General Chat

Hi, LadyScozz. My 4th Great Grandfather John Seaborn, war transported to Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land) in 1826, for stealing carpentry tools, though he'd been in prison previously for poaching. He was transferred to Sydney, where he remained until his death in 1839.
He had left behind a wife and child, so never married in Australia.

my 3rd great uncle John Tongs was transported in 1832 on the vessell Eliza to Port Arthur.
he got 7 years for destroying a threshing machine. He was granted a free pardon in 1836 and returned to England and in 1843 returned to Tasmania accompanied by his family. He died in 1869
a memorial
In Longford Methodist Cemetery there is a head stone inscribed on three sides as follows; (facing) John Tongs died 10 June 1869, in the 74th year of his age. He was for upwards of 40 years a constant member and useful office bearer of the Methodist Church. Fanny wife of John Tongs died 5 December 1866 age 75 years;

so bad boy made good
His children stayed there and produced their own offsping

My parents brought us to Oz in 1963. We didn't think we had any relatives here, except for my Mother's aunt in WA.

I've found lots of relatives! Also relatives in NZ. They all came of their own free will, none were transported.

One of these years I might meet some of them.

I have a coupe and a later one who was imprisoned for setting fire to woodland in Herefordshire.

Probably the only one of our family who has ever been to Herefordshire!

rellie of mine, one Robert Breakspear, transported from Berkshire to Oz in 1832 for writing a threatening letter to his employer - think he must have got there as there are Breakspears n Oz

When my son emigrated in 2002 and he went to work,his friends were calling him a pommie...so he said could I find if any family had emigrated there.

The surprise I had was that I had a first fleeter on the Charlotte from my maternal side from Cornwall/Devon..due for execution at Exeter for stealing a jacket in 1786,but instead put on a prison hulk and then the long journey to Oz.

He was the brother of my 4th great grandfather,but he is listed as arrived ,but can't find him after that.

I have a chart on my study wall listing the whole fleet and the supply ship,which is so interesting as the things they brought were amazing.

Im glad I have this curiosity and sorry I didn't know a lot of this when parents were alive....it's fascinating and I hope my children will keep it up.

My 5 x great grandfather was transported for 7 years in 1824 for stealing sheep skins. He died there after 3 years in 1827

I have quite a few on my mothers side of the family who went to Australia but so far have not found any who were transported, likewise I have one or two on my fathers side and again they do not at present appear to have been deported - time will tell and it would not surprise me if I discovered some were ;-)

My OH is not interested in family research (I expect many of you are familiar with the "glazed-eye" look).

I've done a bit of research on his family, found it very interesting...... Cornwall & other parts of England, Germany, New Zealand.....

My brother-in-law (OH's sister's husband) is keen on family research, and has just found a branch we knew very little about.

But.......... BIL is thinking they may related to a certain gentleman (with the same surname as the branch recently found) who was transported to Oz in the first fleet...... for assault & highway robbery!! Can find no record of this man after he served his sentence, we're assuming he returned to England.

Contrary to popular belief, not ALL Aussies are descended from convicts. lol

Do you have anyone who was transported to Oz in your tree?