Family History

[Carlos Parra]

Has anyone else caught the family history bug?

I've been doing it for a few years and naturally think that everything I find is incredibly interesting. Sadly, most of my family don't share the same interest.

That being the case, I'd love to hear the most interesting thing you've found out about your ancestors and distant relatives.

For me, it's the discovery that someone on my paternal side married a descendant of the first Scottish King. I also have a distant cousin who emigrated to America from Scotland, signed up to serve the Union Army in the US Civil War, had his leg amputated, returned to duty, then studied law and entered politics becoming Speaker of the House and thus, 2nd in line to be US President (except he would never have been allowed because he wasn't a natural citizen).

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Has anyone else caught the family history bug?

I've been doing it for a few years and naturally think that everything I find is incredibly interesting. Sadly, most of my family don't share the same interest.

That being the case, I'd love to hear the most interesting thing you've found out about your ancestors and distant relatives.

For me, it's the discovery that someone on my paternal side married a descendant of the first Scottish King. I also have a distant cousin who emigrated to America from Scotland, signed up to serve the Union Army in the US Civil War, had his leg amputated, returned to duty, then studied law and entered politics becoming Speaker of the House and thus, 2nd in line to be US President (except he would never have been allowed because he wasn't a natural citizen).

Fascinating stuff mate. Not sure how much engagement you'll get here though...need some "its raining, its hot" or bash the western culture lines and they will flock.

I've been slack and haven't done the full family tree thing, want to get to it though. What resources did you use....Ancestry.com or other means?

[Carlos Parra]

Fascinating stuff mate. Not sure how much engagement you'll get here though...need some "its raining, its hot" or bash the western culture lines and they will flock.

I've been slack and haven't done the full family tree thing, want to get to it though. What resources did you use....Ancestry.com or other means?

I hear you!

I mostly use Ancestry.com and various Farcebook groups. It can become quite addictive and keeps me off the streets.

Surely there are people on here with convicts in their family. I've got 5 so far as well as a murderer, several suicides and one distant cousin who returned from WW1 a very damaged man. A decade later, he killed his wife and 2 kids then killed himself because he couldn't go on.

[mightyrooster]

My aunt did some research a long time ago before her death and I still have the paperwork and was supposed to follow up and digitize it all but have never got around to it mainly due to cost. I would like to still follow it up one day. She did discover that on my maternal side my ‘many greats’ grandfather, I can’t remembers off the top of my head how many, was sent to Australia on a boat as a petty thief. It even names the boat and year. It is really fascinating stuff. My paternal side also came from England but as immigrants early 20th century. I’ll have to go check the year.

[Carlos Parra]

My aunt did some research a long time ago before her death and I still have the paperwork and was supposed to follow up and digitize it all but have never got around to it mainly due to cost. I would like to still follow it up one day. She did discover that on my maternal side my ‘many greats’ grandfather, I can’t remembers off the top of my head how many, was sent to Australia on a boat as a petty thief. It even names the boat and year. It is really fascinating stuff. My paternal side also came from England but as immigrants early 20th century. I’ll have to go check the year.

Stick at it. Convict records in Australia are fantastic. You can learn a hell of a lot about their early lives because they were kept under strict supervision - so every few years you might find out where they were or what they were doing. Most other 'ordinary' people didn't attract the same amount of attention.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I hear you!

I mostly use Ancestry.com and various Farcebook groups. It can become quite addictive and keeps me off the streets.

Surely there are people on here with convicts in their family. I've got 5 so far as well as a murderer, several suicides and one distant cousin who returned from WW1 a very damaged man. A decade later, he killed his wife and 2 kids then killed himself because he couldn't go on.

No doubt a lot of us would have some convict ancestry. Bear in mind many of them were hardly dangerous criminals, having stole a hanky or similar. Not like today where we import crims and give em tickets to the pictures and a shoeshine on the way in. Free range not caged.

[mightyrooster]

Stick at it. Convict records in Australia are fantastic. You can learn a hell of a lot about their early lives because they were kept under strict supervision - so every few years you might find out where they were or what they were doing. Most other 'ordinary' people didn't attract the same amount of attention.

Yes it’s really fascinating. I guess I also didn’t get around to it because the kids were young and I struggled for time and of course money in those days with a young family and mortgage. It’s hard because the great great etc Grandfather was constantly using aliases to avoid detection. Anyway I just checked and he arrived in Aus in 1801 after a 200+ day trip and was sentenced to 7 years for larceny. Stole goods worth 1 pound. The family tree is then done right to the present day.

[Carlos Parra]

Yes it’s really fascinating. I guess I also didn’t get around to it because the kids were young and I struggled for time and of course money in those days with a young family and mortgage. It’s hard because the great great etc Grandfather was constantly using aliases to avoid detection. Anyway I just checked and he arrived in Aus in 1801 after a 200+ day trip and was sentenced to 7 years for larceny. Stole goods worth 1 pound. The family tree is then done right to the present day.

One of my convict ancestors spent more than a year on a convict ship.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Yes it’s really fascinating. I guess I also didn’t get around to it because the kids were young and I struggled for time and of course money in those days with a young family and mortgage. It’s hard because the great great etc Grandfather was constantly using aliases to avoid detection. Anyway I just checked and he arrived in Aus in 1801 after a 200+ day trip and was sentenced to 7 years for larceny. Stole goods worth 1 pound. The family tree is then done right to the present day.

Good stuff MR!

[mightyrooster]

One of my convict ancestors spent more than a year on a convict ship.

Amazing isn’t it?

[Carlos Parra]

Amazing isn’t it?

It sure is. I don;t know how they did it. My ancestor was only 13 at the time and had originally been sentenced to death!

[mightyrooster]

It sure is. I don;t know how they did it. My ancestor was only 13 at the time and had originally been sentenced to death!

Lol, what a crazy world it was back then. I know someone in my extended family has added some details on the internet to familypedia and the like, so as a result of your thread I’ve just been doing some more revising up and noticed even more content has been added since I last looked a few years back. So thanks for this thread Carlos!

[Carlos Parra]

Lol, what a crazy world it was back then. I know someone in my extended family has added some details on the internet to familypedia and the like, so as a result of your thread I’ve just been doing some more revising up and noticed even more content has been added since I last looked a few years back. So thanks for this thread Carlos!

Good to hear

[Jacks Fur Coat]

One of my convict ancestors spent more than a year on a convict ship.

How many people must have died during those long journeys? Given the cramping and sanitation and health conditions. Once you got here in one piece, you earned it!

[mightyrooster]

How many people must have died during those long journeys? Given the cramping and sanitation and health conditions. Once you got here in one piece, you earned it!

The research which was done on mine says 27 males and 8 females died onboard in the 206 day journey.