Sunday, March 17, 2013

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Today is the day when we are surrounded by all with Irish connections no matter how tenuous.
The world dons the mantle of a green cloak, it is imperative that we wear a touch of the green, as do our buildings, our food and even our beer...

I could relate the story of St. Patrick, but that will be everywhere and you can read it at your leisure. I could show you green buildings, people with their hair coloured green.. ask if you are wearing green, but you will get that as well. I can't promise not to share a joke or two.. after all isn't that compulsory today?

However, I've chosen to honour some of my Irish ancestors instead. The majority of mine came from Co Clare. One notable exception has featured before, was my 4th great grandmother, Bridget Eslin/Heslin who came from Dublin via a free passage on the "Sugar Cane" in 1793... you can read some of Bridget's story here...

http://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com.au/2013_01_01_archive.html

We then skip several generations though the first of the Irish ancestors in this line have no connection to the first Bridget's line until the marriage of my grandparents, Roy Leonard Swadling and Bridget Therese Dillon in 1924, in Australia. Pa (Roy) is the link to Bridget Eslin who married Robert Hobbs.

Working back from Bridget, we find her parents, who were Patrick Dillon and Eleanor (Nellie) McGuane...

All I now know of my great grandfather (September, 2004) is that he was a farmer. The 1901 Census lists the family as living in the Townland of Cloonbooley, DED No. 38/2 District Electoral Division of Kinturk

His age at that time is listed as 40, making his birth year c 1861. There were 5 children listed, one name missing, that of James, he was baptised in 1898. They were John (Jack) aged 5, Michael 4, Daniel 3, Mary (Molly) 2 and Bridget (my grandmother to be ) 2 months. 5 more children were born in later years.

Patrick could read and write.

In the 1911 Census, you can see the changes... click on the image to enlarge as needed. Susan is missing here, but I found her with a maternal Aunt and Uncle.

If we go back a generation, Patrick's parents were Michael Dillon and Bridget Keane (Kean)...
Thanks to transcriber, Beryl Meehan and her contribution to IGP, I have the following...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Church: CLARE: Baptisms in Kilmaley Parish. Co. Clare. 1828-1882.
Ireland Genealogy Project Archives
http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/copyright.htm
http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/clare/
Contributed by beryl meehan
_________________________
BAPTISMS in Kilmaley Parish, Co Clare from LDS film 926094
A partial list of BAPTISMS in Kilmaley Parish, Co Clare from LDS film 926094, September 1828-March 1882
See also http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlcla/kilmaley.html
Residence placenames have been spelled phonetically by the PP in many cases. I've use the Kilmaley Parish Townlands map
to give the present day spelling whenever the entry indicated the same place. Names shown are as in the entry.
Parish Priests: 1827 Rev Pa Corbett, date? Rev Daniel Lynist was Adm? and then PP in 1834, "11 March 1862 -abt 1902 Rev Michael Burke
With J Halpin assisting Rev Burke.
====================================================================================
NAME BAPTISM DATE PARENTS RESIDENCE SPONSORS
DILLON, Pat 2 March 1853 Michael Dillon & Bridget Kean (image 207) Clounaboula Margaret Kelly & Thomas Doohan
DILLON, Margaret 2 March 1853 Michael Dillon & Bridget Kean (image 207) Clounaboula Kate Kean & John ---

There were the possible twins as above, though the babies could have been just baptised together, followed by 'my' Patrick born somewhere around 1859-1862... two different census lead to two estimated dates... As this was the second Patrick, I can only surmise that the first had died. Ellen was next born in 1862, maybe she was a twin of the second Patrick... haven't proved any of that as yet.
Last born was Michael Dillon, born 1866.

Still lots of loose ends to tie up, but with lots of Patrick and Ellen's grandchildren around, maybe one day.

Now for the expected...

Paddy had long heard the stories of an amazing family tradition.

It seems that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had all
been able to walk on water on their 18th birthday.

On that special day, they'd each walked across the lake to the pub on
the far side for their first legal drink.

So when Paddy's, 18th birthday came around,
he and his pal Mick, took a boat out to the middle of the lake,
Paddy, stepped out of the boat ...and nearly drowned!

Mick just barely managed to pull him to safety.

Furious and confused, Paddy, went to see his grandmother.

'Grandma,' he asked, "Tis me 18th birthday, so why can't I walk 'cross
the lake like me father, his father, and his father before him?"

Granny looked deeply into Paddy's, troubled brown eyes and said,

"Because ye father, ye grandfather and ye great-grandfather were all
born in January, when the lake is frozen,

and ye were born in August,

ya idiot!"

Three Irish guys go into a pub, have a few pints and are ready to leave and pay their tab. The bar back brings them a bill for exactly £30.00. Each guy gives him a tenner, and they leave.

When the bar back hands the £30.00 to the bartender, he is told a mistake was made. The bill was only £25.00, not £30.00. The bartender gives the bar back five £1.00 notes and tells him to take it back to the 3 Irish guys.

On their way out of the pub, the bar back has a thought... these guys did not give him a tip. (Editor's note: yes, I know they do not generally tip in Ireland, please just play along?) He figures that since there is no way to split £5.00 evenly three ways anyhow, he will keep two pounds for himself and give them back three pounds.

OK! So far so good!

He taps one of the guys on the shoulder and explains about a mix up in the bill, and hands the guy the three pounds, then departs with his two-pound tip in his pocket.

Now the fun begins!

Remember £30-£25=£5 Right? £5-£3=£2 Right?
So what's the problem?
All is well, right?
Not quite? Answer this:
Each of the three guys originally gave £10.00 each.
They each got back £1.00 in change.
That means they paid £9.00 each, which times three is £27.00.
The delivery boy kept £2.00 for a tip.
£27.00 plus £2.00 equals £29.00.
Where the heck is the other pound??????????

St. Patrick's Day above courtesy of Clip art © by Dixie Allan, http://webclipart.about.com

Some lovely old postcards from Co Clare...enjoy...

http://youtube/n8RRMzcOpbA

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

HISTORY AT TOUCH OF BUTTON .. What a treasure

http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/history-at-touch-of-button/1785414/

History at touch of button

Topics: archives, maryborough city council

HISTORY: George Seymour (right) shows Kay Gassan (seated), Karla Chisholm, Jan Downman and Ian Scougall more than a century's worth of files from hard drives presented to the local historians. Robyne Cuerel

DUSTY records from Maryborough City Council dating back to 1862 have been turned into digital copies and donated to the city's biggest historical groups.

Microfiche film versions of the records, which include rates ledgers, water and gas books, and even details of Maryborough's brush with the black plague, have been stored in a vault near Salt Lake City in the United States for more than two decades.

The Genealogical Society of Utah, which chronicles family history across the world, created the copies in 1989 and for the past two years has worked with Fraser Coast Regional Council to turn them in to PDF files.

Until yesterday, the only copy Fraser Coast history buffs had been able to access was a film set given to the council.

Fraser Coast community, culture and family services portfolio councillor George Seymour said the new digital copies meant each society no longer had to share the deteriorating film copies.

Cr Seymour joined Fraser Coast Mayor Gerard O'Connell yesterday to hand over three external computer hard drives each containing a full set of the records.

The Maryborough Family Heritage Institute, Maryborough Historical Society and the Maryborough and District Family History Society each received a hard drive.

Two more copies of the records will go to the council libraries in Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

"It is Maryborough's history basically, in a box," Kay Gassan from the Maryborough Family Heritage Institute said.

Jan Downman from the Maryborough and District Family History Society said the first thing she would look for among the digital files was previously missing records from 1881, 1882 and 1884.

"It is basically everything that happened in town the council was involved in," she said.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

LIEBSTER AWARD

Till just recently, I had never heard of the LIEBSTER AWARD....

In German, it means "beloved" or "dearest" I'm told, so it seems I've just been nominated for a Beloved Award.

Nominees are required to state eleven facts about themselves, answer the questions provided below, nominate up to eleven people and provide them with eleven questions to answer.

Not quite as easy as it sounds...

Eleven random facts about me....

1. My biggest excitement in primary school was being allowed to choose some books for our first ever real school library. I had exhausted all the books that my headmaster could lend me from his library, also those from the School of Arts, so this was a dream come true.

2. I had my first poetry published when I was 10, in the long defunct Chuckler's Weekly, and I earned 10/6!

3. I loved to climb trees.

4. My favourite tune is "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller.

5. I learnt to cook very young and still love it. All my family could cook and my grandmother would say that the only people who should learn to cook are those who like to eat.

6. My childhood hero was my paternal grandfather, who died when I was five. I miss him deeply still.

7. I still have some of my childhood toys, a well worn pink rabbit, a 'walking' doll, and a china tea set, as well as a number of books.

8. I have had a number of varied careers, from shop assistant to fashion compere, from book publisher representative to radio, twice, from cosmetician to party plan, spare parts clerk to working with a dress pattern company, from marketing/PR to sales promotions... to name just a few... not necessarily in that order. ;-)

9. Love people, and love spending time with family and friends.

10. I'm a collector of sewing and kitchen paraphernalia, family mementos and books... plus.

11. My passions are writing, reading, photography, cooking, craft, embroidery ... too many to list here.

Questions: to pass on to your nominees...

What are your top three favorite books? I would hate to pick three... I would rather pick just three of my favourite authors, that's hard enough:

Lisa See ( The Flower Net is one) ; Bryce Courtney ( The Power of One, April Fool The Potato Factory, Tandia, etc....) ; Ruth Park (Harp in the South, Poor Man's Orange, etc. ... )

If you could live in any other era, when would you choose? I think I live in the best of eras, but if I had to choose, possibly the '40s, even if just for the music...

What is your favorite Disney film? Mary Poppins

Do you prefer sweet things, or savory? either...

What fictional character do you feel that you relate most with? Mary Poppins .. what fun that would be.

Who would you say has been the most influential or inspirational person in your life so far? My mother, who had such a difficult childhood, losing her own mother when she was just eleven and always battling health problems, but without complaint. She made the most of whatever the situation and gave me a love of people, imagination and the ability to always find the silver lining.

What is the one thing that you like most about yourself? I like to help others.

If your life was being made into a film, who would you choose to play yourself? I wouldn't... can't imagine that ever happening.

And what three songs would you include in the soundtrack? Think I'll have to pass on that one... maybe Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World

What are your thoughts on life after death? I certainly hope there is, for I can't see me ever achieving all I would like to in just this life.

If you were a superhero, what would your power be? To be able to ensure that all have everything they need, not necessarily everything they want.

I nominate the following bloggers:

This is where I should select some fellow bloggers, but as I have just nominated quite a number for various awards a little while back, I think I will leave that for a little while. Watch this space...

What I would like to do is to thank Michelle from heritagescrapbook who nominated me. Michelle is a relatively new blogger, but has been creating her beautiful scrapbook papers for some time. They are a perfect addition to family history books as well as many other uses, for a special gift, as backgrounds to your own scrapbooking, whatever you wish. To keep the costs down, you can order digital copies which you can then take to any of the large stationery/printing chains and have them printed at a very reasonable cost.

For just a little extra, you can have them designed by Michelle to include the details, photos, etc. of your loved ones with appropriate themes. That makes it all so easy...

If you love beautiful heritage prints, be sure to wander through

heritagescrapbook and see just what can be done.

HUGS ON THE MENU

Every now and then, you come across a story that is simply far too good not to share, so with thanks to news.com.au, here is Tim's story...

Tim is a shining example of what love can do... he comes from an amazing family who see his heart, not just the differences.

http://www.news.com.au/business/hugs-on-the-menu-the-worlds-best-restaurateur/story-e6frfm1i-1226590466243

Hugs on the menu: The world's best restaurateur

Tim Harris's story has attracted a huge amount of media interest. Picture: Tim's Place

TIM Harris owns the "world's friendliest restaurant", and is probably the world's happiest person.

His restaurant specialises in good food, good service, and hugs.
"I am a lean, mean, hugging machine," he boasts with a broad smile across his face.
"The hugs are way more important than the food. I mean food is just food."

Tim dancing in the carpark before work. Because he's that kind of guy. Picture: AOL

Tim really is a special person.
He starts every day by doing a "dance of magic" because he's so excited about coming to work. He personally greets every customer who walks through the door.
It's impossible to watch him talk about his life, and watch him go to work, and not find yourself smiling.

Tim, the world's friendliest restaurant owner, always with a smile on his face. Picture: AOL

He told his parents when he was 14 that his dream was to open a restaurant and to make people feel better.
He's a shining example of what anyone can achieve, and a reminder that you need only the simple things in life in order to be a happy.

Tim has given out more than 30,000 hugs. It's on the menu. Picture: AOL

"We are the world's friendliest restaurant," he said.
"I do not let my disability crush my dreams.
"People with disabilities can do anything they set their minds to. They're special. We are a gift to the world."
The "hug counter" in Tim's Place is around 32,475. That's some gift.
Read more about Tim's story here.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY MAR 8, 2013

http://thesilvervoice.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/international-womens-day-the-gender-agenda/

Feel free to share this inspiring post by The Silver Voice. To all my lady friends, those I know and those I would like to know, if you do nothing else for March 8th, why not display the logo below, on emails, your blogs, your posts here.. whatever suits you. We've come a very long way since 1911, but the road well travelled has many more places to take us yet!

These are just a few of the events happening around the country... Google will help you find many more...

http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/women/leadership-and-community/international-womens-day

http://www.runningcalendar.com.au/event/international-womens-day-fun-run-brisbane/

https://unwomen.org.au/civicrm/event/info?id=66&reset=1

http://www.dcm.nt.gov.au/strong_community/office_of_womens_policy/international_womens_day

http://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/our-city/events/iwd

Thursday, February 28, 2013

HEARTBREAK IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Please take a few moments to look and read... and please, please, not only comment here, but write to your friends, tell them about this, then all write to the relevant authorities...

Karrakatta Cemetery, Western Australia Rest in Peace... or...

Do you know where your great grandparents or grandparents or any other deceased family are resting tonight ? Too strong?

I'm sure the families of these poor souls wonder as well...

How can this be justified? Is this all we owe our ancestors?

This is a vast country, are we really that short of space?

What contributions did these people make to Western Australia? Did they raise families, adding to the community? Were they folk who helped aid others? Did their loved ones save hard to place a loving tribute to their family?

So many questions unanswered...

here they were supposed to be safe and free at last...

Well, think of all the heartbroken families who have discovered this...

As family historians, genealogists, or simply and most importantly, family and others who care, please make your voice heard.

These are in a compound, if not claimed, then they are to be crushed for road base. This is obscene.

GRANDMA'S FOUNDATION

I went to visit Grandma

Her stone it wasn't there

I thought I made an error

But I did look everywhere

It was then I noticed rubble

Right against the fence

And a dumpster full of rubbish

It really was quite dense.

Then I saw my Grandma's name

As if she was calling me

"Please help me darling granddaughter

Will you please help me be free

For crushing is the next step

Road base they say they need

I suspect that that is just a cover up

It all comes down to greed.

The land here's rather valuable

I heard the workmen say

My lovely stone you saved for

Will be destroyed today."

If you don't want this to happen, please sign the petitions that are circulating to try to stop the wanton destruction of headstones. No wonder the vandals have no respect for cemeteries when the authorities don't. It could be your family next. Western Australia now, a cemetery near you next.

The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board have updated the cover photograph for their website stating that there has been '30 years of respectful implimentation of the renewal program'.
Please visit our facebook page to read newspaper articles and look at photographs that reflect what is taking place.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/133954763444789/
Many thanks,
Sandra, Craig and Kay

There is a petition at

View and sign the petition

View and sign please.

You are very welcome to sign and make your thoughts known.

TWITTER users

follow Saving Graves WA on Twitter @savinggraveswa

I am totally horrified, disgusted and completely overwhelmed that that this can happen.

Do they Rest in Peace? I think not.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY 2013

AUSTRALIA DAY 2013 BLOG CHALLENGE

Thanks to Helen V. Smith for suggesting the Australia Day challenge

http://helenvsmithresearch.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/2013-australia-day-challenge.html

Helen asked us to write about the ancestors who were first to enter Australia, both male and female.... this made it comparatively easy for me, as though they didn't come together, my 5th great grandparents were the first of my known ancestors to arrive in Australia.

They were Robert Hobbs, born in Catherine Wheel Alley, London, in 1763, and Bridget Eslin/Heslin, of Dublin, born in 1766. You'd wonder what an English man and an Irish lady would have in common in that era... Perhaps the most likely commonality was their free passages to Australia. Both were convicted convicts, sentenced for 7 years and life and transported to Australia. in those times, 7 years was life for all intents and purposes as few ever returned to their homes.

The following is an extract of the proceedings at the Old Bailey which saw Robert given a free passage...

To continue... : (Anthony Jefferson) I am sure he is the man: I saw his face as he passed by me.

CHARLES SILK sworn.

I am the street-keeper of Cornhill; I took custody of the prisoner; the bundle was left at Mr. Bates's, from the Monday till the Wednesday.

THOMAS MARTIN sworn.

(The bundle produced and deposed to.)

I saw the bundle at Guildhall; it was sealed.

Mr. Knapp. You have many pieces of the same quality? - Yes.

Have not you a great many with the same mark? - None, Sir.

You never saw them after you sold them, till you saw them at Guildhall? - No, I did not.

Prisoner. I leave it to my counsel.

GUILTY.

Transported for seven years.

Tried by the London Jury before Mr. RECORDER.

Robert Hobbs Goal sentencing...

Robert Hobbs (Names) William Purcell(?) aka Price London (? not sure of the next few words) 1790 Life

Robert Hobbs was then transported on the "Active" in 1791.

An extract from the notes shared by my cousin, Robyn McNamara and other researchers...

Nothing much is known of Robert’s early life other than his mother’s name was Mary and his father was Joseph Hobbs, who may possibly have also been a weaver and that his father’s (and Robert’s grandfather’s) name was also Joseph Hobbs from Tottenham, Middlesex, England.

He was baptized on the 17th July 1763 at St. Batolph’s Bishopgate, Middlesex, England.

There is no other record until the following entry (from information given by Marie Tattam): "Court minutes of the Weavers' Company (Guildhall Library MS 4655/17 pt 2, to 296). 1 June 1778 "Robert Hobbs son of Joseph Hobbs of Petticoat Lane, Whitechapel Cordwainer is bound Apprentice for 7 years to Thomas Christmas, Citizen ; Weaver of London living in New Nichol Street Bethnal Green. No Cons (i.e. no premium was paid)". Robert would have been 15 years old when or if he finished his apprenticeship, however no record of freedom could be found in the minutes 1785-6.

His first criminal record is found in November 1788, he was indicted along with Solomon Bocherah at the Old Bailey, London for "burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of J. Pinkinton about the hour of seven in the night on the x No vember last, and burglariously stealing one piece of velvet containing 39 yards, value 81.4s his property". The evidence of Robert having taken part in the robbery was too vague and he was found "not guilty", however he was detained as following the robbery, when the prisoner Bocherah was being taken away by constables along the Houndsditch area, in a rescue attempt, an attack was made on the coach with sticks and stones and finally the track was cut so that it was impossible for the coach to proceed. Bocherah nevertheless was still held in custody, and although one witness claimed Hobbs was part of the rescue team, the evidence must have again been too flimsy as there is no further record of punishment. Solomon Bocherah was not so fortunate as he was found "guilty" of the robbery and sentenced to death.

On the 8th July 1789 Robert Hobbs was in trouble again when he was indicted on a misdemeanor charge at the Old Bailey again, for having obtained three kits of salmon by false pretences. This time he was found "guilty" and imprisoned for one month and sentenced also to be whipped. There is no actual transcription of this trial in the Old Bailey records so who brought the charges and who the witnesses were are not known.

He is before the jury at the Old Bailey for "stealing on the 20th September 1790 thirty eight pieces of calico, containing 760 yards, value ¹60 the property of Thomas Martin". This trial changed Robert's life forever resulting in his transportation to Australia.

One researcher questioned how Robert could have run with a bundle containing 760 yards of calico that would have weighed about 285 lbs.

On 27 Oct 1790 Robert Hobbs was sentenced in the Old Bailey, London to transportation - 7 years, aboard “The Active”. The Active departed Portsmouth on the 27th March 1791 carrying 175 convicts of which 21 were lost during the 183-day voyage and arrivedSydney Cove on the 26th September 1791.

The Active was among the ships that comprised the "Third Fleet" and was a Brig of 350 ton with John Mitchinson as the Master. Captain David Collins who had arrived with the "First Fleet" was the Judge Advocate and faithfully kept a journal of events including a description of the "Active's" arrival.

"Monday 26th September 1791.... the Active from England, and the Queen from Ireland, with convicts of that country, arrived and anchored in the cove. On board the Active.... were one hundred and fifty four male convicts...

These ships had been unhealthy and had buried several convicts on their passage. The sick, which they brought in, were landed immediately; and many of those who remained and were not so ill as to require medical assistance, were brought on shore in an emaciated and feeble condition, particularly the convicts from the "Active". They in general complained of not having received the allowance intended for them; but their emaciated appearance was to be ascribed as much to confinement as to any other cause...

There is no record of what condition Robert Hobbs was in after the journey, however just three & a half months after his arrival on the 9th January 1792, he was tried for stealing a pair of shoes and a hat belonging to Edward Conroy and Thomas Regan. Having admitted that he was guilty, he begged for mercy but received 150 lashes. He must have been desperate for shoes as it is well documented that there was a shortage of shoes in the colony and the known temperature in January meant that he was desperate for a hat.

In 1793, Bridget was sentenced to be transported owing to a theft of calico... which had been spread on the drying greens.

196/695 Bridget Eslin, tried Dublin September, 1792; sentence 7 years; arrived on the 'Sugar Cane' in 1793; time expired September 1799; certificate dated 6th February, 1811.

"Some history on Bridget HESLIN/ESLIN that was discovered by Barbara Hall while researching for her books on the first five Irish convict ships.....

To start with, it is believed that the Heslin/Eslin name was German in origin. There were a large gathering of Heslins in Derrynacross in the Longford area, Leitrim, and on the borders of Westmeath and Cavan. Many did not do well in the “Rebellion of 1798”, followed by the famine, bog sickness and deportation to the west. There are many, many variations of the name and this has also lead to confusion when researching."

This information was gleaned from the “Freeman Journal” that reported their crimes – all other official records of the trial appear to have been destroyed.

Robert married Irish born, Bridget Heslin, on 30th October,1815. He was then aged 52. Bridget was 49. they went on to have 9 children.

Robert died 23rd February,1839 and was buried 25th February,1839, in the C of E cemetery, Pitt Town. His will was dated Feb. 6th,1834. It was appropriated by his daughter, Sarah who died on the 31st July, 1895. It was later discovered by Mrs. Mary A.M. Brown in 1897. It was delivered to J.P.Abbott for registration, but was again lost in 1897-8. It was then found supposedly by Deane& Deane in 1930, but was not registered till after April 1931.

Source... Bev Woodman who purchased Bridget's Certificate of Emancipation ....

Note for all Hobbs/Heslin descendants......some of the grandchildren's surnames are as follows............(source Hobbs group)

BOOTLE, BOWD, BROWN, BUCKRIDGE, CELEY, CLARKE, CROSS, DOUGLASS, DOWDEN, GREENTREE, GRONO, HARTLEY, HURST, KILPATRICK, LEET, MAHONY, MITCHELL, MONAHAN, MURRAY, NEAL, ROSE, SIMON, SLANEY, SMITH, STUBBS, SULLIVAN, SWADLING, WALKER, WILBOW

THE FOLLOWING IS COURTESY OF BEV WOODMAN, HOBBS GROUP

" Robert would have spent about five months in prison, on a hulk or onboard the Active waiting to depart Portsmouth so he was probably one of the luckier prisoners in that he didn't spend years waiting his fate. He did though travel on the Active and on that particular trip that took 183 days, they lost 21 during the trip to the colony. So Robert probably wasn't in a very fit condition on arrival to start with. The ship arrived on the 26th September 1791 and then three and a half month s later on the 9th January 1792 he was charged with stealing a hat and shoes and received 150 lashes (although no record has been found of this actually being carried out and he did plead guilty and beg for mercy). I can only imagine how he felt , he was weak from the long journey on a far from perfect trip, possibly suffering some form of illness with little food to build his resistance up.

Sometime in 1793 he joined the NSW Corps 102nd Regiment and served ten years, more than likely in the Hawkesbury region. He would have received a pardon by serving in the military and was allowed to choose land to farm on the Hawkesbury where he is found renting property in 1800 and farming (as well as carrying out his military duties that would have mainly been to keep law and order in the community). He then received his official grant of 60 acres on leaving the Corp in 1803.

Bridget was tried in July 1792 in Dublin Ireland and was then transported to Cork by ship to await transportation aboard the Sugar Cane. The ship sailed on 13th April 1793 so she would have been in custody for about 9 months waiting to sail. She was only 18 years old but at least had a friend or relative, Mary Hughes on board with her, along with Joseph Kearns who would have also been known to the family. Bridget's brother, Patrick, was aboard another ship of that fleet, The Boddingtons, but whether Bridget knew this or not is unknown. Unlike Robert's trip, all aboard the Sugar Cane arrived on the 17th September 1793 in good health with the loss of one life (execution) on the trip.

Never-the-less Bridget was only 18, her father had been executed, her mother and another brother (John) had been transported elsewhere and she and Patrick were now in a new colony just over five years after it had been first settled. Things would have looked so alien, I can only feel that she felt scared and frightened at what lay ahead of her. At this stage we can only guess that she was either sent to the Female Factory at Parramatta or to the farms at Toongabbie, however sometime possibly in in late 1795 she met Robert Hobbs and their first of nine children was born (registered Sydney) on the 19th September 1796. All other children after that were born in the Hawkesbury area, most of them at Pitt Town.

What is known after that is that she lived the rest of her life with Robert, raised nine children, lived and laboured at Pitt Town on their own land and died in on the 25th October, 1843, four and a half years after Robert who died on the 23rd Feb ruary 1839. They are both buried together in Pitt Town Cemetery although there is no mention of Bridget on Robert's well preserved head stone. We should all feel very proud of what this couple endured and that they fought hard to survive and rais e a family in the harshest of times in a strange land, far from their birth families.

Bev"

In summary: “Known gang members were Patrick Haslin (father), executed, his wife involved but her name not given, their known children were Patrick (transported to NSW per Boddingtons 1793), Bridget (transported to NSW per Sugar Cane 1793), John (involved in the gang also and possibly transported), Joseph Kearns alias Dungan (transported to NSW per Boddingtons), Mary Hughes (transported to NSW per Sugar Cane), Michael Dooley probably executed, Thomas Hughes (fate unknown).

The Muster of 1802 shows Robert Hobbs of the "Active", free, and was shown as having 25 acres, 20 cleared, 6.5 acres under wheat & maize, 1 hog and one person "off: the Government Stores”.

The first formal grant to Robert, and the site of the subsequent home for he and Bridget and their growing family was "Grant No. 1139 of the 20th August 1803" granted by Governor Phillip King – a grant of sixty acres in the district of Mulgrave Place. Rent 2 shillings per year commencing after 5 years. It was somewhere near the Hawkesbury Lagoon and (according to the book "Early Days of Windsor" by James Steele) when Governor Macquarie laid out five towns in the Hawkesbury area in 1810 , he had to resume portion of Robert's grant for the Town of Pitt Town. Robert must have had a lean year in 1804, as a notice in the Sydney Gazette of 20 January, 1805 advises that the Provost Marshall will sell by Public Auction the effects of various persons unless the Claims due from them are settled promptly. There were 36 settlers listed from Parramatta and along the Hawkesbury, and Robert Hobbs was one of them.

The 1806 Muster shows Robert Hobbs, settler, at the Lagoon on 60 acres. In this same year Robert Hobbs was among 244 settlers of the Hawkesbury who sent an address to Governor Bligh.

Robert's land is marked with an arrow...you can click on the image to enlarge.

In January 1807 his signature appears on correspondence to the Rev. Samuel Marsden. Amongst the crosses of so many other settlers it is noted that Robert can sign his name in a manner of someone who is used to writing.

In June 1809 it is recorded that Robert obtained his wheat seed from HM Stores. The region suffered a major flood that same year in August where the river rose 48 feet and 8 lives were lost, so Robert probably lost his crop

The Muster of 1811 lists Robert Hobbs with Bridget Eslin with Bridget receiving her Certificate of Freedom in September that same year.

In the Muster of 1814 the family is recorded as Robert Hobbs (invalid on Government Stores), Bridget Eslin (wife), Robert Jnr, Elizabeth Hobbs (single) and five other children independent of Government Stores. There is also a John Randall, convict to Robert Hobbs living with them."

# Acknowledgements to Robyn McNamara, and Bev Woodman... cousins and member and founder of the Hobbs Reunion Group. Thanks also go to all the descendants who have so willingly shared information.

A while back it was discovered that there remained in the care of the Public Trustee's Office, the seals as pictured below which had formed part of Robert's estate. They are now on permanent loan to the Hawkesbury Library and can be viewed by appointment. The unsolved mysteries refers to the missing Hobbs millions... another post for another time.