The First Fleet is
the name given to the 11 ships which left Great Britain on 13 May
1787 to found a penal colony that became
the first European settlement in Australia.
The fleet consisted of two Royal Navy vessels, three store ships and
six convict transports - carrying more than 1,000 convicts - marines and seamen
- and a vast quantity of stores.
The ships arrived at Botany Bay between 18 and 22 January 1788.
One of the ships was the ‘Scarborough’ - which arrived on 21 January
1788 - and one of the people on that ship was Frederick Meredith - who came as
a free man and as a steward to Captain John Marshall.
Frederick’s story is fascinating and has been catalogued in detail by many
people – but the best story - by Clayton Talbot - is here.
Amongst his many adventures - Frederick went to England in 1792 and returned
in 1793 on the ‘Bellona’. On that ship was a convict named Sarah Mason – and
she and Frederick subsequently married.
Frederick Meredith was my great, great, great, great grandfather and
Sarah Mason was my great, great, great, great grandmother.
We have know about this link for many years I have taken it a step
further and have had the link confirmed by an ‘accredited transcription agent’
appointed by the First Fleet Association of NSW.
This is a bunch of toffee nosed poseurs who ponce about extolling their
heritage. I mean – really my dear – you are just no one unless you have a first
fleeter as an ancestor – and ideally a convict.
I mean (shudder) who would to be someone who arrived as an impoverished
migrant from Europe after WW11. I would rather drown myself in a bucket of
Chablis.
And yes – 30 years ago people hid the convict connection - and now it is just so fashionable it
would make you vomit.
So of course – being the epitome of the poncing poseur – and now that I
have been vetted and documented - I am going to join the First Fleet Association
and put a chart on the wall.
Eat your hearts out - non-first-fleeters!
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ReplyDeleteMy family roots are said to be on the Mayflower, documented but I don't have the papers. Why, because we Mayflower people were not of the sort that cared about status, we cared about survival. But if I were from penal stock, well then that is something to brag about. Funny how the homeland lost all the hearty souls there for quite some time.
ReplyDeletedefinitely a certificate at a minimum. And of course, volunteering to participate in re-enactments in full historical costume...
ReplyDeletefmcgmccllc: Yes we are all from the same place. WE have not yet gained our independence - we are a bit slow.
ReplyDeleteTNDW: Wow - I had not even thought of that - Great Idea!.
My earliest ancestor in Australia came out as a convict in 1813. He was one one the lucky few to be granted land and a cow at Bathurst in about 1820. We believe he helped build the road over the Blue Mountains . Over the years he made a lot of money in real estate, including a block in Pitt Street.
ReplyDeleteAnother ancestor came with wife and family from Wick, Scotland in 1839 as free settlers. Some of his descendants live on the banks of Lake Alexandrina in South Australia. My grandfather and his brother moved to Young in NSW in about 1902.