Looking for Farmer Murviss Salop 1841

[linell]

Hi all have received some info from a Willetts cousin in Australia she is descended from Joseph Willetts born about 1825 Haley Green Halesowen. Joseph was convicted for arson and sent to Norfolk Island (one of the worst penal colonies of them all). Joseph Willetts was tried at the Shrewsbury Assizes and convicted on the 10 March 1844 his sentence was LIFE. The statement indicates that this was his first conviction. On the documentation the convicts statement is recorded as "Setting fire to a farm, it took fire accidently. I was farm servant." I am trying to a) find out which Joseph Willetts it was and b) locate Farmer Murviss who owned the Farm, he should be on the 1841 Census. That name does not ring any bells with me and I know all the Halesowen names, so he could be from Shropshire it's self rather than Halesowen which was in Shropshire until 1844.

Some of the general information is interesting, he was Church of England and could read and write a little, occupation farm labourer, bullock driver, marital status single, native place Shropshire. Physical description of Joseph as follows:-height 5ft 6 inches, age 21, complexion swarthy, head oval, hair light brown, whiskers none, visage oval, forehead medium, eyebrows dark, eyes hazel, nose mouth chin medium. Remarks: large mole on breast.

There are a couple of discrepancies in this story. When Joseph is recorded as a convict it says he is 21. ie born 1823. When Joseph records his son John's birth in 1862 the records state that Joseph was born 1826.

Any help would be much appreciated, cheers from Linell.

[linell]

I think it is this Joseph as he lived in the right Lutley/Hayley Green area and is missing from the 1841 Census, unless he is on that Farm in Shropshire:-

http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/fa ... tts-Family

The Murviss Farm could also be in Romsley Halesowen, as Hayley Green, is on the cusp of Romsley.

Linell.

[Jimmy]

England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892.
about Joseph Willetts.
Name: Joseph Willetts.
Age: 17.
Estimated birth year: abt 1827.
Date of Trial: 16 Mar 1844.
Trial Year: 1844.
Location of Trial: Shropshire.
Sentence: Transportation.

Arson / Setting fire to a barn. Life.

[Jimmy]

Australian Convict Transportation Registers - Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868.
about Joseph Willetts.
Name: Joseph Willetts.
Vessel: Agincourt.
Convicted Date: 16 Mar 1844.
Voyage Date: 6 Jul 1844.
Colony: Van Dieman's Land.
Piece: HO 11/14.
Place of Conviction: Shropshire, England.

[Jimmy]

Could this be Mervis on image.

1841. Nuberry Lane, Oldbury, Hales Owen.
Richard Merris 60. Farmer.
Mary Merris 25.
Richard Merris 20.

[Maths girl]

Could this be Mervis on image.

1841. Nuberry Lane, Oldbury, Hales Owen.
Richard Merris 60. Farmer.
Mary Merris 25.
Richard Merris 20.

FMP thinks Morris but I would go with Mervis

[FarSide]

From google books 'The Jurist'
In a list of Insolvent Debtors in 1855
Richard Merris, Oldbury, Halesowen, Worcestershire, farmer, Feb. 24 at 10, County Court of Staffordshire, at Oldbury

[mallosa]

Could this be Mervis on image.

1841. Nuberry Lane, Oldbury, Hales Owen.
Richard Merris 60. Farmer.
Mary Merris 25.
Richard Merris 20.

Looks like Merris, I think...
1851: Newberry Lane, Oldbury, Worc
Richard Merris 30 Head Farmer of 40 acres of land and ? Oldbury
Mathilda Merris 26 Wife
Joseph Payne 18 U Agricultural Lab

[linell]

Many thanks everyone, yes it must be Merriss, I did know a family of Merriss in Halesowen, so they were around. Can archive this now NL, cheers from Linell.