Thread: Balshaw Family

I've been looking into the Balshaw Family Tree for a little while now and would like some help in understanding how I verify a link between Richard Balshaw b. 1830 in Preston, later tried and convicted on 21st June 1860, transported to Australia in 1862 on the "Norwood" and the Richard Balshaw that married Emma Tomkins in 1872 in Balmain, Australia..later returning to Lancashire to continue the Balshaw line. So far the only connection I have between the "convict" Richard Balshaw and the Lancashire Richard Balshaw, is family speculation.

Well I guess you need to find Richard's baptism to find out who his father was, and then the marriage cert to Emma to see if father's name and occupation match up.



Does the one who returned to Lancs have same birthplace and age as the one convicted?

1881 census has a Richard Balshaw married to Emma, living in Manchester. Richard is born 1831 in Melbourne Australia, and his wife born London.



I haven't been able to find any other Richards born Preston at the right time on censuses, though 1841 has a Richard born 1833, living in Preston with James Balshaw (head of household) 50, a weaver and Hannah.

Thanks Helen, I have the 1881 Census data and the following on history and this Richard married to Emma is the correct one. I've sent for the marriage cert from Australia, which should clear up Richard's birthplace. We suspect that when asked by the census taker "Where are you from", he said Melbourne, either by mistake or by design to disconnect from a possible criminal past.....we just don't know yet. My biggest problem is finding out anything about convict lives in Australia. All I know so far is that a convict called Richard Balshaw of about the right age from about the right area was sent to Australia and a Richard Balshaw of the right age came back. Are they same person???

Their are records of released convicts and describtion also were born.



Maybe you could ask one of our Australian members to help further .



Good luck

Thanks I'll try a new post