This was interesting also Maree. I read only yesterday how around 50 per cent of convicts were assigned to settlers after assessment on arrival, so I would imagine a good percentage of those prisoners who did arrive illiterate soon were given an opportunity to learn to read and write. I know many of the assigned convicts had bank accounts and were able to save to bring families out and others to return home as some wives didn't want to join their husbands here. I guess also, there would be those going convicts free to go back to their homeland that would have messages from fellow convicts to give to families back home. I thought I read being in touch with the Home Secretary,s Office would ensure a message may get through if possible. Some wives or husbands simply didn't want to reunite and deliberately never replied. Edie McArthur ------ Original Message ------ From: "Maree Ring" <mareering@gmail.com> To: aus-tasmania@rootsweb.com Sent: Monday, 29 Apr, 2019 At 3:15 AM Subject: [AUS-Tas] Re: Ref: Literacy I hope these extracts are of interest.They come from a paper I presented at the Tasmanian Local History Societies’ 6th Biennial Conference andLocal History Fair, 20 October, 2001, “Convict ships to Van Diemen’s Land:Was it Leisure and Pleasure.“ The paper was printed in /Tasmanian Historical Research Association Papers and Proceedings /vol. 50 no. 2, June 2002.  Maree Many convicts were taught to read and write, and to sew trousers and jackets, to knit socks.On board the /Pestonjee Bomangee /(1) of 1845 they made: 275 pairs of duck trousers, 250 grey waistcoats, grey jackets, and grey trousers, all government clothing. Letters concerning the voyage of /H.M.S. Anson/ note that the convicts voluntarily attended evening lectures, as well as pantomimes and singing.There was a**double allowance of wine to these people, which may have been an incentive to join in.The captain believed that contentment among the prisoners to be a foremost consideration to their health. Of the 500 embarked, he lost only one convict on this voyage. Both morning and afternoon when the female convicts per /Atwick/ (1838) had finished their chores they had their free time filled with learning and needlework. Some of the best educated convicts were appointed as school mistresses engaged to teach other convicts who could not read or write.  On board he /Blenheim (/1839/), /in the evenings dancing had occurred though this was later replaced by moral and religious instruction.The Religious Instructor, Charles Wood, distributed books to the prisoners, and taught them reading, writing, arithmetic, and religious studies in the mornings. Because of the narrowness of the ship, only half of the prisoners were taught at once, with the remainder remaining on deck. There was a lack of elementary books and he found the supply of Testaments and religious books inappropriate for teaching those who could not read or write, and observed that many Irish prisoners could not well understand English.  Another prisoner who understood the Irish, presumably Gaelic, instructed them in Irish Catholicism. Some absenteeism from classes was experienced in the tropics, and it was found that these were the most ignorant, and they used the excuse that it was too late to learn. The prisoners on board the William Jardine produced a weekly newspaper. Other activities included tailoring, carpentry and knitting, some of the convicts learning this craft. The religious instructor taught the children of the guards in classes, which were set up on the quarterdeck. During, Divine Service, some of the prisoners took the lead in singing the hymns and the surgeon stated that they were sung ‘with much taste’.One prisoner played the violin ‑ again with great taste, which gave the others much pleasure.Before departure from England, opportunity was given to the prisoners to write letters and the surgeon noted that 47 took advantage of this. Several asked for books, and the Religious Instructor supplied these. On 29/04/2019 5:12 pm, K Market Associates wrote: > Hi Listers, > > > This question may have a very logical answer but I thought I would > call on > the collective wisdom and experience of my peers to advise me. > > > Who helped convicts who were illiterate? > > > If they couldn't read or write to their loved ones (back in the old > country) > who helped them and who in the old country would read the letter to > their > illiterate spouse and children?? > > > My gg grandfather was illiterate as was his wife and probably the > children. > As I am still trying to find out what happened to them all - I > wondered how > in the dickens did they know, understand what was happening to their > father > - how did they communicate?? > > > He eventually got a "Ticket of Leave" - and I wondered how did they > know he > was free? From the document I saw online he still maintained he was > married > with two children. I haven't found the family in the colony so I am > still > searching. They didn't arrive on the ship with him. > > > Many thanks > > Karen Kestigian > > > ______________ _______________________________________________ AUS-Tasmania Mailing List Website http://sites.rootsweb.com/~austashs/ Contact Admin AUS-Tasmania-Admin@rootsweb.com _______________________________________________ Email preferences: http://bit.ly/rootswebpref Unsubscribe https://lists.rootsweb.com/postorius/lists/aus-tasmania@rootsweb.com Privacy Statement: https://ancstry.me/2JWBOdY Terms and Conditions: https://ancstry.me/2HDBym9 Rootsweb Blog: http://rootsweb.blog RootsWeb is funded and supported by Ancestry.com and our loyal RootsWeb community