Sydney Gazette and other Reports http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2191067 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2191079 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2191099 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2191111 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2191113 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2191081 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2191244 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2191504 Cathy Dunn -----Original Message----- From: aus-pt-jackson-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:aus-pt-jackson-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Rosalee Sent: Friday, 26 December 2008 6:50 PM To: aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com Subject: [PJ] First Australian Bank Robbery Oh, it pays to have a quiet Boxing Day!! I have been "googling" and "surfing" today, and tried my luck on a long time brick wall. Anne Toole, (Broxbournbury) was the daughter of a convict (Bernard Toole) (Somersetshire) who married John Wilford, alias Creighton (Bencoolen) when she was 14. Both John and her father drowned in 1829, when she was about 16 or 17...............and then I lost her. Now I know !! It seems that John was involved in the first australian bank robbery, on 14th september 1828 (and it seems they got quite a haul- some £14,000 in promissory notes and coins) but he drowned before police could find an informant to give evidence. The circumstances of the drowning seem now somewhat suspicious. Anne, I now find, re-married with some speed - to James Dingle, a co-conspirator, very soon after her husband's death - and here was I thinking about this poor traumatised girl..... in the depths of depression, perhaps unable to move on with her life or see a future.....<huh> Anne's mother married just 5 months later as well, to the local constable.......I always wondered why, and now I am intrigued! If anyone knows more about this family, or about the story, please contact me. I am still looking for a death and offspring. Rosalee ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Oh, it pays to have a quiet Boxing Day!! I have been "googling" and "surfing" today, and tried my luck on a long time brick wall. Anne Toole, (Broxbournbury) was the daughter of a convict (Bernard Toole) (Somersetshire) who married John Wilford, alias Creighton (Bencoolen) when she was 14. Both John and her father drowned in 1829, when she was about 16 or 17...............and then I lost her. Now I know !! It seems that John was involved in the first australian bank robbery, on 14th september 1828 (and it seems they got quite a haul- some £14,000 in promissory notes and coins) but he drowned before police could find an informant to give evidence. The circumstances of the drowning seem now somewhat suspicious. Anne, I now find, re-married with some speed - to James Dingle, a co-conspirator, very soon after her husband's death - and here was I thinking about this poor traumatised girl..... in the depths of depression, perhaps unable to move on with her life or see a future.....<huh> Anne's mother married just 5 months later as well, to the local constable.......I always wondered why, and now I am intrigued! If anyone knows more about this family, or about the story, please contact me. I am still looking for a death and offspring. Rosalee

Dear Rosalee, convict Thomas Blade(s) wife Sarah Kent also came on the "Broxbournbury" so is this book available at Libraries? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rosalee" <rosaleeshaw@ozemail.com.au> To: <aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [PJ] Siberry / Sibrey / Sibley / Sibraa >

May thanks Lesley and Rosalee for your prompt replies! Back to the drawing board... Kind regards Helen On Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 4:40 PM, Rosalee <rosaleeshaw@ozemail.com.au> wrote: > Hi Helen, > According to Elizabeth Hook's book on the Broxbournbury, Elizabeth Male > married William Sibley in 1815 in St Phillips Church. William was 10 years > older than Elizabeth, and had already been in the colony 16yrs., arriving > on > the Hillsborough. > > According to this, they had no children. > > The marriage was not a smooth one, William wrote to the governor for advice > when she sold his property while he was away on business.It seems they had > been before the court on previous occasions (details not given) however he > said she had 'eloped" with a man. > > She was an inmate in the Female Factory about 1820., and in 1825 William's > wife was listed as "Charlotte" > > In 1828, Elizabeth wa sin Bathurst, trying to bigamously marry another man. > > There are no records of Elizabeth's death, but William died in Sydney in > 1842 aged 67. > > There are more details re crime, sentences etc, and also about Charlotte, > who also arrived on the Broxbournbury > > Rosalee > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Helen Thompson" <hmtmartini@gmail.com> > To: <aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 3:50 PM > Subject: [PJ] Siberry / Sibrey / Sibley / Sibraa > > > > Hi Lesley and everyone > > > > > > > > I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and have great family history > > researching in 2009. > > > > > > > > I am a descendant of Thomas Siberry/Sibrey who arrived as a seaman about > > 12 > > years of age on the "HMS Porpoise" in 1800 (he was born in Yorkshire > about > > 1788). He married Sarah Maria Singleton in 1811 at Windsor NSW [they > were > > both illiterate, marking their names with an X], and had the following > > children: Joseph, Ann, Sarah, and Reuben. Thomas Siberry died aged 30 in > > 1818. [His name on his son Joseph's baptism was Thomas Sibrey, and > > Joseph's > > children had the surname Sibraa]. I have having trouble finding much > > information on his life. > > > > > > > > I noted on Ancestry.com.au today that the following people were listed > in > > the NSW & Tasmania Australian Convict Musters in 1825 as having arrived > on > > the convict ship "Hillsborough" 1798/1799 as children: Ann Sibrey born ca > > 1786, Joseph Sibrey b ca 1790, Reuben Sibrey b ca 1792, Elizabeth Sibrey > b > > ca 1793, Catherine Sibrey b ca 1795, and Sarah Sibrey b ca 1797. > > > > > > > > As some of their names are the names that have been given to Thomas > > Siberry/Sibrey's children, I was wondering if there might be a family > > connection to these children (possibly his siblings??). > > > > > > > > I haven't been able to find any other information about these Sibrey > > children, or find them listed on the "Hillsborough" shipping register > > [which > > apparently was a typhoid/typhus "fever ship" with 95 of 300 convict > > passengers dying on the voyage]. > > > > > > > > There was a William Sibley listed as a convict on the "Hillsborough" > [who > > may have been their father??]. From the webpage > > > http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/405/9/adt-NU2000.0005karskens04.pdf > "William > > Sibley, a mariner who had arrived a convict on the > > *Hillsborough *in 1799, married Elizabeth Male (or Meal), a young woman > > off > > the *Broxbournbury *in May 1815. They had had a child two months before, > > but > > it appears to have died. William seems to have steadily built up property > > and possessions, including a house in Prince Street by 1820, and then > > built > > Geranium Cottage at 6 Cumberland Street in 1821." > > > > > > > > I was wondering if anyone might have any information on these other > Sibrey > > children, or the convict William Sibley, to see if there might be a > > connection to Thomas Siberry. > > > > > > > > Kind regards > > > > Helen > > > >> > >> > >> ------------------------------- > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' > >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >> > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hi Helen, According to Elizabeth Hook's book on the Broxbournbury, Elizabeth Male married William Sibley in 1815 in St Phillips Church. William was 10 years older than Elizabeth, and had already been in the colony 16yrs., arriving on the Hillsborough. According to this, they had no children. The marriage was not a smooth one, William wrote to the governor for advice when she sold his property while he was away on business.It seems they had been before the court on previous occasions (details not given) however he said she had 'eloped" with a man. She was an inmate in the Female Factory about 1820., and in 1825 William's wife was listed as "Charlotte" In 1828, Elizabeth wa sin Bathurst, trying to bigamously marry another man. There are no records of Elizabeth's death, but William died in Sydney in 1842 aged 67. There are more details re crime, sentences etc, and also about Charlotte, who also arrived on the Broxbournbury Rosalee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Helen Thompson" <hmtmartini@gmail.com> To: <aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 3:50 PM Subject: [PJ] Siberry / Sibrey / Sibley / Sibraa > Hi Lesley and everyone > > > > I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and have great family history > researching in 2009. > > > > I am a descendant of Thomas Siberry/Sibrey who arrived as a seaman about > 12 > years of age on the "HMS Porpoise" in 1800 (he was born in Yorkshire about > 1788). He married Sarah Maria Singleton in 1811 at Windsor NSW [they were > both illiterate, marking their names with an X], and had the following > children: Joseph, Ann, Sarah, and Reuben. Thomas Siberry died aged 30 in > 1818. [His name on his son Joseph's baptism was Thomas Sibrey, and > Joseph's > children had the surname Sibraa]. I have having trouble finding much > information on his life. > > > > I noted on Ancestry.com.au today that the following people were listed in > the NSW & Tasmania Australian Convict Musters in 1825 as having arrived on > the convict ship "Hillsborough" 1798/1799 as children: Ann Sibrey born ca > 1786, Joseph Sibrey b ca 1790, Reuben Sibrey b ca 1792, Elizabeth Sibrey b > ca 1793, Catherine Sibrey b ca 1795, and Sarah Sibrey b ca 1797. > > > > As some of their names are the names that have been given to Thomas > Siberry/Sibrey's children, I was wondering if there might be a family > connection to these children (possibly his siblings??). > > > > I haven't been able to find any other information about these Sibrey > children, or find them listed on the "Hillsborough" shipping register > [which > apparently was a typhoid/typhus "fever ship" with 95 of 300 convict > passengers dying on the voyage]. > > > > There was a William Sibley listed as a convict on the "Hillsborough" [who > may have been their father??]. From the webpage > http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/405/9/adt-NU2000.0005karskens04.pdf"William > Sibley, a mariner who had arrived a convict on the > *Hillsborough *in 1799, married Elizabeth Male (or Meal), a young woman > off > the *Broxbournbury *in May 1815. They had had a child two months before, > but > it appears to have died. William seems to have steadily built up property > and possessions, including a house in Prince Street by 1820, and then > built > Geranium Cottage at 6 Cumberland Street in 1821." > > > > I was wondering if anyone might have any information on these other Sibrey > children, or the convict William Sibley, to see if there might be a > connection to Thomas Siberry. > > > > Kind regards > > Helen > >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Helen I cannot help you as far as William and Thomas being related in some way.... but: The 1823/4/5 General Muster List of NSW states the following. Sibly, William, free by servitude, Hillsborough Left colony in 1825 (my comment - this next entry is *another* family and that of your Thomas and Sarah) Sibrey, Sarah, born colony, wife of Edward Reynolds, living at Wilberforce. Sibrey, Ann, 12 years old, daughter of Sarah Sibrey Sibrey, Joseph, 8 years old, son of Sarah Sibrey Sibrey, Reuben, 6 years old, son of Sarah Sibrey Sibrey, Elizabeth, 5 years old, daughter of Sarah Sibrey Sibrey, Catherine, 3 years old, daughter of Sarah Sibrey - therefore I would say that the information given by Ancestry is incorrect. William Sibley who arrived on the Hillsborough in 1799 was only 15 years of age when he arrived so it would have been impossible for him to have children born between 1786 and 1795. regards Lesley Uebel mailto:ckennedy@bigpond.net.au CLAIM A CONVICT http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/index.html -----Original Message----- From: aus-pt-jackson-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:aus-pt-jackson-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Helen Thompson Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 3:51 PM To: aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com Subject: [PJ] Siberry / Sibrey / Sibley / Sibraa Hi Lesley and everyone I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and have great family history researching in 2009. I am a descendant of Thomas Siberry/Sibrey who arrived as a seaman about 12 years of age on the "HMS Porpoise" in 1800 (he was born in Yorkshire about 1788). He married Sarah Maria Singleton in 1811 at Windsor NSW [they were both illiterate, marking their names with an X], and had the following children: Joseph, Ann, Sarah, and Reuben. Thomas Siberry died aged 30 in 1818. [His name on his son Joseph's baptism was Thomas Sibrey, and Joseph's children had the surname Sibraa]. I have having trouble finding much information on his life. I noted on Ancestry.com.au today that the following people were listed in the NSW & Tasmania Australian Convict Musters in 1825 as having arrived on the convict ship "Hillsborough" 1798/1799 as children: Ann Sibrey born ca 1786, Joseph Sibrey b ca 1790, Reuben Sibrey b ca 1792, Elizabeth Sibrey b ca 1793, Catherine Sibrey b ca 1795, and Sarah Sibrey b ca 1797. As some of their names are the names that have been given to Thomas Siberry/Sibrey's children, I was wondering if there might be a family connection to these children (possibly his siblings??). I haven't been able to find any other information about these Sibrey children, or find them listed on the "Hillsborough" shipping register [which apparently was a typhoid/typhus "fever ship" with 95 of 300 convict passengers dying on the voyage]. There was a William Sibley listed as a convict on the "Hillsborough" [who may have been their father??]. From the webpage http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/405/9/adt-NU2000.0005karskens04.pd f"William Sibley, a mariner who had arrived a convict on the *Hillsborough *in 1799, married Elizabeth Male (or Meal), a young woman off the *Broxbournbury *in May 1815. They had had a child two months before, but it appears to have died. William seems to have steadily built up property and possessions, including a house in Prince Street by 1820, and then built Geranium Cottage at 6 Cumberland Street in 1821." I was wondering if anyone might have any information on these other Sibrey children, or the convict William Sibley, to see if there might be a connection to Thomas Siberry. Kind regards Helen

Hi Lesley and everyone I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and have great family history researching in 2009. I am a descendant of Thomas Siberry/Sibrey who arrived as a seaman about 12 years of age on the "HMS Porpoise" in 1800 (he was born in Yorkshire about 1788). He married Sarah Maria Singleton in 1811 at Windsor NSW [they were both illiterate, marking their names with an X], and had the following children: Joseph, Ann, Sarah, and Reuben. Thomas Siberry died aged 30 in 1818. [His name on his son Joseph's baptism was Thomas Sibrey, and Joseph's children had the surname Sibraa]. I have having trouble finding much information on his life. I noted on Ancestry.com.au today that the following people were listed in the NSW & Tasmania Australian Convict Musters in 1825 as having arrived on the convict ship "Hillsborough" 1798/1799 as children: Ann Sibrey born ca 1786, Joseph Sibrey b ca 1790, Reuben Sibrey b ca 1792, Elizabeth Sibrey b ca 1793, Catherine Sibrey b ca 1795, and Sarah Sibrey b ca 1797. As some of their names are the names that have been given to Thomas Siberry/Sibrey's children, I was wondering if there might be a family connection to these children (possibly his siblings??). I haven't been able to find any other information about these Sibrey children, or find them listed on the "Hillsborough" shipping register [which apparently was a typhoid/typhus "fever ship" with 95 of 300 convict passengers dying on the voyage]. There was a William Sibley listed as a convict on the "Hillsborough" [who may have been their father??]. From the webpage http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/405/9/adt-NU2000.0005karskens04.pdf"William Sibley, a mariner who had arrived a convict on the *Hillsborough *in 1799, married Elizabeth Male (or Meal), a young woman off the *Broxbournbury *in May 1815. They had had a child two months before, but it appears to have died. William seems to have steadily built up property and possessions, including a house in Prince Street by 1820, and then built Geranium Cottage at 6 Cumberland Street in 1821." I was wondering if anyone might have any information on these other Sibrey children, or the convict William Sibley, to see if there might be a connection to Thomas Siberry. Kind regards Helen > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Thank you Lesley for that interesting look into the early Christmas is of the Port Jackson Convict site. A bit different than today. I wonder if any of them even thought about a future Christmas. A happy Christmas to all. Regards, Jill J -----Original Message----- From: aus-pt-jackson-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:aus-pt-jackson- Hi everyone I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I did send something to the PJ List a few days ago but it has not been distributed by Rootsweb web as yet. Some may like to read it in the Archives at: http://tinyurl.com/8zxcga I don't even know if this message will be delivered :( regards Lesley Uebel mailto:ckennedy@bigpond.net.au CLAIM A CONVICT http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/index.html

Lesley & Listers I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope the New Year breaks down brick walls. I haven't been a very active member over the last 12 months, work has been getting in my way to do any research. Thank you Cathy for the christening for Mary Mellon. Sarah Fishburn was one of my step-father's ancestress. Lynne Central Coast NSW > Christmas Day 1804: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article626564 > > Sydney Gazette Sunday 30 December 1804 > On Sunday last and on Christmas Day the ceremony of baptism was performed > by > the Rev. Mr. Marsden on two and twenty children at Sydney and Parramatta. > > > They include Christmas Day Baptism 1804 at St Phillips Sydney > > MELLON Mary: George MELLON Sarah FISHBURH > > Many thanks to Colin BM for checking entries > > I am collating all births and baptism 1804 NSW & Norfolk Island > > Merry Christmas to everyone > > > Cathy Dunn > >

Wishing all on the list a joyful and peaceful Christmas. On 25 December 1837 the vessel "Sir Charles Forbes" arrived at Port Jackson. On board was my 3 x gr grandmother Jane Grier (Green on the indent). I cannot imagine how she would have felt arriving in the developing colony and spending Christmas in a hot climate. What a difference New South Wales would have been from her gaol cell in County Armagh. Merry Christmas to all Gerry Dalton and my long suffering husband Tom Wood.

Another quiet reader Thank you for all your historical postings during the year Lesley and may I wish you and all members of the list a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Best wishes Patricia McGill

Hi Lesley & Listers, I've been quiet these past few months, settling in to our new home, but have tried to keep up with the List . May I wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, & very big "Thank you" to Lesley for this wonderful List. Regards, Norma McLean normabmc@bigpond.com >

Hi everyone I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I did send something to the PJ List a few days ago but it has not been distributed by Rootsweb web as yet. Some may like to read it in the Archives at: http://tinyurl.com/8zxcga I don't even know if this message will be delivered :( regards Lesley Uebel mailto:ckennedy@bigpond.net.au CLAIM A CONVICT http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/index.html

Thank you for that story Lesley. It is now stored away with other gems you have come up with. 1955? I was ten years old, and bet I was looking forward to Christmas. It is thought provoking to read of conditions and think about how our ancestors lived in those times. 18th and 19th C I mean, not 1955. Best wishes to all at Christmas and as we look forward to next year. Seasons greetings, John PS. No best wishes to Roots Web!!! What's going on with them??

Lesley and list members, May Peace and Joy be yours this Christmas and may 2009 see many new discoveries in your research. Lesley may I take this time to thankyou so much for all you do for the list and its members. regards Donna

Christmas Day 1804: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article626564 Sydney Gazette Sunday 30 December 1804 On Sunday last and on Christmas Day the ceremony of baptism was performed by the Rev. Mr. Marsden on two and twenty children at Sydney and Parramatta. They include Christmas Day Baptism 1804 at St Phillips Sydney COLLINS John: Edward COLLINS Sarah COLLINS LOVEDAY Edward: Edward LOVEDAY Ann GUNDICK GREG Sarah: James GREG Martha ANDERSON ROBINSON Joseph: John DELL Elizabeth ROBINSON HUGHES Henry: John HUGHES Sarah HUGHES HUGHES Sarah: John HUGHES Sarah HUGHES HUGHES Thomas: John HUGHES Catherine JOHNSON PAULEY Mary: John PAULEY Hannah MURPHY PAULEY Susannah: John PAULEY Hannah MURPHY PUCKRIDGE William: John PUCKRIDGE Ann PUCKRIDGE John Thomas: Joseph PUCKERIDGE Ann MAUDE VILLOR James William: Robert McALISTER Elizabeth VILLOR DUNN Elizabeth: Thomas DUNN Rose Ellen BEAN MOORE Margaret Jane: Tristram MOORE Catherine JOHNSON CHAPMAN Mary Ann: William CHAPMAN Ann MARSH LIVINGSTON/LEVINGSTON William: William LEVISTON Ann GIBBS MELLON Mary: George MELLON Sarah FISHBURH Many thanks to Colin BM for checking entries I am collating all births and baptism 1804 NSW & Norfolk Island Merry Christmas to everyone Cathy Dunn

Wishing Lesley and all the Listers a very Merry Christmas & a safe New Year Lorna Prendergast: Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look http://au.docs.yahoo.com/mail/smarterinbox

Merry Christmas and a happy new year with lots of ancestry question answered. Special thank you to Lesley for getting the idea for this site and taking the large amount of time it must take to keep it going. Good toknow that we are in the same family even if it is only by mariage. small world isn't it. Sandra ----- Original Message ----- From: "David & Elaine Smith" <familygenes@bigpond.com> To: <aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 8:57 AM Subject: [PJ] Merry Christmas > Hi Lesley & Listers > > Wishing you all a merry christmas & a safe and happy new year > > I would like to thank every one for there help during the year with my > John Rowe > > Thanks > Elaine Smith > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I found this in The Sydney Morning Herald of December 24 1955. Most of us would have been quite young when this was written and some of you have not have been born! When Sydney was 11 months old …… As we celebrate this, our one hundred and sixty seventh Christmas and possibly the most prosperous in all our history, we might remember that the first Christmas of our pioneering forefathers was somewhat different. By December 25, 1788, Sydney town, Australia’s first settlement was 11 months old. Up till then progress had been steady, if not rapid. The bush around Sydney Cove had been cleared, and the thoroughfare that is now George Street North was a fairly well-defined track. A brick house had been erected for Governor Phillip on the site up near Loftus and Bridge Streets, while wooden houses had been put up for the officers and men of the regiment. The convicts were housed in wattle and daub huts. So it was that Australia’s first Christmas Day was “observed with proper ceremony” to quote the official record. The chaplain, the Reverend Richard Johnson, preached a sermon adapted to the occasion. He had no church, the soldiers and convicts being drawn up on the north bank of the Tank Stream. This was probably in the vicinity of Sydney’s present Bridge and Pitt Streets. Most of the officers were later entertained at dinner by Governor Phillip. History doesn’t go into much detail as to what was served at the first Christmas dinner of the infant Colony. We can assume, however, that vegetables, fish, salt beef and salt pork, some of it years old, formed a solid basis, while the highlight, in addition to the plum pudding, might have been roast pig. We gather this from the dispatch Phillip had sent home earlier in September in which he wrote “One sheep only remains of 70 which I had purchased at the Cape but the pigs are flourishing.” Little account exists as to the convicts’ Christmas fare, but possibly that at least were given an extra grog ration so that they could enjoy the day. One young lady certainly did not enjoy this particular season. She had been found guilty, a few days before Christmas, of receiving stolen property. “And” the record proceeds, “the convicts being assembled, this woman, after her hair was cut off, was clothed with a canvas frock on which was painted in large characters ‘R.S.G.” – received of stolen goods. A cabbage weighing 26 lb and grown at Parramatta was sent to Governor Phillip for the Christmas dinner of 1789, while butter landed from a Dutch ship which had arrived from Batavia on December 17 made the Christmas of 1790 memorable. Sydney town’s Christmas of 1791 wasn’t the bright occasion all would have wished for. The year’s crops had been poor and this, coupled with the non-arrival of urgently awaited supply ships from home, meant that foodstuffs were so low that rations had to be reduced. The best that Phillip could do for this Christmas was to give an extra pound of flour to each woman in the settlement. Christmas Day services that year were held in both Sydney and Parramatta for the first time. One plucky Sydneytown man, however, more daring than the rest, appeared determined not to let the festive season go by without celebration, no matter how hard the times and how short the ration. He broke into the Marine Store on Christmas night and stole 22 gallons of spirits. Christmas Eve of 1797 was marked by a curious drinking duel between two friends which resulted in the death of one, and the near-death of the other. During the Christmas Eve of 1799 the log cabin gaol at Parramatta was wilfully and maliciously set afire by convicts and totally destroyed. All the prisoners were saved, but one died a day or two later. Sydneytown’s first Christmas picnic of which we have record was held in 1806, when Captain John and Mrs Macarthur entertained many friends on their grant of land, later dining and wining them. The guests, the historian tells us “examined with unexpressable satisfaction the picturesque scene afforded.” Indeed, one fair visitor was moved so far as to call this serene and tranquil spot the repose of the soul. That may come as something of a surprise to those living at Pyrmont now! Up to the twenties of the last century we find nothing to differentiate one Christmas from another – church, dinner and an extra grog marked the event. That of 1824, though, was memorable in that it was the first occasion on which the Australian aboriginal was officially feted. No less than eight tribes were invited to a Christmas feast at Parramatta that year, where they were entertained by Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane. About 600 were present, and the feast consisted of 400 loaves, 22 monstrous dishes of roast beef, a large cask of soup, several tubs of potatoes, 13 huge plum cakes, and a hogshead of three-watered grog – just the Governor’s way of preventing over-merriment and its consequences. The country Christmas of the latter part of the last century always had unique aspects. Mothers and daughters would be busy in the kitchen for days before. Guests would arrive on horseback, or in drays. Then after a huge dinner, the earth floor was cleared, and dancing commenced to the strains of concertina and fiddle. Naturally, a barrel of rum would be on tap and very often a free fight would cap such entertainment. Christmas customs have come and gone in those 167 years. With the arrival of the New Australian, new ones are being introduced. These communities are bringing something of an old-world charm to the rather more modern and perhaps more rugged approach to Christmas as we have known it. (Author L. T. Sardone) Merry Christmas and regards Lesley Uebel mailto:ckennedy@bigpond.net.au CLAIM A CONVICT http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/index.html

To All fellow searchers, Season greetings to you all. Have a safe Xmas and stay safe for the New Year and beyond Christine ----- Original Message ----- From: "David & Elaine Smith" <familygenes@bigpond.com> To: <aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 8:57 AM Subject: [PJ] Merry Christmas > Hi Lesley & Listers > > Wishing you all a merry christmas & a safe and happy new year > > I would like to thank every one for there help during the year with my > John Rowe > > Thanks > Elaine Smith > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.19/1860 - Release Date: 12/21/2008 3:08 PM