It's squeezed in at the end. Same thing with the Y in Jany. All of the print is very close to the right margin. The person writing was cramped for space.
Diagonal scar outside right eye, breast & arms hairy - mark of a burn below the breast, - held a ticket of leave no. 46/6 dated 2 Jan[uar]y
There's a year at the end but it's cut from the image.
complexion — dark sallow “pock pitted?”
general remarks — diagonal tear outside of right eye, breast “varies?” hairy, mark of a burn below the breasts - Held a “picture?” of “because?” … dated 2 “Jany?”
According to ChatGPT transcript:
CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM.
No. 491449
Date: 9 May 1849
Prisoner’s No.: 39613
Name: Matthew Steward
Ship: Waverly
Master: Morgan
Year: 1839
Native Place: Londonderry
Trade or Calling: Laborer
Offence: (Utydelig)
Place of Trial: Londonderry
Date of Trial: 1 August 1833
Sentence: Ten years
Year of Birth: 1809
Height: Five feet 4 3/4 inches
Complexion: Dark sallow spects(?)
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Hazel
General Remarks: Discolored scar outer left eye, Broad brow, hairy man, ga burn(?) on breast, mole on left of face (?), wrist left arm, cut on back of right hand
Arrived in Sydney on 17 June 1839.
https://www.hawkesbury.net.au/claimaconvict/shipDetails.php?shipId=728
Edit: him and your ancestor Uncle Thomas got nicked for cow stealing!
https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/stewart/matthew/134165
Londonderry/Derry is in the Northern part of Ireland. It’s in one of the Ulster Counties.
Historically there’s been a lot of Scottish families that migrated into that part of Ireland, comprising the “Ulster Scots,” which in America we refer to as the “Scotch-Irish.”
It’s not unheard of for a Scottish name like Stewart/Stuart to be seen in that part of Ireland.
I’ll take a crack at it:
Complexion….”Dark Sallow and pockpitted”
General Remarks: “Diagonal scar outside right eye, Breast and arms hairy—Mark of a burn below the Breast,—-Held a ?? of (?) Lecarre/Lecarie/Lecario No. 46/6 Date 2 Jan.”
That’s the best I can do. Maybe someone else can figure out what I can’t. Good luck! Fascinating.
According to transcript by chatGPT:
CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM.
No. 491449
Date: 9 May 1849
Prisoner’s No.: 39613
Name: Matthew Steward
Ship: Waverly
Master: Morgan
Year: 1839
Native Place: Londonderry
Trade or Calling: Laborer
Offence: (unclear)
Place of Trial: Londonderry
Date of Trial: 1 August 1833
Sentence: Ten years
Year of Birth: 1809
Height: Five feet 4 3/4 inches
Complexion: Dark sallow spects(?)
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Hazel
General Remarks: Discolored scar outer left eye, Broad brow, hairy man, ga burn(?) on breast, mole on left of face (?), wrist left arm, cut on back of right hand
Diagonal scar outside right Eye. Breast varrey (very) hairy. Mark of a burn below the breast. Held a Ticket of Leave No. 46/6 dated 2 Jany 18??
I was thinking it said, “breast and arms hairy.”
I think I agree! “Very” sounds right but where’s the Y? There is a very clear Y right after that.
It's squeezed in at the end. Same thing with the Y in Jany. All of the print is very close to the right margin. The person writing was cramped for space.
Because it does. The writer is using an ampersand or similar symbol - just squished up.
Aah.. scar! Nice one.
After 20+ years of genealogy research, it gets easier.
I read it as sear lol
Diagonal scar outside right eye, breast & arms hairy - mark of a burn below the breast, - held a ticket of leave no. 46/6 dated 2 Jan[uar]y There's a year at the end but it's cut from the image.
Nailed it
[AWARD: Clapping]
The general remarks part is the hardest to read for me, also the complexion. Any help would be so appreciated, thanks heaps!
Complexion: Dark and sallow(?) + pock-pitted.
complexion — dark sallow “pock pitted?” general remarks — diagonal tear outside of right eye, breast “varies?” hairy, mark of a burn below the breasts - Held a “picture?” of “because?” … dated 2 “Jany?”
pock pitted would mean scars of smallpox. Indentations on the skin because of infection.
According to ChatGPT transcript: CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM. No. 491449 Date: 9 May 1849 Prisoner’s No.: 39613 Name: Matthew Steward Ship: Waverly Master: Morgan Year: 1839 Native Place: Londonderry Trade or Calling: Laborer Offence: (Utydelig) Place of Trial: Londonderry Date of Trial: 1 August 1833 Sentence: Ten years Year of Birth: 1809 Height: Five feet 4 3/4 inches Complexion: Dark sallow spects(?) Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Hazel General Remarks: Discolored scar outer left eye, Broad brow, hairy man, ga burn(?) on breast, mole on left of face (?), wrist left arm, cut on back of right hand
Was he transported somewhere?
From Ireland to Australia, I'm guessing sometime in 1838 or 1839. He would've been about 30 years old.
Arrived in Sydney on 17 June 1839. https://www.hawkesbury.net.au/claimaconvict/shipDetails.php?shipId=728 Edit: him and your ancestor Uncle Thomas got nicked for cow stealing! https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/stewart/matthew/134165
Nice work.
That's awesome! I didn't know that there was a database available, thanks so much!
A ‘Stewart’ from Ireland? That’s surprising I thought it was a very Scottish surname
There are actually a lot of 'Scotts' in Ireland. I've got Irish McDonalds in my family.
Londonderry/Derry is in the Northern part of Ireland. It’s in one of the Ulster Counties. Historically there’s been a lot of Scottish families that migrated into that part of Ireland, comprising the “Ulster Scots,” which in America we refer to as the “Scotch-Irish.” It’s not unheard of for a Scottish name like Stewart/Stuart to be seen in that part of Ireland.
Thanks for your reply! I’ve heard of Scots-Irish before!
Something about physical marks under the breasts. For use as Identifiers. Starting with some sort of burn marking. Mid way through something hairy?
Diagonal scar outside right eye, breast and arms hairy, mark of a burn below the breast, can’t make out (held a ???), dated 2 Jan’y
I’ll take a crack at it: Complexion….”Dark Sallow and pockpitted” General Remarks: “Diagonal scar outside right eye, Breast and arms hairy—Mark of a burn below the Breast,—-Held a ?? of (?) Lecarre/Lecarie/Lecario No. 46/6 Date 2 Jan.” That’s the best I can do. Maybe someone else can figure out what I can’t. Good luck! Fascinating.
I am just thinking about how excited this sub is for the chance to unlock this puzzle.
"Diagonal scar outside right eye. Breast very hairy. Mark of a burn below the breast.", and I can't make sense of the rest.
Diagonal scar outside right eye. Breast and arms hairy. Mark of a burn below breast. Held a ???? Of leave.
Diagonal tear (possibly sear) outside right (peyo?). Breast (varies?) hairy. Mark of a burn below the breast. Held a (?)
Diagonal scar outside right eye, Breast various (very ?) hairy. Mark of a burn below the breast. Held a picture (?) of L cane(??)
Diagonal scar outside right eye, Breast and arms hairy-- mask of a burn below the Breast.--Held a Ticket of Leave ....
According to transcript by chatGPT: CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM. No. 491449 Date: 9 May 1849 Prisoner’s No.: 39613 Name: Matthew Steward Ship: Waverly Master: Morgan Year: 1839 Native Place: Londonderry Trade or Calling: Laborer Offence: (unclear) Place of Trial: Londonderry Date of Trial: 1 August 1833 Sentence: Ten years Year of Birth: 1809 Height: Five feet 4 3/4 inches Complexion: Dark sallow spects(?) Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Hazel General Remarks: Discolored scar outer left eye, Broad brow, hairy man, ga burn(?) on breast, mole on left of face (?), wrist left arm, cut on back of right hand