Over 80 different trades were listed for the First Fleet convicts, many of these were probably useful in shaping the new colony, but many trades were so specialised they were not able to be practiced here; they were not the trades required for the establishment of a new frontier settlement. Some of the more unusual trades listed against the convicts names are: lemon seller, pinheader, tambour worker, button stamper and artificial flower maker. Listed are some of the trades associated with Continue Reading »
Bartholomew Reardon
The Reardon Family Bartholomew Reardon was a shoemaker who lived at Gosport, England. He was married to Katharine Wood on 20 July 1781 at Holy Trinity, Gosport, England. According to the Hampshire Public Records Office Bartholomew had received a stolen hair trunk from a sailor named Carey. Bartholomew and his wife Katherine were charged with having the trunk in their house, knowing it was stolen. He was found guilty at Winchester in Hampshire on 15 July 1783. He was Continue Reading »
Matthew Everingham
On meeting Matthew Everingham During one of Aunty Eunice’s who is related to who talks I discovered I am a direct descendant of a First Fleet convict, Matthew Everingham. To a young teenager’s ears, this was most intriguing. The family story was that Matthew had not returned two books to their rightful owner and there was a hint of forgery somewhere!In 1980, the book Matthew Everingham: A First Fleeter and His Times was written by Valerie Ross – another Everingham descendant and Continue Reading »
Mary Braund : William Bryant
Escape to Timor – Woman Convict’s Epic VoyageSome of the world’s epic voyages have been made in small boats. One in which a woman played a conspicuous part was around the eastern and northern shores of Australia 221 years ago. Few persons have heard of it although it was one of the most hazardous attempts ever made to regain personal liberty. This was the exploit of Mary Bryant, a female convict at Sydney Cove. The Governor (Captain Phillip) was extremely impressed by it, as the historical Continue Reading »
Andrew Goodwin : Lydia Munro
Thomas Warton observed two young men walking down Theobalds Road, London on a summers evening in June 1784, carrying a load of lead on their shoulders. Thinking it was an unreasonable hour for this type of activity, Warton reported them to a watchman on duty. Both gave chase and after a struggle the young men were taken into custody.A month later, on Wednesday 7 July 1784, William Butler and ANDREW GOODWIN stood accused in the Justice Hall of the Old Bailey court for feloniously Continue Reading »
Norfolk Island Settlement
Some Facts about Norfolk Island Norfolk Island is an Australian Dependency, located at 28 deg. 58 min S., 168 deg. 03 min E. Consequently is about the same latitude as Lismore, NSW and several hundred kilometres east of the Australian coast, making it nearer to New Zealand than Australia by air. It sets its time 1 ½ hours ahead of East. Its area is 34 square kilometres and it is quite undulating with peaks 318 metres high. The population is mainly descendants of the Pitcairn Islanders who Continue Reading »
Mary Cavanaugh : Edward Kimberley
On the 31st of March a young girl was seen loitering around the base of the London monument. Several times she was seen to walk past the linen-draper shop at No 42 Fish Street hill near London Bridge. Then she quickly snatched a length of printed cotton from a wooden display horse by the door of the shop. Perhaps, because of her age or inexperience she was unaware of being watched by a man standing on the opposite corner of the monument. The man we know as Philip Hammond from the court of Continue Reading »
James Bloodworth
The Heritage BehindThe James Bloodworth Awards Trade Tool Awards 1993-94 In Developing Building Industry Connection's Trade Tool Awards program, we decided to use the Awards as an acknowledgement to the Building Industry and the great people who are part of it. Obviously someone had to be the first settlement builder in Australia, and the history records tell us that Mr James Bloodworth was regarded as the Colony's first builder of note. Although not a volunteer passenger on board ship, James Continue Reading »
Lucas Family
Nathaniel Lucas The history of the Lucas family in Australia begins at London’s Old Bailey in July, 1784, with the trial of Nathaniel Lucas, who was sentenced to seven years transportation for the theft of linen clothing to the value of £2.2s.2d.Nathaniel was evidently out of favour with the wife of the publican at the Red Lion Inn at Holborn, near London, where he had lodgings. They had clashed over her demands for early payment of board, and his lack patronage of the inn’s bar. The day Continue Reading »
James Ruse
FIRST CONVICT FARMERGloria Axcelsis In Sacred To the memrey of James Ruse who departed this life Sept 5th in the year of houre Lord 1837 Natef of Cornwell and arrived in this coleney by the Forst Fleet Aged 77 My mother reread me Tenderly With me she tock much paines And when I arrived in this coelney I owed the forst grain and now With my hevenly Father I hope ever to remain So reads the headstone of James RUSE who was born on 9 August 1759 Continue Reading »