Hi List & Lesley, The first convict ancestor I would visit would be my GG Grandfather in 1826, Henry Copas (per Speke 2). I have so many brick walls around this person that have been frustrating me for many years. The first question I would ask would be did he really commit the crime he was tried for or was he just an accomplice to Samuel Barnett and Harry Ward who were tried with him. Next I would ask about the circumstances surrounding his absconding from the service of William Ogilvie at Merton in June 1826 before being apprehended a week later. I would also like to know why he went to Wollongong after receiving his TOL and what he did there. Then I would like to know the reason for moving to Hillgrove and Hernani the employ of Richard Hargrave. I would also like to know what life was like for him and his family in those times. Then I would like to visit his wife, Sarah Carroll (per Surrey 1) in 1852 to find out what happened to Henry and their daughter Mary. Apparently he died between 1851 and 1852 on Hernani Station and there has been no death recorded for him anywhere. Their daughter Mary seems to have disappeared into thin air after being born in 1847. I guess I will just have to keep wondering about these matters as I seriously doubt time travel will become a reality in my lifetime. :-)) Cheers, John Caling Currimundi, Qld.

So John, Do you think your gggg grandchild will ask "I wonder why John Caling moved to Queensland in 2007" ?? or do you have it all written down for them? 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 John Caling Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 2:55 PM To: aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [PJ] Time travel Hi List & Lesley, The first convict ancestor I would visit would be my GG Grandfather in 1826, Henry Copas (per Speke 2). I have so many brick walls around this person that have been frustrating me for many years. The first question I would ask would be did he really commit the crime he was tried for or was he just an accomplice to Samuel Barnett and Harry Ward who were tried with him. Next I would ask about the circumstances surrounding his absconding from the service of William Ogilvie at Merton in June 1826 before being apprehended a week later. I would also like to know why he went to Wollongong after receiving his TOL and what he did there. Then I would like to know the reason for moving to Hillgrove and Hernani the employ of Richard Hargrave. I would also like to know what life was like for him and his family in those times.

All written down for them Lesley. Why on earth would anyone wonder why a person would move from Canberra to the Sunshine Coast? I thought the answer would be rather obvious. Getting back to Henry Copas, he and his 2 brothers were all bricklayers. John Copas alias Coops (per Marquis of Huntley). John Copas was a bricklayer in Wollongong until 1849 when he became a cab proprietor. I am guessing that Henry went to Wollongong to work with/for his brother John but I have no idea why he went to New England to work as a shepherd for Richard Hargrave on Hillgrove and Hernani Stations. The other brother, George Copas ( also per Marquis of Huntley) was a cab proprietor in Sydney and ended up owning a hotel in Riley St., Woolloomooloo. George also owned property in Oxford St. Paddington when he died and left a substantial legacy to his family, friends and charities. I am guessing that Henry had a falling out with his brothers and moved onto "greener pastures" but why on earth Hernani. Even today it is very cold in winter being high in the New England Ranges and has quite steep and hostile terrain but in those days must have also been very isolated. Even Armidale was just a very small town in the late 1840's. Cheers, John Caling Currimundi, Qld. -----Original Message----- From: aus-pt-jackson-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:aus-pt-jackson-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Lesley Uebel Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 2:19 PM To: aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [PJ] Time travel So John, Do you think your gggg grandchild will ask "I wonder why John Caling moved to Queensland in 2007" ?? or do you have it all written down for them? regards Lesley Uebel mailto:ckennedy@bigpond.net.au CLAIM A CONVICT http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/index.html <SNIP>

My first choice would be Simeon Lord (my 3xgreat grandfather) - what stories he would have to tell!!!! I'd also like him to give me a picture of his house at Botany and to let him know that his family Bible is lovingly in the care of the Mitchell Library in Sydney. Also one of his account books is there with a most interesting drawing of what appears to be native animals. Who drew it? Hopefully (although he predeceased her by 21 years) he could tell me where his wife, Mary nee Hyde (aka Sarah Blunn) is buried. And Mary Lord, I would like to know why she made no mention of leaving anything to Simeon Junior's children in her will. To both Mary and Simeon I would tell them about these huge birds which now land and take off on part of their Botany property and the 3 grants to the west of Simeon's grants which they later owned. Very, very, very large birds which "swallow" and "disgorge" at least 300 people and even bigger birds are coming!!!!! To Mary Bateman (my 4xgreat grandmother), (Lady Juliana) I would sympathise with her plight - yes I know she was a "pro." at approx. age 14 but times were tough then. But I can understand why she eventually died in the Liverpool Lunatic Asylum - 11 and a bit months on board the Lady Juliana (I presume she partook in the brothel activities); - arriving in Sydney (a very desolate place compared to the hustle and bustle of London); - being sent to Norfolk Island (when did you go; did you commit a crime in Sydney or were you and other Lady Juliana convicts sent there to be "wives"). Even less on the Island than in Sydney> - being married to a man much older than you and very stubborn. - and if that wasn't enough, just as you were beginning to be settled on Norfolk Island, being transported to Van Diemen's Land (eventually living in Hobart and having to start all over again). "Exiled 3 times over" - no wonder you were declared insane. Joan Nichols Joan Nichols