Edward Armfield (abt.1781-1866) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Edward Armfield

Born about 1781 in London, England

Son of Thomas Armfield and [mother unknown]

[sibling(s) unknown]

Husband of Elizabeth (Ruse) Armfield — married 1822 in New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Father of Rebecca Armfield, George Armfield, Ann (Armfield) Levy, James Armfield, Joseph Armfield, Edward Armfield, Elizabeth Armfield, Emma Mary (Armfield) Chapman, Sarah Jane (Armfield) Izard, William Armfield and John David Armfield

Died 15 Sep 1866 at about age 85 in Berrima, New South Wales, Australia

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Profile last modified 24 Jan 2023 | Created 7 Dec 2015

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1 Biography
2 Research Notes
3 Sources
- 3.1 Links
- 3.2 External Files

Biography

Edward Armfield was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

Edward Armfield was born about 1781. According to his death certificate he was born in London, England,^[1] the son of Thomas Armfield a Sword cutler, and Charlotte (maiden name unknown).

Edward Armfield and James Faro were tried in London at the Old Bailey sessions of 28 May 1800 for stealing nine pairs of gold ear-rings and two odd gold ear-rings, the property of Robert Chandler. They were found guilty and sentenced to be transported for seven years to New South Wales.^[2]. The Old Bailey trial can be seen here.

Edward left England aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800 and arrived at Sydney Cove on 12 June 1801.^[3].

In the 1806 muster he was listed as a a prisoner, working as a labourer, at Parramatta.^[4] He completed his seven year sentence in May 1807.

He was in a relationship with Elizabeth (Ruse) Wells, the wife of John Wells, from mid 1812 as their first child was born in 1813, which was same the year she married John Wells. According to a family story, Elizabeth's father James Ruse forced her to marry 60 year old John Wells so James could pay off a debt.^[5]

The children of Edward and Elizabeth, from March 1813 through to April 1837, were Rebecca Armfield, George Armfield, Ann (Armfield) Levy, James Armfield, Joseph Armfield, Edward Armfield, Elizabeth Armfield, Emma Mary (Armfield) Moses, Sarah Jane (Armfield) Izard, William Armfield and John David Armfield.

Note: It is very likely that George Armfield (1815–1863), may also have been Elizabeth's child even though the mother named on his Birth Record is Mary Ruse as Elizabeth was named as his mother on his Death Certificate ^[6]. Often the person recording the information made mistakes on entering details.

Marriage: After John Wells died in 1820, Elizabeth and Edward married in 1822 at St Matthew's Windsor, New South Wales, Australia.^[7].

In 1827, Edward was appointed to be a Police Constable on 1 December 1827 at Windsor, New South Wales, Australia.^[8].

Edward died on 15 September 1866 in Berrima, New South Wales, Australia. His death certificate recorded that he was age 85, he died from "Decay of nature", he was born in London, father Thomas Armfield, a sword cutler, mother Charlotte (maiden surname not known), and his (living) children were Rebecca 53, Ann 49, James 47, Joseph 44, Edward 42, Elizabeth 39, Emma 37, William 32, Jane 35, and John 29.^[9]^[10]

Death Notice, Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 19 September 1866:

On the 15th instant, at Berrima, Mr. EDWARD ARMFIELD, sen., aged 85 years, a very old colonist of sixty-six years—arrived in the year 1800.^[11]

He was buried in the Berrima General Cemetery, Berrima, New South Wales, Australia^[1].

Research Notes

Edward's age: There is some indication that Edward on genealogy sites may have been married in England prior to his arrest, but as he was only aged 19 years at when arrested it is probably not correct. Research is required to confirm or eliminate the possibility. The only alternative is that he was older than the death recorded in his Death certificate, Death Notice, and headstone inscription: aged 85 years at the time of his death which makes him about 19 at the time of his arrest.^[11].

Another Edward Armfield: Strangely, several trees on Ancestry.com have his name "Edward Hobday Armfield". This is a completely different person: Edward Hobday Armfield 1796–1861 (Birth abt 1796 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, Death 4 Dec 1861 Fisher Street, Aston. Warwickshire, England). See siouxhealer's tree https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/286616/person/24077488596/facts

Sources

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Burial: Find a Grave: Edward Hobday Armfield: BIRTH 1786 London, City of London, Greater London, England DEATH 15 Sep 1866 (aged 79–80) Berrima, Wingecarribee Shire, New South Wales, Australia BURIAL Berrima General Cemetery, Berrima, Wingecarribee Shire, New South Wales, Australia PLOT General Section, Row 3, Plot 20 Find A Grave: Memorial #189105810
↑ Conviction & Sentence: Old Bailey Court Proceedings: JAMES FARO, EDWARD ARMFIELD. Theft: shoplifting. 28th May 1800 Item No: 450. JAMES FARO, and EDWARD ARMFIELD, were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 19th of May, nine pair of gold ear-rings, value 2l. 5s. and two odd gold ear-rings, value 5s. the property of Robert Chandler, privately in his shop.
↑ Convict Index Records: State Library of Queensland: Convict transportation registers: Edward Armfield, one of 296 convicts transported on the Earl Cornwallis, August 1800. The index records for the British Convict Transportation Registers are available as an open data set at https://data.gov.au/dataset/british-convict-transportation-registers Notes: Sentence details: Convicted at Middlesex Gaol Delivery for a term of 7 years on 28 May 1800. Vessel: Earl Cornwallis. Date of Departure: August 1800. Place of Arrival: New South Wales. Source: Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 283 (141) Other title(s) British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database. Convict transportation registers. Original version This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP).
↑ Australian Biographical & Genealogical Record, and Society of Australian Genealogists. Musters of New South Wales and Norfolk Island, 1805-1806 / Edited by Carol J. Baxter. Sydney: ABGR, in Association with the Society of Australian Genealogists, 1989.
↑ Straw, Leigh S. L. Lillian Armfield : How Australia's First Female Detective Took on Tilly Devine and the Razor Gangs and Changed the Face of the Force / Leigh Straw. 2018.
↑ Death of Son George: New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: ARMFIELD GEORGE Registration number 2942/1863 Father's Given Name(s) EDWARD Mother's Given Name(s) ELIZABETH District BERRIMA
↑ Marriage: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number 2981/1822 V18222981 3B Groom's Family Name ARMFIELD Groom's Given Name(s) EDWARD Bride's Family Name(s) WILLS Bride's Given Name(s) ELIZABETH District CC (Windsor, St Matthew's)
↑ Appointments: Colonial Secretary's Office, 11th December, 1827: His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to approve of the follow- ing Alterations in the Police of the Colony, Via,--- Windsor: - John Kirton, Ship Larkins, to be Constable and Scourger, from the 1st Instant, in the Room of William Reynolds, per Ship Morley (1), resigned on the 30th Ultimo; Edward Armfield, Ship "Earl Cornwallis", free, to be Constable, from the 2nd Instant, in the Room Hugh Cromie, free, resigned on the 1st of December; and John Salisbury, came free, to be Constable, from the 6th Instant, in the Room of James Union, came free, resigned on the 5th of this Month. By His Excellency's Command, ALEXANDER M'LEAY.
↑ Death certificate NSW 1866 03286 (Joy Murrin transcript): Name Edward Armfield; Date of Death 15 September 1866; Place of Death. Berrima; Occupation Constable; Age 85; Cause of death Decay of nature, duration 6 weeks; Medical Attendant/Last Seen. Dr. Salter, 3 days before death; Father Thomas Armfield, father's occupation Sword cutler; mother Charlotte (maiden surname not known); Informant Lewis Levy, son-in-law of deceased Berrima. When Buried 17 September 1866, where C. of E. Burial ground, Berrima; Undertaker R.N. Matthews; Minister Revd. J.S. Hassall, Berrima. Where born London; Length of time in Colony 66 Years in New South Wales; Place Married Windsor, in New South Wales; Age at Marriage 26; Spouse Elizabeth Ruse; Children of Marriage Rebecca 53, Ann 49, James 47, Joseph 44, Edward 42, Elizabeth 39, Emma 37, William 32, Jane 35, John 29.
↑ Death: New South Wales Australia Online Index: Deaths Name: ARMFIELD EDWARD Registration number 3286/1866 Father's Given Name(s) THOMAS Mother's Given Name(s) JANE [incorrect] District BERRIMA
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 Death Notice: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wed 19 Sep 1866 Page 1 Family Notices: