Aimable Ciril (Sierl) Duperouzel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimable_Duperouzel

Born Aimable Ciril Duperouzel in St Aubin du Perronn, Coutances, Manche Lower Normandy, France on 17 March 1831. He was the youngest son of Charles and Radégondle Duperouzel (Du pérouzel). Aimable was raised on the family farm. Duperouzel emigrated to the Channel Island of Jersey prior to 1848. He faced court accused of inducing a 10-year-old son of Elias Billot to rob his father on 5 September 1848 but the charge could not be substantiated and was later dropped.

Duperouzel married his first wife Elizabeth [Betsey] Susanne Ferey 18 months later in March 1850 at St Helier. Both newlyweds lied about their age. At the time of their marriage Aimable was 18 whilst Elizabeth would have been 24, having been born in the Parish of Trinity on 19 June 1826. This was done to avoid requiring written permission of Duperouzel's parents as was the law at the time.

On 15 August 1851 Elizabeth gave birth to a son John Aimable Duperouzel.

A few months later in November 1851 Duperouzel plead guilty to theft of several fowls, the offence occurred on 30 October. After entering his plea Aimable requested permission to depart Jersey to "avoid further prosecution" which was granted.

Duperouzel and his family departed Jersey for the nearby Channel Island of Guernsey. The couple's son, John Aimable, was baptized in February 1852 at St. Peter Port. He died not long after on 25 October 1854 at three years of age.

A few years later Aimable was brought before the courts on a string of offences. The most serious of which were robbery charges for the repeated theft from a drapery shop between April 1855 and August 1856. While awaiting trial Duperouzel made "two ineffectual" escape attempts; as a result, he was sentenced to ten years transportation on 6 September 1856.
Duperouzel spent about sixteen months in prison in England before being transported to Western Australia aboard the Lord Raglan. Aimable boarded the ship on 22 February 1858 at Portsmouth.

He was given the number 4840 and was described on arrival as being five feet seven and a quarter inches tall, of stout appearance, dark, with black hair, hazel eyes and a cut on the right side of his chin. He was protestant and able to read and write.

The Lord Raglan departed Plymouth on 6 March 1858 with 270 male convicts on board.

Duperouzel arrived in Fremantle on 1 June 1858 aboard the Lord Raglan. Within his first year in the colony he received his ticket of leave in May 1859. He was 'grubbing' for a farmer in York at the time.

Two years later, on 15 June 1861, Amiable received a conditional pardon. At the time he had served about half of his ten-year sentence.

Whilst working as a labourer and stable hand for S. S. Parker of York, Duperouzel met Julie Neagle (14 November 1844 - 8 January 1926), an Irish migrant working as a housemaid on the farm. Though he had been married whilst living in Jersey, Aimable and Julie were married on 26 March 1863. Whether he had heard of her death, or simply chose not to seek out his first wife is not known and no record exists of Elizabeth Ferey after Aimable's transportation.

Duperouzel became known as a prominent and colourful member of the York community. He was known by most as 'John the Frenchman', his French name was difficult for York locals and was etched incorrectly on his tombstone as "Amiable Sierl Duperouzel". Also incorrectly inscribed was his date of death: 74. Aimable was 70 years old when he died.

Gravestone inscription: Amiable Sierl Duperouzel who died 10th December 1901, aged 74 years

"We cannot clasp thy hand dear father
Thy face we cannot see
But let this little token tell
We still remember thee"

Also Julia, Beloved Wife of Above
Died 8th January 1926, aged 82 years
"As the ivy clings to the oak, dear mother, so our memory clings to thee"

https://duperouzel.org/aimable-ciril-duperouzel-120th-anniversary-o...