Month: July 2016

Martha Virco – intro

Miss W. Convict Ancestors course, Virco

This story has been created by Wendy Westgate as part of the University of Tasmania’s HAA007 Convict Ancestors unit

Martha VICO was 22 years old when she was arrested for pickpocketing. She had gone to the pub – the White Lion in Edgeware, Middlesex – with her friend Susan BURR when they had met up with a soldier who was on furlough. The soldier, William LEIGHTON, got chatting to the two women and bought them drinks; at about 11o’clock, he left the pub and spent the night with Martha, sleeping in a field. When he woke up the next morning, Martha, his purse and his watch were all gone…[1]

This act of pickpocketing changed Martha’s life completely – here is the story of what happened to her.

Martha VICO – a Convict’s Story

[1] Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 7.2, 13 June 2016), December 1838, trial of MARTHA VICO (t18381231-457).

John Boyd – breakout 2

Miss W. Boyd, Convict Ancestors course ,

This story has been created by Peter Gray as part of the University of Tasmania’s HAA007 Convict Ancestors unit

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While researching john I found out that when he died he was living and working in the Evandale area which he seems to have settled in once he became free. So i went looking for his grave, but because of the distance problem manly me in Sydney, NSW him in Tasmania I contacted the Evandale history society who are very help ful people, they have given me some great information .The area cemetery  have plenty of boyds to research and I am sure that a lot of them would be some of john’s and matha decendants. Please see above

John Boyd – breakout 1

Miss W. Boyd, Convict Ancestors course ,

This story has been created by Peter Gray as part of the University of Tasmania’s HAA007 Convict Ancestors unit

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This is the scene John would have faced when he was sent to the hulks.

Not the hulk John was on but shows the new life ahead of him.

The Prison hulks were mostly old war ships or ships that were no longer sea worthy, but could still float so were a very good way of housing the prisoners. They were often towed or moved up and down the harbour to where there was work.  A convict would get paid a small sum for doing work while waiting to be transported.