Writing Family History Assignment

For the Writing Family History Unit, we had to write and post each week on a Uni Discussion Board over 6 weeks a 250 word short narrative.  The major assignment was a narrative in one of the genres we had been exploring in the unit. I found my "comfort area" in the Creative Non-Friction genre. The discipline of writing 250 words each week was a valuable one.  It made me choose words carefully and really think about what was important to the telling of the story.

I chose to write my final assignment on my paternal Great Grandmother.

A JUMP THROUGH TIME 1915-2017 

Time travel. It doesn’t exist, does it? 

My head says it can’t be, but looking out of the church windows and doors at dusty roads and historical street facades, tells a different story. The heat is oppressive with the threat of rain on the distant horizon. This is definitely 1915, Gunnedah.

This is really happening, I am not asleep. I am standing in front of a congregation of mourners. Could these people be my ancestors from another century?

I look out on the sea of faces in the congregation and come to the realisation, something is required of me.

They are waiting for me to give the Eulogy. Holy crap!

I am accustomed to winging it in many situations, but can I do this? I suppose I do know a fair bit about Louisa, but it may not be what they want to hear.

The coffin is carried in by six burley men in woolen suits. I notice the sheen of sweat around their beards and moustaches and dripping from their brows. These men are sons from Louisa’s first marriage and her two sons-in-law. Wow! They look different to how I imagined. 

“My name is Marcia Moon. I am the Great Granddaughter, of Louisa Engstrom. I have travelled through time from 2017. I am not sure why I am here or if I am the right person to be doing this, but I will give it a go.”

This announcement is met with a chorus of gasps and looks of disbelief from the family and snickers from the younger generation. Luckily no one is making a move to escort me from the building, to the nearest asylum! 

“ Louisa was born sometime around 1850.[26] If anyone could confirm the names of her parents with any degree of certainty and with references, I would be forever grateful.”

Well that went over like a lead balloon! They are staring blankly back at me. Obviously my attempt at Family History humour has gone over their heads. 

“My story starts with Louisa having her first son with my Great Grandfather, Alfred Louis Brandt in Tasmania in 1870.[27] Alfred was a gold miner. [28] Success in this field saw them moving north to Gulgong, New South Wales, within two years. They eventually settled in Gunnedah, where they became the owners of the Sugarloaf Inn. Over the next ten years another six children joined the family. [29]

“Now here is where my story gets interesting.”

From the looks on the faces in front of me, they are thinking...nothing out of the ordinary here... they moved from Tasmania after the birth of their first born. What is she talking about? 

“Twelve years later after the birth of their seventh child and first daughter in 1882, Alfred and Louisa made a little trip back to Tasmania, in January of the following year.

“Gunnedah to Tasmania? How is that even possible in 1883, with seven children? Did the children stay with neighbours? Can any of the family confirm this?

“Anyway, I digress.

“A second honeymoon you ask? No. Try their marriage!

“Alfred and Louisa were married in 1883, in Launceston, Tasmania.[30] Why go back to Tasmania to get married? Was it to cover up the fact that for over twelve years they had been known as Mr & Mrs, which wasn’t the case at all!”

I have their attention now. If I am going to get any information from this crowd today, I need to keep going. But how much information is too much? 

“After the wedding Alfred and Louisa returned to Gunnedah.

“Life was hard with both of them running the bar and lodging house of the Inn, with a large family in tow. The bulk of the rearing of the family was left to Louisa, who cleaned, cooked and schooled them all. She often wondered why her only girl was born last, at least if she was the eldest she could have helped with the childminding and chores. The older boys all worked around the Inn. The two youngest boys were especially helpful with the baby.

“Tragedy struck within six months of their return. While out the back with his cronies getting water, Alfred slipped and fell down the well to his death.[31]

“You would be forgiven in thinking Louisa went to pieces at this time. Although devastated at the loss of her husband, her thoughts turned to her children and how she would support them. Ever resourceful, Louisa decided to take over the Publican’s Licence and manage the Sugarloaf Inn, on her own.” [32]

I hope this leads to some interesting conversations after this service. 

“But being a single mother in the nineteenth century still had a certain stigma attached to it. When she found love again a couple of years later, she grasped it with both hands. She married August Engstrom and they had one child together, before August died in 1888 leaving her single again.[33]

“She chose to remain single until her death. This time she wasn’t letting the stigma of being on her own, rule her life. She had proven before she could provide for her children. It wasn’t a lonely life, she had eight children after all. She went on to become a successful business woman, running another two pubs and a Lodging house, up until the early 1900’s.”[34] 

Eyes are starting to glaze over in the congregation. I better wrap this up. Thank heavens I have all my research questions I want to ask on my iphone for reference. Maybe an Oral History Interview and recording might be on the cards. 

Will they be able to knock down my brick wall, giving me some information on her early life and how she arrived in Australia? Hopefully not in a row boat as I am prone to moan after another unsuccessful search at midnight. Boy! Have I some questions for them.

“Enough of my ramblings. Let’s get this service underway. I am looking forward to meeting you all over a cuppa.

“Rest in peace Louisa, I am proud to call you Great Grandmother. I just wish you had kept a diary!”



26 NSW Death Registration Transcription, Ref No 1915/15291, Louisa Engstrom,Ref No 879450 Printed 27 September 2016, http://nswtranscriptions.com.au

27 Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Reg #44 Alfred L BRANDT [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, http://www.ancestry.com.au

28 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12. (1870, January 13). Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), p. 3. Retrieved May 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39672718,

29 Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Reg #135592 Magnus BRANDT, Index Reg #14877 Peter BRANDT; Index Reg #15707 John BRANDT; Index Reg #22850 George BRANDT; Index Reg #25169 William BRANDT; Index Reg #17610 Ethel BRANDT; [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 accessed 12 August 2015 http://www.ancestry.com.au 

30 Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 Index Reg 685 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 12 August 2015, http://www.ancestry.com.au

31 Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, Index Reg#8157 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 18 August 2015 , http://www.ancestry.com.au

32 Government Gazette Notices (1884, August 29). New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), p. 5884. Retrieved May 26, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225588522

33 NSW Marriage Registration Transcription, Ref No 1886/7445 Louisa Engstrom, Ref No 8938233 Printed 30 January 2017, http://nswtranscriptions.com.au

Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922, Frances Engstrom (Provo, UT, USA,,Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), http://www.ancestry.com.au
Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, August Engstrom, (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), http://www.ancestry.com.au

34 Advertising (1900, May 26). The Worker (Wagga, NSW : 1892 - 1913), p. 6. Retrieved May 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article145904515



For this Assignment I received a mark of 70% and received the following feedback:
Hi Marcia –

This was an interesting piece. Thank you.

This is clearly a well-researched piece. You’ve really done your homework on your family, and it shows. Louisa sounds like a fascinating character, and you’ve given a clear, concise outline of her life. You have a clear, easy to read writing style, and I enjoyed the creative approach you took.

You have the bones here of a really interesting story, but you’ve fallen into the trap of trying to do too much. There are a lot of stories crammed into this 1000 word piece! I know this is meant to be a eulogy, but for someone not familiar with Louisa, there’s a lot here to keep track of. I’d recommend a tighter focus to keep from overwhelming your reader.

There’s a lot of potential here, so I’m confident that if you work on this, you can make this a very engaging narrative. 

Place, Image and Object Assignment

In the Unit Place, Image and Object, I had 2 major assignments. 

The first was an Annotated Map.  

This was something I had never heard of before!  After all the Unit lectures and much research I settled on my subject, my memories of my childhood home.  After a lot of experimentation and many learning curves I produced a slideshow.  I have reproduced it below as a video.

My mark for this assignment was 70% and the following feedback:
Hi Marcia,
Thank you for your mapped investigation of Boronia st. You used the elements of images of everyday family life, maps and drawings effectively. I don't know if there is any history of Dee Why itself that could be a future inclusion? The house drawing work well in this task due to the plan view of a house being a map of a home and its room.Well done.

I was a little disappointed with this mark, as I had put a lot of work into it.  

FOND MEMORIES OF BRANDT FAMILY HOME

To view the video please click on the link below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0HqWknyF3jAQXZHaS1EZkdBU1E/view

________________________________________________

The second assignment for Place, Image and Object was a Object Biography.  It could be on anything from our Family that I could research and write a biography about.

I received 70% for this assignment and the following 
feedback:
Hi Marcia,
Thank you for this great object biography, you have explored the photograph through a number of contextual frames including identifying its materials and techniques, its significance to people and its wider historical context - your detective work in finding the similar Kent photo and following up the writing on the trucks provided some really interesting wider context. For future object biographies try to pursue some of those threads a little more - if it wasn't an advertising image, why might it have been taken and perhaps follow up the sort of work Kent or similar photographers did at the time and the role that photographs played in the 1920s, and similarly the ideas that came out of the memories you unearthed could all be pursued - the solid tyres and what this tells us about transport history, the use of trucks to transport gas, the shifts in technology that allowed motor vehicles to take over from horses. Even though you haven't yet discovered the original function of the object, I was really interested by its transition in function to becoming a symbolic object for you - both in terms of the personal link it gives you to your ancestry but also in an aesthetic sense by being displayed for others to see. Well done.


My subject for this was an old photo from my Mother's possessions.

OBJECT BIOGRAPHY

SS BRIGGS CONTRACTOR ROZELLE PHOTOGRAPH 

For my Object Biography I have chosen a photograph that was in my Mother’s possessions and I inherited after her death in 1996. It is a photo of her Father’s( Samuel Stanley Briggs) business.

It shows three English made Thornycroft trucks with the wording SS Briggs Contractor Rozelle on the side. It is mounted in thick cardboard with the Photographer’s information Milton C Kent in the bottom right hand corner. There isn't a date on the photo anywhere.

Figure 1: My Object - Personal Collection -Marcia Moon
SS Briggs Contractor Roselle (Photographer Milton C Kent, Haberfield)  

Milton C Kent was a well know Photographer of the time and specialised in Aerial Photography. Some of his clients were the Federal Government and the City of Sydney.[1] 
With the aim of finding more about my Object photo and my Grandfather I started searching for other photos taken by Milton C Kent. This resulted in me finding another one taken in 1921, which was mounted in the same brown cardboard, with the information stating that it was a gelatine silver photographic print 14.3 x 20.3 cm on a mount 25 x 30.2 cm.[2] These are the exact measurements and mounting style of the photograph in my possession. 

Figure 2: Photograph from Trove -Milton C Kent Photographer Haberfield, c1921. Source: http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/189953821

I then found (again on Trove) an article for the auction of SS Briggs horses and lorries as he had purchased motors. This newspaper article was dated 11 July 1922.[3] 

Figure 3 :Newspaper Article from Trove, Source:http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16012373

As my Object Photo clearly shows three trucks with SS Briggs on the side, I am estimating that the production of this photo is c1922.

As stated in the photo I used for comparison, the production was done with the Gelatine Silver process. I am basing my assumption of my Object Photo using this process as well. This involved using gelatine which is an animal protein, as the binder and developed silver to make a material image.

This process was the most common used for black and white prints at this time and is still used in some forms today.[4] 

My feelings of my Object Photo is that it has been produced as an advertising tool. But in researching it, I have not as yet been able to find evidence of this photo anywhere else, other than in my possession!

My research has lead me to reminiscing with my eldest sister.[5] She remembers our mother telling her that her father had one of the first motorised trucks in NSW.

I also spoke to my cousin[6] who also remembers being told by his motherI(my aunt) that he was a carrier for gas products, for he thought British Industrial Gases and had the first registered motor lorry in NSW. He also remembers being told it had solid tyres, which can be verified in the Object Photo.(Figure 1) Prior to that he used horse drays, which is also verified by the Newspaper article.(Figure 3) 

When I started looking for information about British Industrial Gases, my search led me to the company BOC(British Oxygen Company) who took over the company CIG(Commonwealth Industrial Gases) in 1935, who also took over Comox (Commonwealth Oxygen Ltd), which was founded in 1911.[7] 

My Object Photo also has the words Comox, clearly printed on the side of the three truck engines.(Figure 1) So this indicates that my Grandfather worked for Comox, so I have uncovered another link of research for information about my Grandfather.

My Object is starting to weave a story for me. As I have very little information about my Grandparents except where they lived and died, this Object holds great significance for me. It is a link to how my Grandfather worked and provided for his family.

I would like to find out more information about my Object and hope that one day it will lead me to other unanswered questions.

I know that my Grandfather died in 1939 at his home in Collaroy. But a newspaper article on 24 December 1937, shows the Bankstown Council in the NSW Supreme Court having my Grandfather’s home being put up for auction in February 1938, to pay for non payment of his mortgage to the Bank. [8] 

What happened between the time of his rise to prosperity and proud owner of Motorised vehicles in 1922 and his death in 1939?

Did the Great Depression claim another victim? If he was still living in his house at the time of his death, did he somehow raise the funds to pay his debts and keep his house?

My Object raises many feelings of sadness at my lack of curiosity of my Ancestors until it was too late. I wish that I had taken time to talk to my Mum more about the past while she was around.

My search has led me to various sites which I have sent emails, with varied responses.

I have contacted the Powerhouse museum in regards to a book which shows photos of Milton C Kent.9 As yet unanswered.

I have also emailed the State Library of NSW in regard to researching Milton C Kent and Business Trade Directories of the 1920s.10 Unfortunately they were unable to give me anymore information that I had not already accessed.

I also emailed the Transport Workers’ Union [11] asking about their archive records for members in 1920s. Although they don't have archival records going back that far, they have been very helpful in offering to send me two books free of charge in regards to History of The Transport Workers and their Union. You never know I may find Samuel listed in these!

In conclusion although I haven't uncovered a lot of my Grandfather’s story, I know there is still more of the story to be found. If it hadn't been for my Object Photo, I would not have started the search down this path.

I plan now to display this photo, for others to see. Not hidden away, un- protected and forgotten in a box. It deserves more respect than what it has been getting for the last 90 years. After all it is another link to My Ancestor!

1 Trove. Kent, Milton (1921). Eight Australian Six cars leaving factory, Sydney, to be shipped to New Zealand. Retrieved July 25, 2016, from http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/189953821.

2 Trove. Kent, Milton (1921). Eight Australian Six cars leaving factory, Sydney, to be shipped to New Zealand. Retrieved July 25, 2016 from http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/189953821.

3 Trove. Advertising (1922, July 11). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) p. 4. Retrieved August 6, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article 16012373

4 Google. Adapted from the list of terms and definitions on the website of the Department of Photography and Film, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, which was compiled from various sources by David Coleman. Published here with permission. Retrieved August 1, 20126, from http://www.photoeye.com/GALLERY/Definitions.cfm

5 Janyce Boyd. Email message to author. August 1, 2016

6 Ralph Dunn. Email message to author. August 2, 2016.

7 Google. Encyclopaedia of Australian Science 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2016 from http://www.eoas.info/biogs/A000964b.htm

8 Trove. The Council of the Municipality of Bankstown v. Briggs. (1937, December 31). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), , p. 5187. Retrieved August 6, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225130868

9 Powerhouse Museum. Email message to support staff for information. Sent July 19, 2016 from http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/imageservices/photo-library

10 State Library off NSW. Email message to support staff for information. Sent July 20, 2016 from http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/research-and-collections/ask-librarian

11 Transport Workers’ Union. Email message to author August 8, 2016

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Ancestry: 
Sands Directories: Sydney and New South Wales, 1858-1933 www.ancestry.com.au

Google:

• Australian Academy of Technical Sciences and Engineering www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au
• The BOC Group, www.en.m.wikipedia.org
• Encyclopaedia of Australian Science, www.ecas.infoPhooey,http://www.photoeye.com/GALLERY/Definitions.cfm
• Thornycroft Gallery, www.thornycroft.org.uk
• The Transport Workers’ Union NSW, www.twunsw.org.au

Powerhouse Museum: Photo Library,

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/imageservices/photo-library/

State Library of NSW: Research and Collections, http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/research-and-collections/ask-librarian

Trove: Digitised Newspapers, Advertisements, Family Notices, Photo Collections, http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/189953821

Introduction to Family History Assignment - Research Plan-Alfred BRANDT

Introduction to Family History -2015 ©


Assessment Task 4: Research Plan


Introduction

I am researching my Paternal Great Grandfather Alfred BRANDT. (Number 1-Pedigree Chart).

Alfred had seven children to Louisa BARKER. My Grandfather George Henry BRANDT was the fifth of these children, who were born over a period of 12 years.


Main Research Question


What was Alfred BRANDT’s story?


1. Where did he originate from?
2. What was his occupation in Tasmania?
3. Why did he leave Tasmania?
4. What was his occupation after leaving Tasmania?


Records and Resources I Have Used To Date
Alfred BRANDT fathered his first child Alfred Lewis BRANDT on 29 June 1870 in Launceston Tasmania.[1] This Index Record was found through Ancestry.com.au

A digital copy of the Birth from the Launceston Register of Births 1870, on the Tasmanian Government LINC website needs verification by obtaining a copy of the Birth Certificate.
Six other children were born in NSW between 1872 and 1882.[2]

These Index records have been verified at NSW BDM with the same Index number and the same parents.

An Index Record on Ancestry.com for the Marriage of Alfred BRANDT and Louisa BARKER[3] was located on the Tasmanian Government LINC website. The digitised Marriage record for Alfred and Louisa in the Launceston Marriage Register shows the date as 10 January 1883.[4] It is interesting to note that this record lists Alfred’s occupation as Innkeeper.

Alfred died in 1883 in Gunnedah.[5]

On the transcription of the Death Certificate,[6] it has conflicting information regarding the year of marriage. A copy/transcription of the Marriage Certificate is needed for verification.

While making his Timeline, a Newspaper article from the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate – Thursday 2 August 1883, p2, was found.

GUNNEDAH

FATAL ACCIDENT – A fatal accident happened on Monday to Mr Alfred Brandt, hotel-keeper at Sugarloaf Flat. It appears that Mr Brandt, in company with some other men, was trying to fish up a bucket which had fallen down a well, and as Mr Brandt was steadying the rope, his foot slipped, and he fell down the well, a distance of 150 feet, and was killed on the spot. He leaves a wife and a large family of children to mourn their loss. An inquest will be held.[7]



Similar reports were published in:
The Armidale Express Tuesday August 7 1883, p38, The Maitland Mercury/Hunter River General Advertiser Tuesday 31 July 1883, p5.[9]

Armed with this information I was keen to find evidence of the Inquest Record.

I searched various sites, Ancestry, Trove, Google, NSW State Records, and could only find on Ancestry, an Index Record from NSW Register of Coroners Inquest 1821-1937 #676 for Alfred BRANDT, Gunnedah abt 1883.[10] All searches in his name for the actual record of the inquest proved unsuccessful.

I did find an Inquest Record for Alfred BRAUDT.[11]

During my searches for information as to where Alfred lived I found a record in the NSW Australia, Police Gazettes, 1854-1930,stating that Alfred BRANDT was issued with a Publican’s Licence on 28 April 1882, with the District and Situation of the House listed as Coonabarabran Rd, near Gunnedah and the Sign of the House listed as Sugar Loaf Hotel.[12] This record gives me confirmation that Alfred was indeed an Innkeeper.


Repositories and Records that I Plan to Use

Ancestry.com
Shipping/Passenger Records for Alfred.
Immigration Records for Alfred
Trove
Newspaper articles, Family Notices, Shipping Lists for any mention of the family.
NSW State Records
Probates and Wills for Alfred
Public Record Office Victoria
Passenger/Shipping Arrival Records
Ship Departures to Tasmania


Reflective Statement

I began this search of Alfred after working back from myself on my Family Tree. I had confirmed knowledge of my Grandfather George Henry BRANDT, which led to the NSWBDM website and from there I found his sibling’s and parent’s names.


Making a Timeline led me to many interesting places. The Birth records of his first son in 1870 in Tasmania show Louisa as BRANDT formerly BARKER. This record also shows Alfred’s occupation as Gold Miner. Further investigation of these records may give clues as to how he came to be in Tasmania.


With the arrival of his first child, did he decide that he needed a more secure income? Is this the clue as to why he then moved to NSW, where he then had a further 6 children with Louisa.


Their Marriage records show them being married in 1883 in Tasmania, with Alfred’s occupation being Innkeeper and Louisa listed as a Spinster. Once again the occupation being stated as Innkeeper has similarities to other records found along the way.


After receiving the Transcription record of his death, this Marriage record's validity is now in question. The Transcription Record states that he was 39 at the time of the marriage. This puts the year of marriage at 1870 not 1883 as shown on the Marriage Record. As this Transcription shows the Informant to be Louisa, it is fair to assume that it is correct. But did she have cause to falsify this record? As he is listed as an Innkeeper was there a question of beneficiaries in a future Will, which would make the Legitimacy of his children important? There is also the listing of Innkeeper on the Marriage Record, this is different to the Gold Miner on the 1870 Birth Record of his son.


Ordering a Marriage Certificate will hopefully verify these questions.


Although there are inconsistencies with these records, they do have parallels which invoke further research.


Finding an Inquest Record was my biggest challenge. I had to change my searching technique to the “Less is More” method. By only using his first name, location where he may have lived, year and place of death, I turned up an Inquest Record for Alfred BRAUDT. This record had the same Index


Number 676, showed an approx. Birth Year, his age at death, Birth Place as Sweden. The place of death on this record is the same as the Newspaper reports. I had found my record!


The misspelled name on the Inquest Records has been a valuable lesson to me, teaching me to broaden my search criteria and not look for what I think I know!


The listing on the Inquest Record, of Alfred’s place of birth as Sweden, opens up another whole new avenue of future investigation.


In conclusion, although I have yet to answer all my questions, it is these very questions that give me a starting point for my investigations and planning.


I have learnt from this course that it is not just about adding names to charts, but trying to find more of the story of some of the names on my charts.




1 http://www.ancestry.com.au Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Reg #44 Alfred L BRANDT [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 accessed 12 August 2015


2 http://www.ancestry.com.au Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Reg #135592 Magnus BRANDT; Index Reg #14877 Peter BRANDT; Index Reg #15707 John BRANDT; Index Reg #22850 George BRANDT; Index Reg #25169 William BRANDT; Index Reg #17610 Ethel BRANDT; [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 accessed 12 August 2015


3 http://www.ancestry.com.au Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 Index Reg 685 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 12 August 2015


4 http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/archive-heritage, Names Index RGD 37/1/42#685, accessed 18 AUGUST 2015


5 http://www.ancestry.com.au Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, Index Reg#8157 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 18 August 2015


6 NSW Family History Transcriptions Pty Ltd, NSW Death Registration Transcription Ref #1883/8157, Ref No 8270291, Printed 9 September 2015, received 10 September 2015
7 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/135952127, 1883 'GUNNEDAH.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 2 August, p. 2, accessed 18 August 2015s


8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192717189, 1883 'EPITOME OF NEWS.', The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 - 1861; 1863 - 1889; 1891 - 1954), 7 August, p. 3, accessed 18 August 2015


9 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/135952127, 1883 'District Telegrams.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 31 July, p. 5, accessed 18 August 2015


10 http://www.ancestry.com.au. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1821-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, State Archives NSW; Series: 2926; Item: 4/6623; Roll: 344 accessed 18 August 2015


11 http://www.ancestry.com.au. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1821-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, State Archives NSW; Series: 2924; Item: 4/6618; Roll: 343

12 http://www.ancestry.com.au. New South Wales, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1854-1930, Publication Date 3 May 1882 p167 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 accessed 19 August 2015

Convict Ancestors Assignment

For the following essay for the Convict Ancestors Unit I chose to write about Elizabeth Selwyn. For this essay we were required to write and publish it on the Website "Our Family Past". It was quite a learning curve as I not only had to conquer writing an academic essay but also learn the technology of writing and posting on this site. I had to include links in my writings to other articles, which I wrote myself, from my research. So at the bottom of each part of the essay you will find in red the link to each article. For the ease of reading this essay, I have included the article directly after ( so the link doesn't work, it is just to show how clever I was!!)

My mark for this assignment was 70/100 with the Feedback as follows:
Dear Marcia, you have obviously put a lot of work into researching your story to try to piece together fragments of Elizabeth's life into a largely coherent narrative. A few relevant images and some additional information pertaining to general aspects of Elizabeth's life as a convict and settler would have helped contextualise her experience. I wish you well in any further work you do in answering the many remaining questions concerning her life.




HAA007 INTRO - Elizabeth Selwyn


This is the story of Elizabeth Selwyn, who is my Great Great Great Grandmother.

Elizabeth was just another of the many convict women who shaped the new colony of Australia, in it’s early days.

Elizabeth’s story looks like it may have been a “Rags to Riches” one!

Although it has been a challenge to find many records that actually tell her story, I have been able to piece together from persons around her, the path her life may have followed.

It is uncertain what she may have faced in her private life, as though she had five children, she never married their father, who was a Lieutenant on the vessel she came to Australia on, in 1792.

So what did she face bringing up her children? Did she love her partner and he her? What was life like after her partner’s death, bringing up 5 children as a single parent?


To read more of Elizabeth's Story please click here -
HAA007 MAIN - Elizabeth Selwyn "Rags to Riches".



HAA007 MAIN - Elizabeth Selwyn "Rags to Riches".


Elizabeth was tried at the Gloucester Assizes, Gloucestershire on 23 March 1791 for stealing clothing worth 34 shillings from her employer. She was convicted for 7 years transportation.[1]

Bath Newspaper- Report of Elizabeth Selwyn's Trial (1) 

In today’s currency this would be approximately AUD$310, and although a fairly major crime it does question whether this was a harsh sentence. But compared to other convict’s crimes and sentences this may have been just another way of solving Britain’s overcrowding Penal problem.

Elizabeth is listed on the Pitt’s indent in another two places.[2] There is not much information on these records, other than her name, where tried, date, sentence and ship.

Where she was sent to between being convicted in March 1791 and boarding the Pitt in July 1791 is still a mystery to be solved.

On arrival in Port Jackson, Elizabeth is listed as being assigned to Lieutenant Thomas Rowley as Housekeeper.[3]

Elizabeth received an Absolute Pardon in 1794.[4] This pardon came after 2 years in the new colony. Did she receive preferential treatment as the mother of Thomas’s children? There doesn't appear to be any evidence of her having re-offended after arriving in Australia.

What sort of life she had is pure speculation. There are no records of her having married Captain Rowley.

Leiutenant Rowley became a Captain in the NSW Corps in June 1796. He was assigned in November 1799 to Norfolk Island where he stayed until July 1800. He resigned in November 1801, due to ill health.

Thomas turned his hand to farming which he pursued through the acquisition of much land through Land Grants, during his lifetime.

The first was 2 acres in 1793 on the 4th May. It was a leasehold for 14 years in Sydney, requiring him to pay an annual rental of 2 shillings and 6 pence.[5]

The rest of the parcels of land that he received over the pursuing 11 years were all grants.

His second was on the 28th May 1793 of 100 acres at Petersham Hill.[6]

His third, was on the 3rd October 1794 of 70 acres again at Petersham Hill.[7]

The fourth, was on the 14th August 1798 of 85 acres, also at Petersham Hill.[8]

On the 3rd August 1799 he acquired his fifth grant of 260 acres at Liberty Plains.[9]

In 1799 he acquired his sixth parcel of land with a Grant of 160 acres in York on 8th October.[10]

On 31 March 1802 after he had retired from the NSW Corps, he was granted his seventh parcel of land of 190 acres at Liberty Plains.[11]

Two further grants followed on 9 August 1803, at Petersham and Liberty Plains/Concord, of 240 and 750 acres.[12]

The last grant being found was on 16 July 1804 at Bankstown of 700 acres.[13]

This may have made Elizabeth’s life in the colony bearable. At least it appears so, as she bore Captain Rowley five children between 1792 and 1804. Where she lived during this time is another mystery as there aren’t any records from Musters or Census’ until after his death in 1806.

The first of their children was Isabella, born 19 November 1792. Followed by Thomas on 12 August 1794. Then came John on 28 November 1797.

These 3 children were found on NSW State Records index under the name Selwin, with no mention of Captain Rowley.[14]

Screenshot from NSW-BDM, showing the first 3 children born to Thomas and Elizabeth.(2) 

Then Mary was born on the 18 March 1800, also found on NSW State Records index but under the surname of Rowley. [15] 

Screenshot from NSW BDM of Index for Mary Rowley, also showing another Mary born to Thomas and Jane Mickle.(3) 

I have also unearthed her Baptismal record, acknowledging both parents, but once again, the mother is listed as Elizabeth Selwin not Rowley.[16] This is inconclusive as to Elizabeth’s married status, as most Baptismal records today still ask for and record the mother’s maiden name.

Mary Rowley's Baptism Record(4) 

The next to be born is Eliza in 1803/1804. As yet I haven't been able to find her birth records in any name, but she is mentioned in Thomas’s Will, so she did exist! [17]

It must be mentioned now that there is a record of another Mary being born to Thomas Rowley and Jane Mickle in 1804. [18] There was another Thomas Rowley who was a convict, as was Jane Mickle, so I am inclined to think that this “Mary” is a red herring to confuse the matter, until confirmed one way or the other. This child was not acknowledge in Thomas’s Will.

If the other Mary(as mentioned above) was another of Thomas’s children, conceived and born to another women, how did Elizabeth feel about this other child? What had happened in her relationship with Thomas? Why did Thomas not provide for this child in his will?

Whatever the answer, Elizabeth was still with Thomas when he died in 1806.[19] Did this prove that she had deeper feelings for him? I feel that it would have been very hard to be a single woman bringing up 5 children on her own in that day and age(let alone an ex-convict)! Thomas left a will when he died naming Elizabeth as one of his beneficiaries.[20]

Elizabeth appears in 1814 on the Population Book 1811-1825 at Windsor listed as a Widow.[21]

I have found evidence of Elizabeth in the 1828 Census, living with Henry and Eliza Briggs(her daughter) in Petersham, aged 60 and listed as Betsey Rowley.[22]

Elizabeth died 22 June 1843 and from records found she remained in the same general area until her death.[23]

As she started calling herself Rowley and listing herself as a widow on documents after Thomas's death, it may be an indication that she felt her time spent with him entitled her to the security and respectability of calling herself Mrs, even if he hadn't done her the compliment of making it “legal”!

She probably was "well off" for the rest off her life, being provided for in the Will. Also in the 1806 Census there were listings of ten prisoners, one free by servitude prisoner and a free settler being assigned or employed by Captain Rowley and Elizabeth Selwyn(housekeeper), between the years 1801-1806.[24] So it looks like Elizabeth had help with household duties in her new life. She was able to see her children grow up free and become land owners themselves and marry other free settlers.

So her "Rags to Riches" story, may be true but I wouldn't say it was an easy life!



To view other articles, please click on a link below.


HAA007 INTRO - Elizabeth Selwyn
HAA007 - BREAKOUT 1 - The Pitt and The Voyage
HAA007 - BREAKOUT 2 - Thomas Rowley's Will 

HAAOO7 - REFFERENCES AND IMAGE CREDITS




HAA007 - BREAKOUT 1 - The Pitt and The Voyage


Elizabeth sailed on the Pitt, from Yarmouth Roads, Portsmouth on 17 July 1791. The ship’s Master was Captain Edward Manning.

Life on board the Pitt was fraught with danger. It sailed with 410 convicts, 352 being male and 58 female. Also on board was the Ship’s Surgeon Dr Jameson, and Assistant Surgeon Dr Edward Lang, a contingent from the NSW Corps, Seamen, Officer’s wives, Soldier’s wives, Free Passengers and children and Convict children.

There is no surviving ship’s log for the Pitt and so reports of the voyage depends on offical letters from officers and soldiers on the voyage.[25]

The vessel sailed with evidence of small pox on board and as well as being overcrowded. At the ports of call along the way, it was customary for the soldiers, officers and free passengers to go ashore, either for medical reasons, shopping for supplies etc.

It was usually on these excursion on shore that more medical problems were bought back on board. As convicts didn't get the chance to leave the boat they tended to escape the illnesses that were picked up in these ports.

The journey took 6 1/2 months from when they set sail from Portsmouth.

Their first stop was St Jago, at the port Praia, arriving on 16th August where they stay for a week. The island had been in drought for 3 years. The crew went onshore to collect fresh water, with the soldiers going onshore to sample the local rum and the soldiers wives also taking advantage of going onshore to do the washing!

The Pitt set sail again on 23rd August, heading towards Rio de Janeiro. The ship was soon becalmed in the waters off the tropics, where those onboard suffered with many illnesses of tropical ulcers and fevers. The convicts on board were the least affected by illness as they had not gone onshore back in Praia. There were quite a few deaths at this time, with 13 soldiers, 5 soldiers wives, 2 children and 7 crewmen.

It was after this that some of the convicts were release from their irons to help man the ship. With water in short supply and many suffering from scurvy due to their inadequate diet and lack of vitamin C, it was a relief when on 8th October Captain Manning decided to pull into Rio de Janeiro for supplies and to give the sick time to recover. After 3 weeks the ship set sail once again on the 31st October.

From here they sailed onto Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, arriving 25th November and set sail again 23rd December. It was after this that the convicts weren’t quite as lucky health wise with 40 convicts reported as sick with scurvy. It was during this part of the journey that they encountered very bad weather with a gale lasting 3 days. Again it was a relief when land was spotted and they landed at Van Diemen’s Land on the 6th February. From here they continued to sail up the eastern coast of Australia to Port Jackson, where they arrived on 14th February 1792.

HAA007 INTRO - Elizabeth Selwyn
HAA007 MAIN - Elizabeth Selwyn "Rags to Riches".
HAA007 - BREAKOUT 2 - Thomas Rowley's Will
HAAOO7 - REFFERENCES AND IMAGE CREDITS 

HAA007 - BREAKOUT 2 - Thomas Rowley's Will


The Will of Thomas Rowley can be viewed in full on Ancestry.[26] Although it is handwritten and the print is fairly faint, it is abled to be seen that Thomas provided for his descendants with good intentions.

He mentions his five "natural children" all by name, Isabella Rowley, Thomas Rowley, John Rowley, Mary Rowley and Eliza Rowley. He also mentions Elizabeth Selwyn as mother of these children.

He leaves his estate to be shared equally between the above six. He does stipulate that it is on the condition that Elizabeth does not marry or cohabitate with anyone else.

He appointed Major George Johnstone and John Harris Esq, a Surgeon, both from the NSW Corps as Executors. It stipulates in the Will that the Executors have the say on the spending of money from his estate on the education of his children and for Elizabeth's maintenance and support.

Probate was granted in 1828 in London. There was then only one surviving Executor of the Will, John Harris. How hard Elizabeth had to fight for money for herself and her children in the years from his death until Probate was granted, is open for conjecture.

But hopefully the Executors were just men and looked after the family. Below is an image of one of the pages of Thomas’ will.

Part of Thomas Rowley's Will listing his 5 "natural" children begotten on the Body of Elizabeth Selwyn.(6) 

HAA007 INTRO - Elizabeth Selwyn
HAA007 MAIN - Elizabeth Selwyn "Rags to Riches".
HAA007 - BREAKOUT 1 - The Pitt and The Voyage HAAOO7 - REFFERENCES AND IMAGE CREDITS


HAAOO7 - REFFERENCES AND IMAGE CREDITS

REFERENCES


[1] STARR, MARION, Unhappy Exiles Convicts of the Pitt and Kitty 1792, Australia 1016, p141.

[2] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.
Original data:

• New South Wales Government. Indents First Fleet, Second Fleet and Ships. NRS 1150, microfiche 620–624. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 
• New South Wales Government. List of Convicts: Minerva, Speedy, Royal Admiral, Minorca, Canada, Nile. NRW 1151, microfiche 625. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 
• New South Wales Government. Bound manuscript indents, 1788–1842. NRS 12188, microfiche 614–619,626–657, 660–695. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 
• New South Wales Government. Annotated printed indents (i.e., office copies). NRS 12189, microfiche 696–730, 732–744. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved May 20 2016. 

[3] Ancestry.com. New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806- 1849 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 5, 19-20, 32-51); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Retrieved May 20 2016

[4] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Original data:

• New South Wales Government. Copies of returns of Absolute and Conditional Pardons granted. Series 1165. State Records Reel 774, copy of 4/4492. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 
• New South Wales Government. Registers of Conditional Pardons. Series 1170. State Records Reel 774. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 
• New South Wales Government. Register of convicts recommended for Conditional Pardons. Series 1173. State Records Reel 797-798, copy of 4/4478-80. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 
• New South Wales Government. Alphabetical registers of pardons. Series 1174. State Records Reel 798, copy of 6/884. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 
• New South Wales Government. Registers of Absolute Pardons. Series 1177. State Records Reel 800, copy of 4/4486-88. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 
• New South Wales Government. Registers of recommendations for Absolute Pardons. Series 1179. State Records Reel 800, copy of 4/4489-90. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 
• New South Wales Government. Copies of Conditional Pardons Registered. Series 1172. Reels 775-796, 3037. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved May 26 2016 

[5] [6] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data: Registers of Land Grants and Leases. Microfilm Publication 2560– 2561, 2846, 2548–2550, 2700–2702, 2704–2705, 11 rolls. Record Group NRS 13836. New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 1 2016.

[7] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.,
2010. Original data: Registers of Land Grants and Leases. Microfilm Publication 2560– 2561, 2846, 2548–2550, 2700–2702, 2704–2705, 11 rolls. Record Group NRS 13836. New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 1 2016

[8] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.,
2010. Original data:Registers of Land Grants and Leases. Microfilm Publication 2560– 2561, 2846, 2548–2550, 2700–2702, 2704–2705, 11 rolls. Record Group NRS 13836. New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 1 2016

[9] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.,
2010. Original data: Registers of Land Grants and Leases. Microfilm Publication 2560– 2561, 2846, 2548–2550, 2700–2702, 2704–2705, 11 rolls. Record Group NRS 13836. New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 1 2016

[10] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.,
2010. Original data:Registers of Land Grants and Leases. Microfilm Publication 2560– 2561, 2846, 2548–2550, 2700–2702, 2704–2705, 11 rolls. Record Group NRS 13836. New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 1 2016

[11] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.,
2010. Original data:Registers of Land Grants and Leases. Microfilm Publication 2560– 2561, 2846, 2548–2550, 2700–2702, 2704–2705, 11 rolls. Record Group NRS 13836. New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 1 2016

[12] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.,
2010. Original data:Registers of Land Grants and Leases. Microfilm Publication 2560– 2561, 2846, 2548–2550, 2700–2702, 2704–2705, 11 rolls. Record Group NRS 13836. New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 1 2016

[13] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.,
2010. Original data:Registers of Land Grants and Leases. Microfilm Publication 2560– 2561, 2846, 2548–2550, 2700–2702, 2704–2705, 11 rolls. Record Group NRS 13836. New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 1 2016

[14] Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Compiled from publicly available sources. Retrieved April 15 2015.

[15] Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data: Compiled from publicly available sources. Retrieved April 15 2015.

[16] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Baptisms, 1790- 1916 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.Original data: Parish Baptism Registers. Textual records. St. John’s Anglican Church Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. St John's Anglican Church Parramatta. Retrieved June 21 2016

[17] Ancestry.com. London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data: London, England, Wills and Probate. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts. Images produced by permission of the City of London Corporation Libraries, Archives. Retrieved June 10 2016.

[18] Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Compiled from publicly available sources. Retrieved May 18 2016.

[19] New South Wales BD&M, Reg#1/1806V18061349/4, Thomas Rowley. Retrieved April 15 2015.

[20] Ancestry.com. London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: London, England, Wills and Probate. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts. Images produced by permission of the City of London Corporation Libraries, Archives. Retrieved June 10 2016.

[21] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Census and Population Books, 1811-1825 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data:New South Wales Government. Secretary to the Governor. Population musters, New South Wales mainland [1811–1819]. NRS 1260 [4/1224–25, 4/1227]. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 10 2016.

[22] Ancestry.com. 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: New South Wales Government. 1828 Census: Householders’ returns [Population and Statistics, Musters and Census Records, Census, Colonial Secretary] . Series 1273, Reels 2551-2552, 2506-2507. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 10 2016.

[23] Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Compiled from publicly available sources. Retrieved June 1 2016.

[24] Biographical Database of Australia, Biographical Report for Elizabeth Selwyn, Person ID: B#10011442901, General Muster of New South Wales 1806. Retrieved June 19 2016.

[25] STARR, MARION, Unhappy Exiles Convicts of the Pitt and Kitty 1792, Australia 1016

[26] Ancestry.com. London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data: London, England, Wills and Probate. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts. Images produced by permission of the City of London Corporation Libraries, Archives. Retrieved June 10 2016.



IMAGE CREDITS

(1) The British Library Board, Bath Chronicle March 30 1791 (2) NSW BDM Birth Index Screenshot for 3 Rowley Children (3) NSW BDM Birth Index Screenshot for Mary Rowley
(4) Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Baptisms, 1790- 1916 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.Original data: Parish Baptism Registers. Textual records. St. John’s Anglican Church Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. St John's Anglican Church Parramatta
(5) Ancestry.com. London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data: London, England, Wills and Probate. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts. Images produced by permission of the City of London Corporation Libraries, Archives.

Convicts and their Legacy Assignment

This essay was written for the "Convicts and their Legacy" Unit. I had to write about how my convicts life fitted into the broader Convict genre, based on a survey of convicts being researched by students in this course.  I had to argue  whether they were typical or atypical to convicts from the survey. This was my least favourite of all the Units but somehow I managed a good mark of 72/100 with the following Feedback:
Well done Marcia, this is great work. You've combined information from your convict research, the survey and wider research to build a story about Elizabeth.
Your structure is a little confused, there is fantastic information in there, but it jumps around a little. You also repeat some information, such as about the will. Structuring essays can be tricky, but if you set out your argument in your introduction it can help a great deal - I will discuss A, B and C, and it will lead me to this conclusion. This then also gives you a structure to follow.
Remember that your footnote references need to go at the end of sentences, after the punctuation.
Overall, great work!

 CONVICTS AND THEIR LEGACY - ELIZABETH SELWYN

My convict Elizabeth Selwyn looks typical of the majority of the female convicts, in the Convict Survey. I would like to ague that on paper she falls in the most common percentile of the results, but her life was far from typical. The records held from her early arrival in Sydney in 1792 were not as detailed as later records, especially those of Van Diemen’s Land, where records could list, ship of arrival, convicts Police Number and details of appearance. The information I have found on her from other articles leads me to think that she was atypical.

Elizabeth was 18-19 when she arrived in Sydney in February 1792. The Prison Calendar shows at the time of sentencing in March 1791 she was 18 and charged on suspicion of stealing clothing. After completing the Convict Survey I received a NSW Burial Transcription Record, showing that Elizabeth died in 1843 and was 78, putting her age at approximately 27 years old on arrival. As these two records are at variance with each other it could be argued that Elizabeth falsified her age at her trial in the hope of attaining a lighter sentence. But unfortunately this didn’t happen as she was sentenced, “to be transported beyond the seas for seven years”.

These records although giving conflicting information to the Family Historian, highlight the fact that Elizabeth was neither typical or atypical in regards age on arrival in Australia. She was in the 20% range for 18-19 and in the 15% range for 27. These ages were a long way from the most typical range of 20-24 which was in the 40% range of those surveyed. This discrepancy in the recorded age of Elizabeth may also be an indication of her illiteracy.

I filled in the survey with Elizabeth’s literacy level as unknown, which puts her into the largest percentile on the Survey graph. It is difficult not to make the assumption that her differing age records indicate that she actually fell into the third largest percentile of the Survey of being “Neither read nor write”. She may not have known her age at the time of her conviction or indeed in later life.

Many Historians have written about the illiteracy of convicts being transported to Australia, with the general consensus being around 75% literacy levels. This is maybe where Elizabeth differed from the majority on the Survey. On the graph approximately 14% showed as illiterate, with the rest having some literacy and the largest being unknown. It is possible that after living in the Colony for approximately 51 years, she acquired some education enabling her to state her age at a later date with some degree of certainty. In the 1828 NSW Census, she is listed as Betsey Rowley living with her son-in-law and daughter, Henry and Eliza Briggs with age as 60, which falls into the age range of plus or minus 3 years as shown on the Death Transcription. One could argue that she was in the habit of writing her age near the end of her life. Interestingly these literacy records tie back to the previous argument about Elizabeth’s age.

Elizabeth never married. She lived with Captain Thomas Rowley whom she was assigned to at the time of her arrival in the Colony in February 1792 as a Housekeeper. Approximately nine months later she gave birth to her and Thomas’s first child Isabella.

This was atypical compared to the other convicts in the Survey as most were married at least once. The fact that she also went on to have another four children to him before his death in 1806, could be argued to be atypical as she was considered to be in a Common Law Marriage. 

A lot of the female convicts that arrived in the early days of the Colony were forced into prostitution to survive, they were not transported for prostitution, which was not a crime . It was a crime to live with or have relationships with men at this time. Children were taken from their mothers once weaned. Research shows Elizabeth, was not convicted of any of theses crimes after transportation and her children were still with her at the time of Captain Rowley’s death in 1806. 

It is interesting to note that she was mention as joint beneficiary along with her five “Natural” children in Captain Rowley’s Will. This could be argued that there was mutual respect in her life with Captain Rowley, as he would not have been under any obligation to provide for her, even if he felt the need to provide for his children. At the time of his death, Elizabeth was an emancipist. She was free to marry, if she so desired. But the terms of Captain Rowley’s Will may have influenced her to remain single to provide for her future and to remain with her children. 

Elizabeth served approximately 3 years of her 7 year sentence. She was granted an Absolute Pardon in May 1794. This was typical of the survey results, as it was the second most common answer. But it could be argued that once again this was atypical to the survey results. Elizabeth was in a Common Law marriage, raising one child and pregnant with her second to Captain Rowley. Was her pardon granted on recommendation from him? She went on to have another three children, with Captain Rowley after her pardon, with the last being born in 1803/4. 

We know that Elizabeth had five “Natural” children to Captain Rowley, and raised them on her own after his death. She was named in his Will along with the children, Isabella, Thomas, John, Mary and Eliza. A condition of the Will being that she did not co-habitate with anyone else. She remained unmarried until her death in 1843. Her children in most instances, went on to being landholders and were all acknowledged as being ‘born free’ in the Colony.

In conclusion Elizabeth’s life as a convict has many similarities with others in the Survey. She was assigned to the father of her children and never legally married him, causing one to question the differences that her life must have been from others on the Survey. The fact that she raised five children on her own, after his death and was named in his Will indicates that he trusted her, with the care of his children. 

It also indicates that the underlying similarity of Elizabeth with other Convict women was that she was another strong woman in a long line of strong women in the founding of our country.

BIBLIOGRAHPY

Anderson, Clare and Maxwell-Stewart, Hamish, ‘Convict Labour and Western Empires, 1415-1954’, in Robert Aldrich and Kirsten McKenzie (eds), Routledge History of Western Empires, Routledge Taylor & Francis Ltd, Untied States, 2014, pp. 102-117

Binney Keith Robert, Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) and the Serpent’s Legacy, Volcanic Productions, 1933. Accessed 3 September 2016, books.google.com.au

Birth Record for Isabella Selwin, Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922, Accessed 15 May 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.au

Bradley, James, Kippen, Rebecca, Maxwell-Stewart, Hamish, McCalman, Janet and Silcot, Sandra. ‘Research Note: The Founders and Survivors Project’, History of the Family, Volume 15, 2010, 467-477.

Convict Survey, HAA105 Convicts & Their Legacy, University of Tasmania.

Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Prison Collections; Reference: Q/SG2/1789-1814, Accessed 13 September 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.au

Hendriksen Gay; Cowley Trudy; Liston Carol; Parramatta Heritage Centre;University of Western Sydney, Women transported : life in Australia's convict female factories,. Accessed 1 October 2016, http://tradecoastcentralheritagepark.com.au/_dbase_upl/women_transported.pdf

London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section, Clerkenwell, London, England; Reference Number: DL/C/455; Will Number: 176. Accessed 15 May 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.au

Maxell-Stewart, Hamish, 'The State, Convicts, and Longitudinal Analysis', Australian Historical Studies, Volume 47, Issue 3, 2016, pp. 414-429.

Maxwell-Stewart, Hamish, ‘Convict Transportation from Britain and Ireland 1615-1870’, History Compass, Volume 8, Issue 11, 2010. pp.1221-1242

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870. Accessed 6 June 2016, www.ancestry.com.au

New South Wales Burial Transcription (Early Church Records)

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849. Accessed 20 May 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.au

Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages NSW, Reg No 1/1806V18061349/4. bdm.nsw.gov.au Accessed 30 September 2016

Starr, Marion, “Unhappy Exiles, Convicts of the Pitt sand Kitty 1792”. Australia 2016

White, Charles, ‘Early Australia History’, Convict Life in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. Bathurst:C. & G.S. White. “Free Press” Office, George St. 1889. http://gutenberg.net.au

1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy), Accessed 10 June 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.au