Charles Bustard Bostock 1819 - 1884
Charles Bustard is one of my favourite ancestors. He was my 4th great-grandfather who came to Australia as a convict in 1840. After gaining his freedom, he changed his last name to Bostock. I am fascinated with all the different stories told by his descendants regarding his name changes. Was it originally Bostock in England, and he was reverting to his birth name? Or was he wanting a fresh start from his convict past? Charles Bostock and his wife, Mary Ann Browning, Photo retrieved from Ancestry.com, Photograph of a painting (on glass) by courtesy of the late Edna Bennett. Charles Bustard’s Life in England Charles Bustard was born in 1819 in Cheshire, England, to parents Margaret and Charles. [1] Manchester was sometimes listed as Charles’ native place but may have been mistakenly used as it was Charles’ last known residence in England. [2] Charles also had birth years 1816 and 1817 listed at the beginning of his life but mainly used 1819 as an adult. An approximate birth year was