One has to realy think about the reasons behind such a terrible punishment for such a trivial crime. Of course in reality the punishment was a blessing but at the time I don't know that it was thought as such. One reason for the transportation I imagine was to get rid of some of the people so the population would drop but did it work? It worked in the opposite for Tasmania & New South Wales. From thse poor people have emerged a wonderful nation of resourseful people. I am proud of my ancestors who committed a crime as trivial as stealing a cheese. Regards Meg Trudy Cowley wrote: > Hello All > > I think some time ago someone posed the question "Did any convicts get > transported for stealing the proverbial loaf of bread?" > > I have recently come across an Irish female convict transported on Earl Grey > in 1849/1850 who stole bread and was transported for 7 years. Her sister > was transported with her for receiving the bread. Of course, this was at > the height of the great famine in Ireland. > > Regards > > Trudy >