The Mystery of the 'de Pallier' Family - Part 1

First of all, the main mystery is that we are having trouble finding the specific location of this family. There are many stories, assumptions and guesses over it for years. The main assumption is that the family comes from France, - to be specific - Lisieaux, Basse-Normandy.

'de Pallier' Family

Let's start with working backwards from my great grandmother to the earliest known de Pallier ancestor.

1. Alma Ethel Pallier (1895, Narrabri NSW - 1972, Gosford NSW)
m. Percy Thomas Woods (1891, West Maitland NSW - 1949, Gladesville NSW) 

6 children (5 boys and a girl - all deceased as of 2013)

2. Charles Edwin Pallier (1857, Marulan NSW - 1930, Blacktown NSW) 

m. Hannah Long (1854, West Maitland NSW - 1944, Auburn NSW)

7 children (3 boys and 4 girls)

     3. Joseph John Pallier (1823, London UK - 1893, Campbelltown NSW)

     m. Sophia Rouse (1822, London UK - 1883, Sydney NSW Australia)

     5 children (3 boys and 2 girls)

          4. John Joseph/Jewell Pallier (1799, ? - 1870, Narellan NSW Australia) 

          m. Eleanor Willocks (1796, Gibraltar - 1860, Narellan NSW Australia)

          5 children (2 boys and 3 girls)

                5. Jean Joseph Pallier (1770, Lisieaux, Normandy France - 1813, Middlesex England)

               m. Margaret Watson (c. 1770, England? - c. 1813, England?)

               one son so far

                       6. ? Jean Joseph Pallier (c. 1747, France - ?)

                       m. ? Martha Wright (c. 1750, England - ?)

                       2 children (1 boy and 1 girl?)

John Joseph Pallier (and his father Jean Joseph Pallier - in Part 2)

Those two men proven to be quite a challenge to trace and nothing is straightforward about them, apart from their families.

John Joseph Pallier (1799-1870)

John was baptised on 11 November 1813 at St Marylebone Church, Westminster, with his parents listed as John Joseph Pallier (deceased) and Margaret. There is a column that is hard to read but it is possible it stated his birth date as 1st July 1799. 

The Old Bailey Prison Registers had revealed that John was born in St. James (Westminster).

Why there is a gap between his birth and baptism is not known, but as his father was deceased, it is possible that his mother Margaret felt he needed to be baptised elsewhere at the age of 13. Margaret herself was also baptised there too on the same day. 

Another thing that should be considered - he could be born elsewhere, especially in France, so he was baptised to have the record of his existence in England? 

When John was 21 years old, he married Eleanor Willocks (also spelt as Wallox/Wallacks/Wallocks) at St Anne's (Soho), Dean Street Westminster on 27 March 1821. He was identified as a bachelor and Eleanor as a Spinster, of the same parish (of the church). They were married by Banns at the church, with the witnesses as John Taylor and Ann Walloack. Both groom and bride signed their names. 

A note aside, the Pallot's Marriage Index for England (1780-1837) had the marriage record index as:

Palleir, Jno. Jos.   =   Wallocks, Eleanor.     St. Anne, Soho 1821.

 Their first child, Joseph J (spelt as either Jean or Jewell - needs to be verified), was born on 3 January 1822 and he was baptised on 9th November a year later at St Marylebone, Westminster - the same church John was baptised in. Their surname was spelt as 'Palleir', that John Joseph's occupation was as a mechanic (of what is not known), and their abode was in St. Marylebone parish.

The reason for a delay in baptism of Joseph J was the birth if his brother Robert on 1 September 1823. They were both baptised together on the same day.

So by the time of his sons' births, he was working as a mechanic and living at the parish of St. Marylebone.

Then comes the births of his daughters Eleanor (7 August 1825 in the parish of St Marylebone) and Eliza  (1 April 1827 in the parish of St Marylebone too). Both were baptised on 21 August 1837 at St Marylebone, Westminster, along with their other sister named Mary Ann (born on 2 January 1829). Interestedly, the surname was spelt as Pallier and their mother as Ellen. Their abode was listed at Frederick Street, Portland Town, and that John's trade as a Glazier.

On 25 May 1827, John was arrested for stealing two shawls (worth at 25 shillings) and 3 handkerchiefs (worth at 5 shillings) from a Mr. Michael Webster's shop at The Quadrant, Regent Street near the corner of Air Street. Apparently Mr. Webster dealt in baby linen and John's 4th child, Eliza was born just a month before this arrest. How would his wife, Eleanor, coped with four kids aged between 5 years old and 1 month old.

John was aged 27 and pleaded his innocent stating that he had no reason to steal as he was in constant employment during the trial on 13 May 1827. His verdict was guilty and sentenced to be confined for 6 months. His first few days were spent at Newgate Prison before being moved to the House of Correction a month later. He was released from the Newgate Prison by November 1827, having served his 6 months sentence. He was described as  5 feet 9 inches tall with a shallow complexion, brown hair and grey eyes, and was stoutish. He was listed as being born in St. James's and was a printer.

However this deterrent didn't last long for John, as he was charged with break and enter on 6 April 1829 (only 4 months after the birth of his last child Mary Ann). However this time, John was using alias as 'James Johnson', and that he was claimed to be in a group with other 2 men (James Bird and Henry Brown).

He stood the trial on 24 August 1829 at the Summer Assizes of the Home and South Eastern Circuits "holden at Croydon, Surrey". The men were charged as guilty of 'housebreaking and larceny', and were sentenced "to be severely hanged by the neck until they be dead".

Fortunately, John/James was listed for a change in the sentence to be transported to New South Wales or Van Dieman's Land a month later. After this, John/James was among the prisoners moved into the prison hulk "Retribution", awaiting for their transportation out of England for their sentences.

Finally on 11 February 1830, John/James was removed from the prison hulk "Retribution" onto the ship "Marquis of Huntley" (3), along with 99 male convicts. The trip took them to Sydney Cove and arrived on 21 August 1830. He was mustered on the ship before being assigned to a master to serve his sentence.

According to the record of the Muster, John/James was aged 30 years, married with 4 children (1 male and 3 females), had a trade as a house painter and that he came from London. His sentence was life and that he had a previous conviction (6 months). Apparently John/James could read and write and his religion was identified as Protestant.

His looks were described as dark ruddy complexion with dark brown hair and grey eyes, standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall. He had a small dent in the centre of his forehead.

He was assigned to a Mr. Thomas V Bloomfield at Maitland region. Mr. T.V. Bloomfield was a free settler with a farm called "Dagworth" in the Hunter Valley and had a wife named Christine Jane. Mr. Bloomfield appeared to be a fair and compassionate master, being well respected and influential colonialist in the area.

After worked for Mr. Bloomfield for three years, John/James sent a petition to have his family reunited to him in New South Wales at the expense of the government. In the petition, he spelt his wife's surname as 'Willex' and that they were living at No. 13 Turnbridge Street, Somers Town in the parish of St. Pancras of Middlesex. His children were listed as Joseph aged 11, Eleanor aged 8, Eliza 6, and Mary Ann 4. Mr. George Barlow of George St, Portman Square, Councillor Barry of Henriette St, Brunswick Square and Mr. William Gilbie of Fitzroy Square were the 'respectable persons known to the Petitioner's family'.

At the bottom of this petition, Mr. T.V. Bloomfield added his comments that John/James was under his service since the month of September 1830 and that his "conduct has been such that I respectfully recommend his petition to be given favourable consideration of His Excellency the Governor." He was also confident that John/James was able and willing to support his family on his own.

The petition was sent about 8 months later, however there were some mix-up with the paperworks at the offices of Governor Bourke and the offices in England which resulted the petition being rejected.

In the muster of 1837, John/James was still working for Mr. T.V. Bloomfield, however the location had changed from Maitland to the district of Liverpool.

Four years after the last petition, John/James asked again for the permission to bring his family out at the expense of the government. In this petition, he had his family as: Eleanor Willicks of No. 7 Frederick Street, Portland Terrace, Regents Park, Marylebone; Joseph, aged 15 (born on 3 February 1827 [sic]); Eleanor, 12 (7 August 1837 [sic]); Eliza, 10 (1 April 1837 [sic]); Mary Ann, 8 (9 January 1837 [sic]).

It was during this time that his girls were baptised, possibly in readiness for the relocation to the Colony as the process of the Assisted Passage required a certified copy of birth certificates as proof of identity.

However, the last petition did not succeed so John/James wrote another formal submission a year later asking for his wife Helena Willicks and their children Joseph (15), Eleanor (12), Eliza (10) and Mary Ann Pallier (8) to be reunited to him in the Colony. Their address was as same as previous. The references were Mr. & Mrs. Manning of Clapham R... (sp?) and Mr. Barlow of George St., Portman Square.

It was not till 1838 before John/James received a Ticket of Leave, based on the recommendation of the Liverpool Bench of Magistrates. The condition stated that he has to remain in the district of Liverpool.

Finally the permission was granted for John/James' family to be brought out at the expense of the government. It seems that the previous petitions were rejected due to the lack of Ticket of Leave for John/James.

By 1852, John was living at Narellan, a freehold residence which is in the districts of the Camden and Narellan police.

It is not known when his family arrived in Australia - the estimated years would be between 1839 and 1841.

The census returns for England and Wales have revealed that Joseph, John's son, was left behind when his wife and girls migrated. The possible reason was his age as he was already 18 when this census was taken. Joseph was staying with his Alegs and Rebecca Nicholl, along with Rebecca's son George aged 7. Rebecca was a wife of George Willocks, Eleanor Willocks's brother.

John/James's Ticket of Leave was 'torn up' and was awarded a Conditional Pardon in September 1844. This provided him more freedom to move around and gain better employment, etc.

A year later, John became a grandfather, when his son Joseph had a baby daughter named Rebecca with his wife, Sophia Rouse, in England.

Around this time, John was running a Post Office in Narellan/Picton region, and possibly a storekeeper as well. Not much more about this, unfortunately.

On 3 December 1860, Eleanor, his wife, died of stroke at their residence. She was buried at St. Paul's Cemetery, Cobbitty NSW. The most interesting and perhaps telling bit about her death certificate was that she has no children listed and her informant was her husband, John. What was going on?

Five years later in 1865, his daughter Eleanor (known as Ellen Lamont) died at Narellan and was buried at the same cemetery as her mother. It was suspected that her husband Donald may have abused her which resulted her death, leaving two young daughters behind.

John died on 16 June 1870 at his home of Narellan. There was an inquest held at Narellan on the death of John Pallier dated 16 June 1870. Mr. E. Palmer, the coroner, had ruled that he died of natural causes and sent in the report on 24 June.

John Joseph Pallier was buried at St. Paul's Cemetery, Cobbitty, NSW Australia, on 19 June 1870.

The Sydney Gazette had a death notice of John Pallier:

On the 16th instant, at his residence, Narellan, John Joseph Pallier, aged 72, an old and much respected colonist.

Sources:

• London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 (London Metropolitan Archives, St Marylebone, Register of Baptism - p89/mry1, Item 014) (Baptism record of John J Pallier)
• London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Anne, Soho: Dean Street, Westminster, Transcript of Marriages, 1821 Jan-1822 Jan, DL/t Item, 087/034. (Marriage record of John J Pallier and Eleanor Wallocks)
• London Metropolitan Archives, St Marylebone, Register of Baptism, p89/mry1, Item 024. (Boys' baptism records)
• London Metropolitan Archives, St Marylebone, Register of Baptism, pg89/mry1, Item 038. (Girls' baptism records)
• New South Wales Government. Musters and other papers relating to convict ships. Series CGS 1155, Reels 2417-2428. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, NSW Australia.
• State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, NSW, Australia; Series Number: NRS 12188; Collection Title: Bound manuscript indents, 1788-1842; Item: [4/4015]; Microfiche: 676.
• New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849. Class: HO 10; Piece: 33.
• New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859. Class: HO 10; Piece: 54.
• State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, NSW Australia; Copies of Conditional Pardons Registered; Reel Number : 774; Roll Number: 149; Volume Number: 4/4492. (Application for family to be sent to Australia).
• New South Wales, Australia Historical Electoral Rolls, 1842-1864. State Records Authority of New South Wales: CGS 1199; Year 1851-1852.
• Registers of Coroners' Inquests and Magisterial Inquiries, 1834-1942. State Archives NSW; Series: 2922; Item: 4/6614; Roll: 343.