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HeyJudeB4Beatles/

Thomas b. 1801[6] (possible convict returned) was born in Curdworth, Warwickshire, however his son (who was born in Tipton, Staffs) lived in Tutbury in 1871 and 1881 census and it is thought that possibly old Tom arrived on the doorstep and son and family panicked and left and went to Redditch, Worcs.!! Why Redditch I do not know. Anyway that would leave old Tom alone in Tutbury so it is possible he ended up in Burton on Trent Workhouse as a last resort. Only theory I can come up with knowing my family!! Ashame but that is how life was in those days.

Can you think of another theory?

Chris Ho/

Thank you for the new Australian site, I shall get onto it asap.

Cathryn :-)

http://www.sro.wa.gov.au/archive-collection/collection/convict-records

(about Convict holdings. WA)

Chris :)

Cathryn I have pm'd the images of the assizes and deportation in case you didnt have them.

This death looks to be the guy in 1891 census.

Name: Thomas Cockin
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1801
Registration Year: 1892
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 91
Registration district: Burton upon Trent
Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 333

I like the theory regarding Co Mayo - the entry below Thomas is from Tutbury where he came from.

Jude

Good luck!
I wish I knew where my family got the convict records from, but hopefully the library will be of assitance.

Hi BeverleyW

As suggested I have contacted the West Australian Library and asked the Librarian a question. I have requested access to Thomas Cocking's convict records and any other information there might be available.

I am most appreciative of the information you obtained about him.

I will keep you posted as to how I get on with this research.

:-)

BeverleyW/
I am amazed that one can get records of convicts behaviour whilst in prison. You are lucky having this info. I will try and investigate my Thomas Cocking.

I am going to get on the site you gave me about mariners records. Sounds exciting and I will let you know how I get on. Thank you so much.

Cathryn :-)

How about this for a possibility?

1st June 1865 the ship Camden sailed from Fremantle to Sydney. On board was a passenger called Thomas Cocking.

http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1865/06/003cam.htm

My g-g-grandfather was in Fremantle prison a bit later, in 1854.
I have a photocopy of his prison record, showing all the details of his life in the jail, and also on it are written the details of what he did when he left W.A. in 1886 - many years after his release.
I have no idea where this document originated from since it was passed down to me through my family. However it would be just the job if you could obtain Thomas's record.
Perhaps the prison would be able to help or you could get in touch with the library as Valerie suggests, they are really helpful.

Maureen/ exciting info, thank you.

Argylgran/ This Thomas said he was born in Staffordshire in the 1881 census so perhaps he was not in control of his mind when the 1891 census was filled in on his behalf. Another inmate said he was from Co.Mayo so perhaps he gave the enumerator the same info. Just another way at looking at it.

Gins/ You say Mrs Skeldon's name was Sarah and from another household. Do you have any more info about her because it is thought she was living with Thomas to look after his children and probably his wife had died.

Beverley/ incredible info will follow up. All that info about the court case I obtained way back in the 1980's and you are right in what you say. If he sold his sheep whilst in Australia for 6d as my gt.grandfather said, perhaps he found enough money to get a passage home. We Cockin[gs] are very persistent!!!

Brumejam/ thank you for the info. will follow it up.

Valerie/ That info about the sheep was mine in 2000. It was a story told by my gt grandfather Cocking [grandson of Thomas b.1806] and it is what has kept me going to find info about Australia.

Chris/ info very good and will follow it up. I have been searching for Mary for years. Thomas said he was a widow when convicted in 1849 so this seem to confirm what he said. In fact I am going to print all this out so I do not forget what has been advised.

Thank you everyone for your information and if you find anything further I would be really grateful to hear from you.

:-)

Baptism
County Staffordshire
Place Dudley Staffs
Church St Thomas
RegisterNumber 3180
BaptismDate 06 Nov 1831
Forename Thomas
Sex M
FatherForename Thomas
MotherForename Mary
FatherSurname COOKIN
Abode Tipton
FatherOccupation Labourer

(is that Son on 1841?)


Burial
County Staffordshire
Place Dudley Staffs
Church St Thomas
RegisterNumber 664
BurialDate 18 Jul 1832
Forename Mary
Surname COCKIN
Age 29
Abode Dudley

Chris :)

http://www.freereg.org.uk/cgi/Search.pl

(from above)

That theory seems to have been debunked above, Valerie, since the one in the workhouse was Irish.

cont...
Another researcher on 'Genforum' (2000) notes that Thomas Cocking returned to the UK after selling his sheep for 6 pennies ...... and appears on 1881 census in a Burton-on-Trent workhouse.

Valerie (WAus)

The 'West Australian State Library' (on-line) has an 'Ask a Librarian' service - they will check their MANY records - including those of (next-door) 'State Records Office' -well worth a try.

Valerie (WAus)

In 1863 he would be around 60 years old and probably had no money to speak of whatsoever.
I think you can rule out the idea that he returned to England; most ex-convicts could not afford the fare home.
Having said that, I can't see him in the WA records for marriage or deaths.

Do you know where in Australia he was transported to? The only Thomas Cockin I can find was transported in 1831 so obviously not the right one.
By 1853 transportation was almost finished.

Edit - OK found him, as COCKING in Fremantle (W.A.) prison

COCKING, Thomas
Convict No 1937
Ship Name Pyrenees (Journey 2)
Ship Arrival Date 30 Apr 1853
Birth Date 1802
Marital Status Wid 3 chn
Occupation labourer
Sentence Date 15 Oct 1849
Sentence Place Stafford
Sentence Province Stafford
Sentence Country England
Court Qtr Sess
Length of Sentence 7yrs
Crime killing sheep with intent to steal
Ticket of Leave Date 1 May 1853
Conditional Pardon Date 18 Jul 1863

That looks a good find Mo :-)

Just a maybe for the 1851:
1851 England Census about T C
Name: T C
Age: 48
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1803
Relation: Convict (Prisoner)
Gender: Male
Where born: Warwickshire, England
Civil Parish: Alverstoke
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Maps:
View related Ecclesiastical Parish
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Defense Invalid Convict Depot
Piece: 1660
Folio: 517
Page Number: 15

Maureen

Is this the one you believe to be your Thomas?

Name: Thomas Cockin
Event Type: Christening
Event Date: 04 Nov 1804
Event Place: Curdworth, Warwickshire, England
Gender: Male
Father's Name: Thomas Cockin
Mother's Name: Sarah
GS Film number: 198729 , Digital Folder Number: 4290097 , Image Number: 00214

There are a couple of deaths in AUS that match. Do you know his parents name please?

Cathryn -

The Thomas Cockin you found in the workhouse in Burton on Trent is listed as born in Co. Mayo., in 1801.


1881 England Census about Thomas Cockin
Name: Thomas Cockin
Age: 80
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1801
Relationship to Head: Inmate
Gender: Male
Where born: Mayo Co, Ireland
Civil Parish: Horninglow
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England
Street address: The Burton On Trent Union Workhouse
Marital Status: Widow
Occupation: Farm Labourer
Registration district: Burton Upon Trent
Sub registration district: Burton Upon Trent
ED, institution, or vessel: The Burton on Trent Union Workhouse
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2767
Folio: 136
Page Number: 4