Hi Col,
There may have been more sons than shown on the Convict Indent, I am trying to establish how many and who they were. Starting with the indent we have one unaccounted for who may have been over eight years or deceased.
At that time it was common that families were large and given accents and perhaps the literacy of the clerk it is quite possible that an incorrect number could be recorded, Sarah would never know, she was unable to read or write.
Sarah was born C 1785 so there could have been perhaps ten years before Charles was born [C 1816] for other children and after that there appears a gap to C 1819 to Thomas, then 1823 to Mary Ann 1826 to Sarah and C 1827 to James
I have always considered Andrew a strong possibility but have lacked a confirming link between him and Sarah. Recently a confirmed descendent of Andrew has contacted me and we are both trying to ascertain by DNA whether we have the connection that we both hope to find.
While I only have the Indent to establish the number of children, Sarah’s request through Governor Ready to London was for permission to take three children with her so besides Thomas we should be able to accept that three children were eligible under the rules at that time. Sarah was possibly advised of the age requirements and perhaps her request was necessary in order to ensure those who went with her had clear permission.
There were several Lynchey families on the Island during the first half of the 19th century. Baptisms record parents as Michael Lynchy & Sarah Mullen, Jeffery Lynchey & Susan Cannell, John Lynchey & Catherine Duffy, and Andrew Lynchey & Jane Irvine.
Quite possibly some, perhaps all, of these families were related.
I may be facing the “Stain of Convictism” which has gone in Australia although much has been lost in the rejecting our heritage which took place for over 100 years to the mid 1950s. I would imagine that a similar process took place in the UK and on the Island.
I hope that I can find a link between Sarah and someone, she like many who came here as convicts had descendents who became business men, farmers, professional people and died in the two catastrophic wars of the twentieth century
Sarah deserves to be remembered.
Peter
Melbourne
Australia