BAILEY / MCCRAW

There is some uncertainty about the correct surname for this branch. It appears to be MCCRAW / M'CRAW.

Additional notes: Elizabeth's full name is listed on her death certificate along with her parents' names. Her baptism record can be found under the surname MCCRAW but her marriage is listed under BAILEY. It is unknown at this stage where the use of the middle name Frazer (which has persisted through four generations) originates.

There is no definite information known about John however there are a number of possibilities.

Possible match - convict - John BAILEY alias Donald MCCRAW arrived in Van Dieman's Land in 1825 per Lady East. He was a waterman / lighterman by trade and was tried at the Old Bailey in 1824. Sent to NSW per Coromandel in 1825 and given his ticket of leave and subsequently worked for Customs.

This prisoner was tried for theft twice in 1824, the first time found not guilty and the second time guilty sentenced to death. It is assumed that the punishment was commuted to transportation at a later date. From the Old Bailey Trial transcripts it appears John's parents were a Donald M'CRAW and Elizabeth nee BAILEY. John was aged 19 in June 1824. There is no mention of his having a trade in the trial records and in fact is stated to be unemployed.

Possible match - birth / christening: a William Bailey MCCRAW was born in London in 1805 and christened in 1808 at Holborn. Parents Donald McCraw and Elizabeth. They also had a child Henry christened on the same date.

Possible record of marriage: William Bailey MCCRAW to Ann O'REGAN in Sydney 1842.

At this stage the evidence is circumstantial however if our person's legal name is William Bailey McCraw this would match with the name of his son and account for the use of the surname Bailey.

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