So many of us have links to convicts, a number of them Irish. It used to be something whispered... but now we wear that badge with pride. I recall my grandfather whispering to his history loving granddaughter..
"Don't tell your mother, dearie, but I think we may have a convict in the family.." Of course, I was delighted, not shocked. Sadly, by the time I was able to research for myself, Pa had left us. I do hope he now knows that we didn't have one convict, we have a bunch of them and all proudly accepted as part of our family history. I can see the wide smile on your face now, Pa, and that may explain the larrikinism that so often appeared within you.
Enjoy.. and feel free to share your stories in comments below.
Ballarat Courier (Vic. : 1869 - 1884; 1914 - 1918), Saturday 18 February 1871 National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191648450
The Irish Fenian prisoners known as the Fremantle Six.
Photos: Wikipedia
Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 31 May 1884, page 5 National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110066112
Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Thursday 28 May 1885, page 7 National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111010837
Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), Wednesday 29 March 1911, page 3 National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45155293
Photograph of Patrick Doran, FP 126 nla.obj-919437026
Irish ConvictTribune (Sydney, NSW : 1939 - 1991), Wednesday 1 December 1971, page 2 National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237868249
#John Kelly father of Ned Kelly
Born 20 Feb 1820 in Killenaule Parish, Moyglass, Co Tipperary, Ireland.
Died 27 Dec 1866
* index as a PDF National Archives Ireland Ireland-Australia- Transportation
Note: this is a large file free to download. Very helpful for those researching Irish convicts
* James Wilson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Wilson_(Irish_nationalist)
* https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3095781/Poor-shipped-against-world-untold-story-Ireland-s-Potato-Orphans-teenagers-sent-Australia-married-convict-settlers.html
* Note: I have written a number of posts about convicts.. you can find them by typing various words into the search bar at the end of each page. e.g. convict transportation tickets of leave absconded