Hi Col, Sue Frances and all,
Several years ago I put aside my brickwall with Lynchey and the Isle of man to look at other ancestor lines.
To recap, Sarah Lynchey was sentenced at Castle Rushen in November 1833 to transportation for 14 years; Sarah’s son, Thomas, was convicted and sentenced with his mother.
The Indent of Convicts on the Mary III (5) shows Sarah as a widow having had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. One son was noted as on board with her as were the two daughters. Thomas was transported separately which left one son unaccounted for; he could have been left behind or perhaps deceased.
I have a copy of a letter from Lord Melbourne giving permission for Sarah to take sons with her up to eight years of age and girls to twelve years.
From several colonial documents we know for certain one son to be Thomas, while the other was probably James; One daughter was Mary Ann who was my GG grandmother, the other was probably Sarah who was baptised in 1826..
There has been an intense search including DNA tests seeking the son “not on board” and both Andrew who became a Marine Store dealer or Charles who also became a Marine store Dealer.
The other possibility of this son being deceased has not found a likely Lynchey although several years ago Frances alerted me to a father and son with “similar names” who perished in a cholera outbreak in 1832.
That’s where I am now and I appreciate all the assistance I have had from those listed on this Board.
Peter Strauss
Melbourne
Australia