Hi Keith, and listers, Currency lads and lasses was the term used for the 'first' generation of children born in the colony (often the children of convicts); as opposed to 'sterling', being those born in the mother country (England). Diane ----- Original Message ----- From: "Keith Skinner" <kskinner@ozemail.com.au> Subject: [H,H,HV] CURRENCY LADS > Hi > From my research into William Bligh Turnbull, I have come across > a snipett that was known as 'Whistling Bligh'. > He was supposed to be one of the Currency Ladds > Can SKS shed some light on who or what the Currency Lads are. > Regards > Keith Skinner

Hello Keith. Just to continue with the explanations which you have received: It is believed to have originally been a term of ABUSE by the English-born, who looked down on the Colonial-born as being of a lower class, offspring of the criminal class etc. It seems that at a later time the term was adopted by the locally-born as a badge of honour -- especially when the locally-born were usually much healthier, sturdier and more robust etc. than the looking-down-their-nose English-born. The distinctions within the terms used ("currency" and "sterling") reflected the distinctions placed upon the money which was circulating in the colony in those days. That is, any English currency was called "Sterling" and was considered to be the "best" money available; which was contrasted to whatever other money might have been used, such as Treasury bills from the Commissariat store or even private IOUs (as well as money from other countries -- such as the Spanish dollar, etc). which were all considered to be of a lesser value and quality than the higher class "sterling"; and were exchanged for sterling at a discount. For example, a Treasury bill for 5 pounds, being exchanged for English pounds sterling in cash, might be discounted by say 10% or 20%, and so only be worth 4 pounds or so. By the way, there was also a cricket club in early Sydney which was called the Currency Lads -- it may be that your person was a member of this team. If you can get to a copy of the Australian Encyclopaedia, it has a good article on the whole topic; also Manning CLARK's "History of Australia" in volume 1 had something to say about it. Additionally, Sid BUTLIN's "Foundations of the Australian Monetary System 1788-1851" has more detail on the currencies themselves. I hope that this helps a bit more. Regards: ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Diane" <dianep@optushome.com.au> To: <AUS-NSW-HILLS-HAWKESBURY-HUNTER-VALLEY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 2:06 PM Subject: Re: [H,H,HV] CURRENCY LADS > > Hi Keith, and listers, > > Currency lads and lasses was the term used for the 'first' > generation of children born in the colony (often the children > of convicts); as opposed to 'sterling', being those born in > the mother country (England). > > > > Diane > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Keith Skinner" <kskinner@ozemail.com.au> > Subject: [H,H,HV] CURRENCY LADS > > > > Hi > > From my research into William Bligh Turnbull, I have come across > > a snipett that was known as 'Whistling Bligh'. > > He was supposed to be one of the Currency Ladds > > Can SKS shed some light on who or what the Currency Lads are. > > Regards > > Keith Skinner > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >