Winifred Kearns, about 24 years old, was convicted at Rosscommon on July 27, 1849, of breaking into a house and stealing 4 pounds two shillings and sixpence and a pair of gloves. It was her first conviction. She was sentenced to transportation for seven years and arrived in Hobart Town, Van Diemens Land (now Hobart, Tasmania) in 1850, where she married my great great grandfather, Robert Lewis, a tailor, about 40 years old, in 1851. Their numerous descendants live in Australia, mostly in Victoria. The convict indents say Winifred was 4'11.5" tall, with a fresh, fair complexion, light brown hair and brown eyebrows, blue eyes, a full face, short nose, wide mouth and long chin, with a mole on the left side of her chin. She was Catholic, unable to read or write, and possibly a laundress who may have been working for a D. or P. Dennis at St Catherines (or similar - something like S. Cath is written on the document under Relatives or Apprenticeship). Because Winifred was unable to read or write, her name was sometimes written as Cairns. Is anyone researching Kearns in Rosscommon? Can anyone point me towards useful resources? Steve Painter Carlton, NSW, Australia