Great post Jennifer. I don't think we have any convicts (of the Australian kind) - I remember reading a fascinating book about the history - can't remember the name of the book - I will have to hunt.
My great-great-grandfather came over as a convict. While we have information on him as a result, we believe he changed his name either prior to his arrest or at his arrest. He came out here as William Hayes, but had WL tattooed on his arm. Once he was free he changed his name to Lyons and we suspect that (or a derivative of it) was his name originally. We know he had a family he left behind and that he married out here too, but the name change thing has really scuppered us.
Sounds like his name was prob originally Lyons. How dare he change his name and cause so many difficulties for his descendants! It was very sad for the families of convicts that had to be left behind.
Great post, Jennifer. It certainly puts Australian convicts into perspective. As to whether I have any convict ancestors - Just 1 plus a relative and my husband has 2. I have written about them all - https://bjnlsgenealogy.substack.com/t/convicts
I don't have direct convict ancestors, but several collaterals. Like you, I was so excited to find them...one led an extremely sad life, dying a pauper. He'd been convicted of petty crimes at least twice before being transported. I often wonder if his sister, my 4th great-grandmother, ever heard from him after he was sent to Van Diemen's land...my guess would be no. He was very close to her in age, so it possibly was very difficult for her to lose him in that way.
I have several, including a father and son I wrote about this week, an Irish murderer who stole cattle after receiving his ticket of leave and was sent from New South Wales to Van Diemen's Land, and a participant in the Swing Riots.
Nice! I am still to write up something about the Gaelic minister. Much of his case is well represented online already… e.g. on the lovely https://threadinburgh.scot/2022/08/30/the-thread-about-the-edinburgh-gaelic-chapels-and-the-spiritual-wanderings-of-the-citys-gaels/The thread about the Edinburgh Gaelic churches and the spiritual wanderings of the City’s Gaels – Threadinburgh or at https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/the-real-edinburgh-reverend-who-stole-literature-centuries-before-the-book-thief-595076The real Edinburgh reverend who stole literature centuries before The Book Thief … a sad tale. So far I did have a thrill of visiting the National Library of Scotland to look at, and thus hold, one of the books he stole. But the real problem was not his self destructive kleptomania, but the philandering and women chasing that preceded it, and I guess precipitated it, that was covered up by some in the church.
There's an interesting story there for sure
Great post Jennifer. I don't think we have any convicts (of the Australian kind) - I remember reading a fascinating book about the history - can't remember the name of the book - I will have to hunt.
Thanks Kathy. Hope you find the book.
Found it! The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes
Kathy that's a fabulous book. It's a much loved classic
Fascinating information, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing it here!
Thanks for reading this Donna.
Great informative post Jennifer which will enormously help many researchers who discover a convict ancestor in their tree
Thank you Paul
My great-great-grandfather came over as a convict. While we have information on him as a result, we believe he changed his name either prior to his arrest or at his arrest. He came out here as William Hayes, but had WL tattooed on his arm. Once he was free he changed his name to Lyons and we suspect that (or a derivative of it) was his name originally. We know he had a family he left behind and that he married out here too, but the name change thing has really scuppered us.
Sounds like his name was prob originally Lyons. How dare he change his name and cause so many difficulties for his descendants! It was very sad for the families of convicts that had to be left behind.
Great post, Jennifer. It certainly puts Australian convicts into perspective. As to whether I have any convict ancestors - Just 1 plus a relative and my husband has 2. I have written about them all - https://bjnlsgenealogy.substack.com/t/convicts
Thanks for the link Jane. I’ll definitely take a look today
I don't have direct convict ancestors, but several collaterals. Like you, I was so excited to find them...one led an extremely sad life, dying a pauper. He'd been convicted of petty crimes at least twice before being transported. I often wonder if his sister, my 4th great-grandmother, ever heard from him after he was sent to Van Diemen's land...my guess would be no. He was very close to her in age, so it possibly was very difficult for her to lose him in that way.
I have several, including a father and son I wrote about this week, an Irish murderer who stole cattle after receiving his ticket of leave and was sent from New South Wales to Van Diemen's Land, and a participant in the Swing Riots.