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French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 14 Aug 2009 3:43AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Garnay
My great grandfather, Henri Garnay - Paris, France, I believe was a prisoner in New Caledonia approx late 1870's - and maybe early 1880's. If I am able to access any information re Garnay - Henrold or Henri, alias Chappin, I would be most grateful.

Re: French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 18 Jul 2011 2:27AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi there, I am not much help. I am just hoping you have found a way to research this and can tell me. My Great Grandfather Henri Baret, Paris, France was a prisoner in New Caledonia in the 1870's and I want to access any convict records about him. Did you find a way to do so? I would be so grateful if you could give me any help.

Re: French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 18 Jul 2011 7:37AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Garnay
No, I was unable to access information for New Caledonia, but certainly had sucess with police records in Sydney. Gather Henri Garnay escaped from New Caledonia and managed to reach Sydney and believe he received 16 years here in Sydney and deported back to New Calodonia in 1870's.

Re: French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 18 Jul 2011 11:18AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thanks for letting me know. It has been suggested to me by a French genealogist that there may be a way to access New Caledonian records about French convicts. If I have success I will let you know.

Re: French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 11 Jul 2012 7:31AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Chappin Garnay
Perhaps it is too late to be helpful, but zebedee and I have found some info about our French convict ancestor at http://anom.archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr/bagnards_doss...
I can't find a Chappin or Garnay convict between 1860 and 1890, but the spelling could be different. Worth trying!

State records has a list of former French convicts living in Sydney in 1885. There is a "Henry Chappin, libérée, tailor at Loise Pitt street". I don't have the page which would contain Garnay.

There are some mentions of Henri Garnay in newspapers on Trove.

I hope this helps you.

Lyn

Re: French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 13 Jul 2012 10:20PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Garnay/Chappin
Lyn,
Thankyou for your advice re Henri Garnay, alias Chappin.
I shall certainly follow up with your advice. I believe that Henri Garnay was returned to New Caledonia - 16 years imprisonment. I had always been told that he died in the 1870's!!! I was able to gather some information from Trove but shall do more research.
Jennette

Re: French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 14 Jul 2012 5:25AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Garnay Chappin
I'm intrigued that Garnay does not appear in the archives d'outre-mer. There is a Garnier, Henri Paul Aristide
condamné au bagne en 1872 (Nouvelle-Calédonie)
who was apparently part of the Commune de Paris in 1871. Could this be your Garnay?

Are you sure that Garnay and Chappin in Sydney in 1885 and 1886 are the same person?

What else do you know about Henri Garnay?

Re: French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 15 Apr 2015 6:12AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Garnay Pittard
Hi, I have discovered today that my father's aunt Pauline Pittard was married to Henri Garnay when he was arrested for forging banknotes and passing them in Sydney in 1886. The papers variously reported him as French and Swiss and described him as a 'libero' from New Caledonia which means he was a freed prisoner I think. Perhaps he was repartriated to New Caledonia/France after pleading guilty to the offence. I would be interested to hear anything of his life prior to meeting and marrying my great aunt Pauline. Jan.
Attachments:

Re: French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 15 Apr 2015 6:41AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 15 Apr 2015 6:46AM GMT
Surnames: Garnay Chappin
Hello Jan,

I have lots about Henri Garnay from Trove, Police Gazettes etc from 1881 until 1886, but nothing personal about his life.

In Gaol Description and Entrance Books Darlinghurst Gaol Nov 27 1886 there is a statement about him being returned to NC after being sentenced to 14 years' penal servitude. (attached) You might already have found this on Ancestry.

From State Records I have a copy of
Colonial Secretary, Main series of letters received, NRS 905:
List of former French convicts from New Caledonia residing in NSW, 1885 [4/887.1].
Henri is listed as Henry Chappin, liberé, tailor at Loise, Pitt Street.

Let me know if I can help. Cheers.

Lyn
Attachments:

Re: French Prisoner - Henri Garnay, alias Chappin

Posted: 15 Apr 2015 6:54AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Garnay Pittard
Thank you, Lyn, I hadn't heard of him before today and only have the general, free Ancestry membership (all my stuff is on My Heritage). My poor great aunt, one daughter already and another on the way. 14 years seems a stiff penalty for forgery and possessing housebreaking implements but then it wasn't that long after the era of death sentences for stealing a loaf of bread! I will share this information with my cousins and sisters.
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