Hi Keitha,

Hope all is well. I have been in contact with cam and I got your email also, thanks. I'm not sure that Edward was born in may 1846, I'm still looking into it. I got that date originally from Jim Dean who wasn't sure of it's accuracy. Our Edward is most likely the same Edward son of Rebecca, as the dates match and there are no other Edwards recorded in Tasmania bar one who has been accounted for. I've been having a really good researcher look into the family for me and she's still digging up some info. Rebecca was the daughter of Joseph and Mary Samons. Her son Walter went to live in Yorkshire when he grew up and married a Margaret butterfield. There is some confusion that Rebeccas Frederick had the middle name slater - but this is not the same man. He had different parents and I'm notsure what happened to our Frederick or James as yet. After Rebeccas transportation. Her children by James Daynes went to live with Rebeccas parents.

Any stories or pictures you have of dean descendants would be great if you could email them to me. If you know anyone else who has information I would appreciate that too. I would like to do up a book on the family and when this is done, I could send you a copy however I don't know how long this will be. I must ask cam for the same.

Looks like our Dean family mystery may have been solved to some extent! We couldn't figure out how Edward possibly got to Tasmania. But then I shared what info I had with cam and he inadvertently uncovered that paper article which I knew nothing about. In addition to the orphanage record, it proves Edward was not born here, especially considering Rebeccas other children stayed in England.

I'll let you know how we go. Hopefully I might hear something more about Edwards life in tas soon. I'm also looking into an Edward born in Norwich in dec 1846 to see if he is ours - I've ordered a certificate. Any book I do up later will include copies of what documents I have.

Talk soon
Jenna