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Post by Sir John on Mar 30, 2013 2:06:55 GMT -5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Francis_MeagherThis bloke can only be described as a "colourful character" who led a very eventful life. First as a Irish rebel, a transported convict to Australia, a very rare escapee, and an ACW officer. I recommend his story to you. SJ
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2013 8:11:06 GMT -5
Interesting. I wonder if the statue of him in Waterford was made in chrystal? ;D
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Post by Sir John on Mar 30, 2013 13:24:47 GMT -5
Denny,
If it was my wife would have stolen it by now.
Most of the very few successful escapees did it with the help of the American whalers in our southern waters.
They joined the crew and sailed in due course to the US where they made a new life. I think that less than about 6 actually made it. Many got away and perished in the bush. At least one joined the aboriginals and lived out his life as an aboriginal.
Meagher was by far the most successful, and I stumbled onto a descendent of his on a Forum years ago.
SJ
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2013 18:22:21 GMT -5
Meaher , was a tough guy just what those micks needed to keep them in line , he was at Antietam and Fredricksburg if memory serves .
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Post by Sir John on Apr 2, 2013 19:42:56 GMT -5
Irish immigration to Australia was for the most part, via convict transportation, certainly in the first half of the 19th century. The rebels they didn't hang they sent out to Van Diemens Land. Given that they couldn't send any more to that place up over.
Then followed the 'indentured servants' of the second half of the 1800s where farm and domestic workers were bought out at about 25 Pounds a year for a contracted 2 years.
My wife and I have about a dozen Irish ancestors from both those classes of immigrants.
My wife even has a genuine 'Machine Breaker' from the Hampshire Swing Riots of the early 1830s.
SJ
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