up there to explore more ,and will go there again shortly.
As for the sentence it may be in the Chester county sessions records. this is online, and covers 300 years. hope you find the story, I think he did Marry before,also his brother waas sent out a few years after him. I believe it was a simple crime. Robert Renshaw