This message (4 Mar 2021) addresses some 'myths' or 'generally assumed FACTS' that appear in this thread to date:
1. Age of 'the famine girls' were sent to Australia.
One such scheme was known as the Earl Grey Scheme. "These girls were all between 14 at youngest and 18 at oldest", contributed on Friday 23rd October 2020, is false information and should be formally corrected in the interest of Irish diaspora seeking their ancestral origin(s).
Attached is just page of the passengers list for the 1851 voyage of the Earl Grey .
NB. The mean age of 8 females on this page is 20 years, the median is 19.5 years, and the range is 16 to 26 years.
2. Irish convicts, criminals and British/English settlers.
Physical and sexual abuse of Irish 'convicts' by British/English settlers in Australia was not uncommon.
Points below are general in nature, and based on the political climate in 19th Century.
(a) Not all people (natives of Ireland) sentenced under British law over the period 1800 - 1850 had committed offences against their kinsmen. The 'judicial system' at the time was at the discretion of the ruling English government, and deployable as a means of suppressing Irish independence and thwarting uprisings.
In one case, that I know well, a 15 year old Irish lad from Armagh received a sentence of 10 years transportation for burglary. In reading the full account of the trial for "burglary", it was clear that no burglary was committed. In fact, in the hearing this lad advised the Judge that illegal card-playing was occurring at the venue (hotel) and politely urged that action should be taken. After sentencing, the Judge invited all 'criminals' to respond. While others issued gutteral swearing (?), this lad replied: 'Thank you, your Honour, I am greatly pleased'
In reading further events in Armagh and surrounding lands, I noted that (independence) uprisings had been increasing, and the sale of gunpowder limited, with registration through the Magistrate's Court required for purchases above a very small amount, say half an ounce. Thus a list of purchasers of gunpowder was recorded and is available for today's researchers. One name listed was the same as the father of this 15 year old lad, who handled himself with dignity and maturity.
In following this lad in Australia, I found he was soon awarded a Conditional Pardon (CP) and conducted himself in a way that would have made his parents and extended family very proud. My understanding that a CP meant 'freedom subject to immediate incarceration should any offence be committed', was recently corrected by an archivist at NSW State Records.
A Conditional Pardon meant that the 'convict' was now a free-person at liberty to move around and go wherever he wanted. So what was the 'Condition'? The condition was that he not return to Ireland.
3. Literacy of the Irish people.
Too often it is stated: 'Well of course, none of them could read or write', without any thought or shred of evidence. Below are my research notes taken from 'Official Records': newspapers, shipping lists, court records and so on, confirmed that in 1840, both convicted 15 year olds could read.
Education and scholarship has a long history within Ireland. The Hedge School system testifies that. The accounts of the Grants of Newry, a family of School Teachers over 150 years testifies the advanced level of mathematics taught by the Grant family. There exists literature that establishes the Irish curriculum, banned under English rule, was far superior to the National Schools later introduced.
Research notes:
In 1840, Michael (age 48 yrs), Francis (age 15 yrs) and William (age 15 yrs) were tried at Down, and sentenced to transportation for 7, 10 and 7 year respectively. Their heights were 5'1 3/4" , 5' 1" and 4' 11 1/2" resp. Dates of trials were 9Jan1840 and 2Mar1840 for the boys. Michael was married (1 son, 1 daughter). The son was William Hanlon (on Pekoe). The offences were 'receive stolen fowls', 'burglary'and 'shoplifting', respectively.
Michael could neither read nor write. Francis could read, and William both read and write. The Pekoe arrived NSW 6 August 1840. The native places recorded as Armagh for both Michael and Francis, and Down for William. The 2 boys were single, and had no offspring listed. Michael was listed as a Laborer (sic) and the young ones as 'errand boys'.
P.S.
I can upload if asked:
An account of the Grants of Newry over 150 years of teaching, by J. Fitzsimons, 1947, 10 pages.
A 2006 doctoral thesis, by Fernandez Suarez (in Spanish) on the Irish Hedge schools, 415 pages.
Hoping this post benefits all who read it.
