A CONVICT IN THE FAMILY?
A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF DESCENDANTS OF AUSTRALIA’S EARLY CONVICTS
A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF DESCENDANTS OF AUSTRALIA’S EARLY CONVICTS
Pia Andersen
Singer
Ancestor’s name
William Roberts
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing 5½ pounds of yarn (wool)
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
30 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Scarborough, First Fleet
Donald William Barnes
Academic (retired)
Ancestor’s name
Elizabeth Webb
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a gold ring
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
25 years old when transported
Date of arrival
1833
Name of ship
Fanny II
Lisa Bateman
Senior external relations advisor
Ancestor’s name
Esther Abrahams
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing 24 yards of silk lace
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 16 years old
when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Lady Penrhyn, First Fleet
John Benson
French conference interpreter
and scriptwriter
Ancestor’s name
Paul Benson
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a handkerchief
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
16 years old when transported
Date of arrival
1831
Name of ship
Lady Harewood
Olivia Betteridge
Student
Ancestor’s name
Mary Wade
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing one cotton frock, one linen tippet (scarf) and one linen cap
Ancestor’s sentence
Transportation for life
Ancestor’s age
11 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1790
Name of ship
Lady Juliana, Second Fleet
Louise Williams-Bickerton
Office manager
Ancestor’s name
Elizabeth Young
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing one gold ring with diamonds, one pair of gold earrings, one fruit knife, one linen handkerchief, one steel watch hook, one tortoise-shell smelling bottle case, one steel bodkin, one metal bracelet buckle, two pieces of printed cotton, one towel and 6 yards of cotton binding
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 20 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1791
Name of ship
Mary Ann, Second Fleet
Nan Bosler
Retired from local government, currently historian/writer and community person
Ancestor’s name
Ann Davis
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a linen gown, a silk handkerchief, five linen caps, a dimity skirt, a pair of stays, a muslin apron and a muslin handkerchief
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 15 years
old when convicted
Date of arrival
1790
Name of ship
Lady Juliana, Second Fleet
Brendan Britton
(with daughters Charlotte & Sophie)
Chief procurement officer
Ancestor’s name
John Small
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a tortoiseshell case,
a pruning knife and a metal watch
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
24 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Charlotte, First Fleet
Carole Brown
Management trainer (retired)
Ancestor’s name
John Nichols
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a large quantity of goods, including 57 razors, 12 pairs of scissors, 22 boxes of soap, a looking glass, ribbon, combs, human hair, powder and powder puffs
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 29 years
old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Scarborough, First Fleet
Kylee Burton
Secretary, costume maker
Ancestor’s name
Mary Hook
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing 10 guineas and
a black silk cloak
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
18 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1790
Name of ship
Lady Juliana, Second Fleet
Peter Butt
Documentary filmmaker and author
Ancestor’s name
Humphrey McCarthy
Ancestor’s conviction
Vagrancy
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
40 years old on arrival
Date of arrival
1825
Name of ship
Hooghly
Geoff Cameron
Public servant (retired)
and management consultant
Ancestor’s name
Thomas Dunn
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing 13 pieces of brown paper, 1452 halfpennies and 216 farthings
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
22 years old when transported
Date of arrival
1799
Name of ship
Hillsborough
Janelle Collins
Library technician, bookkeeper
Ancestor’s name
Esther Spencer (nee Salamon)
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing two silver salt holders, two silver salt spoons, two silver pepper castors and a silver tablespoon
Ancestor’s sentence
Transportation for life
Ancestor’s age
19 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1796
Name of ship
Indispensible
Ann Cummins
Secretary, receptionist
Ancestor’s name
Ann Carey
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing two handkerchiefs
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 17 years old
when convicted
Date of arrival
1790
Name of ship
Neptune, Second Fleet
Emma Doberer
Retail animal supplies proprietor
Ancestor’s name
Ann Marsh (known as Mash)
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a bushel of wheat
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
21 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1790
Name of ship
Lady Juliana, Second Fleet
Sheila Frances Exton
Primary teacher (semi-retired)
Ancestor’s name
William Charker (known as Chalker)
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a watch, a chain and a snuffbox
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
26 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1802
Name of ship
Coromandel
Mick Eyers
Ski instructor, radio breakfast announcer and real estate professional
Ancestor’s name
John Rowe
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing two cloth coats
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
28 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Scarborough, First Fleet
Benjamin Haire
Student, Sydney Conservatorium
of Music
Ancestor’s name
Matthew Everingham
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing two law books
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
15 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Scarborough, First Fleet
John Haxton
Retirement village manager (retired)
Ancestor’s name
Ann Sandlin/Lines/Patten
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a saucepan,
a kettle and a flatiron
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
22 years old when transported
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Lady Penrhyn, First Fleet
Monique Galloway
Archaeologist
Ancestor’s name
Jacob Bellett
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing 2 pounds of unwound black silk, 32 ounces of double black silk wound, 51 ells (about 58 metres) of half-ell manufactured lining
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
17 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Scarborough, First Fleet
Glenda Gartrell
Government relations consultant
Ancestor’s name
William Scott
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing three sheep
Ancestor’s sentence
Transportation for life
Ancestor’s age
24 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1811
Name of ship
Admiral Gambier
Gideon Payten-Griffiths
Interdisciplinary artist and
performer,actor and fashion model
Ancestor’s name
Edward Humphreys
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a pair of leather boots and
a cloth great coat
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
22 years old when transported
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Scarborough, First Fleet
Darren Green
Performance artist
Ancestor’s name
Richard Reynolds
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing 100 pounds of lead
with his brother
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
19 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1791
Name of ship
Atlantic, Third Fleet
Samuel Hodgkinson
Museum assistant manager
Ancestor’s name
William Bellamy
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing six pairs of leather shoes
Ancestor’s sentence: 7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
17 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1791
Name of ship
Active, Third Fleet
Kathleen Kavanagh
Public servant
Ancestor’s name
Susannah Holmes
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a pair of linen sheets, a linen gown, a linen shift, 4 yards of Irish linen cloth, three linen handkerchiefs, a silk handkerchief, three muslin neckcloths, two black silk cloaks, two silver tablespoons and two silver teaspoons
Ancestor’s sentence
14 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
20 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Friendship and Charlotte, First Fleet
Pauline Kitson
Retail manager (retired)
Ancestor’s name
Sarah Phillips
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a one pound banknote
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 19 years old
when convicted
Date of arrival
1823 (Van Diemen’s Land [Tasmania])
Name of ship
Lord Sidmouth
Sharon Margin
Project manager
Ancestor’s name
Elizabeth Pulley
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing 10 pounds of cheese, 3 pounds of bacon, butter, 3 pounds of raisins, 7 pounds of flour, 24 ounces of butter and two rolls of worsted
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 24 years old when transported
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Friendship and Prince of Wales,
First Fleet
Robert Maxwell
Archaeologist
Ancestor’s name
John Cross
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a sheep
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
29 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Alexander, First Fleet
Anne Mitchell
Hairdresser (retired)
Ancestor’s name
Ann Forbes
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing 10 yards of printed cotton
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
15 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Prince of Wales, First Fleet
Catherine Mulhall
Librarian
Ancestor’s name
Elizabeth Bridges
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a shawl, a gown, a bonnet,
a cap, a petticoat, two pairs of stockings and a shift
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Unknown
Date of arrival
1823
Name of ship
Lord Sidmouth
Kristine Needham
Education consultant
Ancestor’s name
Rosanna Wilson
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing ribbons
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 20 years old
when convicted
Date of arrival
1840
Name of ship
Isabella II
Anna Nowland
HSC student
Ancestor’s name
Michael Nowland
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a horse
Ancestor’s sentence
Transportation for life
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 22 years old
when convicted
Date of arrival
1790
Name of ship
Scarborough, Second Fleet
Liz Parkinson
Teacher (retired), artist and author
Ancestor’s name
Robert Parkinson
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing crates of tea
Ancestor’s sentence
Transportation for life
Ancestor’s age
21 years old when transported
Date of arrival
1822 (Van Diemen’s Land [Tasmania])
Name of ship
Richmond
Boyd Osborne
Procurement contracts officer
Ancestor’s name
Thomas Lees
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a silver pint jug
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Unknown
Date of arrival
1801
Name of ship
Canada
Cathy And Chris Osborne
Graphic designer and IT consultant
Ancestor’s name
William Osborne
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a necklace
Ancestor’s sentence
Transportation for life
Ancestor’s age
11 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1833
Name of ship
Lord Lyndoch
Ellen Pinkas
Student
Ancestor’s name
William Bellamy
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing six pairs of leather shoes
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
17 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1791
Name of ship
Active, Third Fleet
Fran Powell
Researcher (retired)
Ancestor’s name
Charles Peat
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a purse containing 21 shillings
Ancestor’s sentence
Transportation for life
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 28 years old
when transported
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Scarborough, First Fleet
Amy and Caleb Purser
Students
Ancestor’s name
Sarah Reaveley (Reveley)
Ancestor’s conviction
Setting fire to haystacks
Ancestor’s sentence
15 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
15 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1850 (Van Diemen’s Land [Tasmania])
Name of ship
St Vincent
Tony Robinson
Mining engineer (retired)
Ancestor’s name
Mary Smith
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a pair of leather boots
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
25 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Lady Penrhyn, First Fleet
Raymond George Sherringham
Stores officer (retired)
Ancestor’s name
Jacob Russell
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a copper pot
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 31 years old
when transported
Date of arrival
1791
Name of ship
Salamander, Third Fleet
Mary Lou Munro Spratt
Public servant
Ancestor’s name
James Ruse
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing two silver watches
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
23 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Scarborough, First Fleet
Natalie Tebbutt
Operations manager
Ancestor’s name
Kezia Brown
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing one black cloak, one piece of black lace, one fennel petticoat, one dimity petticoat, two linen shifts, three muslin aprons and one shawl
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
18 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1790
Name of ship
Neptune, Second Fleet
Lorraine Valent
University research publications
officer (retired)
Ancestor’s name
Ann Smith
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a ten pound banknote, a silver watch and other goods
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 37 years old when transported
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Charlotte, First Fleet
Virginia Watt
Pharmacist
Ancestor’s name
Owen McMahon
Ancestor’s conviction
Irish rebel (uprising against the English)
Ancestor’s sentence
Transportation for life
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 21 years old
when transported
Date of arrival
1803
Name of ship
Rolla
Ron Withington
Civil engineer (retired), writer, photographer, editor, desktop publisher and webmaster
Ancestor’s name
William Parish
Ancestor’s conviction
Assault on the King’s Highway
with a pistol
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
33 years old when convicted
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Alexander, First Fleet
Valerie May Williams
Head receptionist (retired)
Ancestor’s name
Edward Pugh
Ancestor’s conviction
Stealing a greatcoat
Ancestor’s sentence
7 years transportation
Ancestor’s age
Approximately 22 years old when transported
Date of arrival
1788
Name of ship
Friendship, First Fleet