Hi Moira,

Thank you for your reply, and the detailed information. It appears this may not be our John Byron, as he was married on 13/05/1850 to a Mary Halion (Hallian) at Bungendore, NSW, Australia, and not in Sheffield.

Further, his father, John Byron was employed by the East India Company, as an Apothecary in the 3rd Brigade Horse Artillery. He was killed in action on 21/12/1845 whilst fighting the Sikhs at the Battle of Ferozeshah. John Byron (senior) was married to a Elizabeth McCarty on 19/11/1826 in Ghazeepore, West Bengal, India, but in John Byron's Will he detailed at length how his then wife, Elizabeth, left him abruptly in 1839, running off with a male servant of theirs. He further reports how Elizabeth continued her infidelity with other male natives after leaving him. He reports how devastated, broken and embarrassed by Elizabeth's actions, and only left her one rupee in his Will.

He did not make mention of any children in his Will, and to date we have been unable to locate a birth record for our John Byron, born about 1827 in East India. It has been reported John and Elizabeth only had one child, and that was John Byron born 1827. Apparently John Byron senior, sent John Byron junior back to England when he was still a child (1830's), presumably to stay with family there.

At some stage, he arrived in Australia, but we are unable to locate how and when he arrived. The first record we have on John Byron in Australia, is when he married in 1850.

Any ideas on how I might find out further information Moira? I know it is a difficult time period, when records were not that good. Especially here in Australia.

Geoff

Hi again Moira

On this point, on the 1841 Census, I found anotherJohn Byron 14 old, residing in St Mary, Cheltenham, Gloucester, England, with a James Babcock 35 old, James Crass 20 old, and Mary Brown 20 old. All are listed as being employed as Hawkers. Is it possible you could find further information on this John Byron so we can work out whether or not he is our John Byron?

Kind regards

Geoff Byron
Australia.

The record for John BYRON in Cheltenham has an 'n' indicating 'not born in county'. This actually implies that he was born in another English county as there is a separate column for 'born in Scotland, Ireland or Foreign Parts'.

First named in the household is John Babcock rather than James.

Hugh

Thanks Hugh. I must admit, I thought that might be the case. I am clutching at straws perhaps ;-)
Geoff