George Ransley (b.1821 Ruckinge, Kent)
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In reply to:
Re: Thomas Ransley born circa 1770 in Kent
Belinda shaw 2/23/06
Hi Bella ... if your husband has convict heritage he may well descend through George Ransley (b. 1821 Ruckinge, Kent).George was a convicted smuggler (part of the Aldington Gang) transported to Tasmania.
The Aldington Gang emerged around 1820 but it wasn't until after the Battle of Brookland in 1821 that George took over as gang leader.According to legend, George worked as a ploughman/carter.He apparently stumbled across some spirits hidden by the smugglers which he sold to purchase his house at Bourne Tap.The gang were eventually caught in July 1826 on the beach at Dover.A Midshipman named Richard Morgan was killed and Ransley was arrested on suspicion of the murder.Because the crime had occurred in the dark and the actual circumstances were difficult to prove, George's death sentence was converted to deportation.Hence he ended up working on a farm in Tasmania.(At least this is how I think the legend goes???)
George was granted a conditional pardon on 22 June 1838.His brother-in-law (Samuel Bailey) was also on board the same ship (Governor Ready) as was fellow gang members Thomas Gillham and James Hogben.
We have been able to trace our Ransley line to Kent but haven't yet found a connection to George's family.Our ancestor was a hairdresser, which unfortunately is no where near as exciting I'm afraid!
George is the most notorious Ransley convict but no doubt there were others.If further research shows that your husband does not descend through a convict line as originally thought, then he may be related to our side of the tree.Our Ransleys arrived in Australia as free settlers.We descend through Thomas' son George Ransley (b.abt.1815 Southwark, ENG).Thomas Ransley (of Kent) and wife Anne had three other sons - Joseph, William and Henry (all born in London).
If your husband has any details re his grandparents,great grandparents and/or great-great grandparents, I'd be more than happy to look for a connection on our tree.