[Tesco Rambler]

Originally Posted by Atarah

Just wondered if any of our members have connections with the poor folk who were transported in the early 1800's to Australia for various reasons. The "crimes" ranged from stealing money (more than one shilling) to murder. A convict lost his possessions and status in England. Many of these so called convicts made an honest living abroad. The Public Record Office at Kew has information which includes shipping lists and various publications. Some of the records in Australia were destroyed by early descendants of convicts, who thought that knowledge of their origin might damage their respectability. There was a lass from the Haslingden area who was named MARY HINDLE - she got "involved" in the Plug Loom Riots and was made to leave these shores on the ship THE HARMONY - (the Mary Hindle centre in Haslingden being named after her). I have ancestors from Haslingden, named Hindle and thought it would be interesting to try and find a link, but alas, havent done as yet. I found a rather wonderfully titled book which gives amazing information on some of the poor folk. The book is called "Notorious Strumpets and Dangerous Girls" - convict women in Van Diemen's Land 1803-1829. The Harmony made its second and final voyage as a convict ship in Sept 1828. All of her 100 convict passengers survived the voyage. e.g. Margaret Anderson, Police no 50, Transport for - Theft, Goal report - bad character and disposition, Trade - Servant of all work, Literacy - can read only, Height 5 ft 10in, Age 28, Head Oval, Hair brown, Forehead Narrow, Eyebrows Brown, Eyes Hazel, Nose Medium Lgth, Mouth medium width, Lost one front tooth, chin medium lgth, Remarks natural brown marks like Raspberries inside left arm.

Who knows, some of us could have ancestors who too were sent to Australia.

JoyZine - Australia - Penal Colonies: Convict Women

I can't tell you about my potential ancestor in Australia because it would it would reveal my identity and of course we all generally inhabit this place as anonymous people.
However, I understand one of mine captured a castle in Ireland in the time of Cromwell. I also understand that when Ned Kelly got shot to pieces there was my namesake in the cabin as a hostage and seeing a small boy in the crossfire between the massed ranks of the police and Kelly, he sprinted to the child scooped him up and ran as they say into the obscurity of history. It seems there are many on here who wish I would do the same.