Hi Lesley, I now have 5 direct convict ancestors but the one I would first visit would be Robert Higgins per Admiral Gambier 1811. He had a short but interesting life. He was a soldier in the 95th Regiment of Foot, 2nd Battalion. He travelled to far flung places of the world in his short lifetime. He visited Ireland, then shipped to Colonia in Uruguay where the British had an offensive on the River Plate. Then later was involved in the war with Napoleon at Walcheren (part of Holland). According to research details : "Forty thousand men landed at Walcheren intending to destroy Napoleon's new fleet. But the British sailed with barely a day's supply of quinine and no hospital ships. In a master stroke of ecological warfare, Napoleon breached the Dutch dykes creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Soon thousands of invaders fell sick and a hundred a week died. The force ignominiously withdrew". http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N2870.ny/B1157483.2;sz=1x1;ord=2006.03.12.37.58? Robert was court martialled at Walcheren for stealing a watch from a dutch local and was transported. He became a Constable and farmer in NSW. "In November 1827 Surveyor Dixon set out alone to explore the Burragorang Valley, where he was completely lost for four days and came close to losing his life". It is uncertain why Dixon named a creek (Bob Higgins Creek) in the Burragorang Valley after Robert Higgins, perhaps they had a close association or travelled together on his surveying expeditions. Perhaps it was Robert Higgins who found him when he was lost, we'll never know. Sadly, Robert had separated from his wife before this time. A witness stated at the inquest that he found her with another man. A coroner's inquest was held into his death in 1828 where it was found he died from an asthma attack a hut in the mountains. A poignant statement was given to the court of inquest by a friend who was with him when he died. Soon after his death his wife applied to have his two children placed in the orphanage. He fitted a lot into his short life and would have some very interesting stories to tell. Asthma has plagued each generation since, even my grandchildren today. Lyn