Hi all, As I am a closet time travel reader, I have often thought about this topic. First convict ancestor I would like to visit would be Patrick Tunney. He was from Roscommon from Ireland arrived on the "Pilot" in 1816 and had two children with Sarah Pendergast. He died in 1824 and I would dearly love to know if Laurence Tunney who he was tried with and came out on the same boat was related, uncle, father, brother? I also would like to know, where he hid his diary. I am sure he had one (ha ha) I used to fantasize that one day I would find Patrick's very detailed diary that he began when he was 5 years old....(never mind that he probably couldn't write) didn't all our ancestors have diaries, letters and family bibles hidden somewhere, we just need to know where!! I would also find it very rewarding to spend some time with John Pendergast (Sarah's dad) who came out in 1800 on the "Minerva". I would like to know where he came from in Ireland (only know he was tried in Dublin) his parents and confirm whether he really was involved in the 1798 uprising. I would take my digital camera and photograph him with all the family I could round up on the day, weher he lived and would also take my MP3 player and conduct an oral history interview, one of those ones that you ask 1001 questions, like what date is your birthday, what school did you attend, what is your favourite color, what were your parents names etc etc. If I could take my laptop with me I sit with everyone and and fill in the data as I went. Good topic Lesley, but I think better stop there... Michelle Nichols