Thank you, Jean, for such a compelling and carefully researched post. The detail you’ve uncovered about Philip Walter’s life is remarkable, and I particularly appreciated the way you made clear what the records confirm, and where you’ve had to weigh possibilities. I’m working on my own family history at the moment and have several convict ancestors as well, so your work struck a chord. Like you, I’m finding that the challenge is not just finding records, but making sense of them and piecing together a life with care. A small note: I think there’s a typo where you mention Philip receiving his ticket of leave in 1945—it should be 1845, I believe. But that’s a tiny detail in what is otherwise a deeply impressive piece. Thanks again.
I find these convict marriages fascinating because the presumption is that transported people will never return to see their families in England again, yet some of them did return after long sentences. I wonder how many returned with their wives knowing they might have another living wife back home.
Thank you, Jean, for such a compelling and carefully researched post. The detail you’ve uncovered about Philip Walter’s life is remarkable, and I particularly appreciated the way you made clear what the records confirm, and where you’ve had to weigh possibilities. I’m working on my own family history at the moment and have several convict ancestors as well, so your work struck a chord. Like you, I’m finding that the challenge is not just finding records, but making sense of them and piecing together a life with care. A small note: I think there’s a typo where you mention Philip receiving his ticket of leave in 1945—it should be 1845, I believe. But that’s a tiny detail in what is otherwise a deeply impressive piece. Thanks again.
Thanks Peter, for your comments, and for the heads up on the typo. I see I’ve done it all the way through, even in the footnotes. 😝
I find these convict marriages fascinating because the presumption is that transported people will never return to see their families in England again, yet some of them did return after long sentences. I wonder how many returned with their wives knowing they might have another living wife back home.
I wonder how many left in England remarried knowing they would likely never see their husband or wife again.