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Post by boxcar on Aug 28, 2012 23:37:35 GMT -5
I thought it was spelled POME.(PRISONER OF MOTHER ENGLAND)
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Post by Sir John on Aug 29, 2012 0:26:14 GMT -5
JR,
As the descendent of 7 transported convicts, and a long time family historian, I can tell you that this term was NOT used back in the convict days from 1788 to 1868.
There is a never ending argument about the origin, and nobody really knows. I lean to the 'Pomegranates' fruit fed to the British sailors to combat scurvy. That was shortened to "poms" way back in the dawn of time, (when I was but an innocent lad).
You can take you pick as we all do.
SJ
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Post by Swampy on Aug 29, 2012 0:27:39 GMT -5
As the descendent of 7 transported convicts, and a long time family historian, I can tell you that this term was NOT used back in the convict days from 1788 to 1868. Were you there? ;D
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Post by Sir John on Aug 29, 2012 1:11:18 GMT -5
Swampy,
I often feel like it.
Virtually ALL of the convict records, in particular those in Van Diemens Land (now Tasmania) are intact. It is fascinating to read the charge sheets and court records and conduct reports following the convict wherever he went.
I feel that I know them, and how they felt in those amazing years.
SJ
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Post by Swampy on Aug 29, 2012 1:21:32 GMT -5
You should write a book. As Mcnoch will tell you, I tried to write a book on the Second Sino-Japanese War, but my career took off, so I stopped. I still have my records, and I'm thinking of posting bits and pieces online, just as a hobby.
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Post by Sir John on Aug 29, 2012 1:53:38 GMT -5
Our ancestors were a varied mob, my wife's convict ancestor was a 'Machine Breaker', a member of the 'Swing Rioters' of 1831. He became one of the richest men in Melbourne late in the century.
One of mine was a 14 year old classic 'Artful Dodger' of the slums and streets of London in Dickensian times of 1845. He was sent out for "larceny from a building".
Three others were Irish women, mother and daughters, during the Great Famine, also in 1845, who "killed a calf with felonious intent". Something to do with starving to death I expect.
Another was caught stealing "a sack and half a bushell of wheat" (2 separate crimes) in company with his son. He took the rap and got 7 years. Amazingly and VERY rarely, the entire family was re-united in Geelong, Victoria in 1852.
SJ
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Post by Swampy on Aug 29, 2012 9:18:14 GMT -5
Our ancestors were a varied mob, my wife's convict ancestor was a 'Machine Breaker', a member of the 'Swing Rioters' of 1831. He became one of the richest men in Melbourne late in the century. One of mine was a 14 year old classic 'Artful Dodger' of the slums and streets of London in Dickensian times of 1845. He was sent out for "larceny from a building". Three others were Irish women, mother and daughters, during the Great Famine, also in 1845, who "killed a calf with felonious intent". Something to do with starving to death I expect. Another was caught stealing "a sack and half a bushell of wheat" (2 separate crimes) in company with his son. He took the rap and got 7 years. Amazingly and VERY rarely, the entire family was re-united in Geelong, Victoria in 1852. They were liberals!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2012 9:34:22 GMT -5
Our ancestors were a varied mob, my wife's convict ancestor was a 'Machine Breaker', a member of the 'Swing Rioters' of 1831. He became one of the richest men in Melbourne late in the century. One of mine was a 14 year old classic 'Artful Dodger' of the slums and streets of London in Dickensian times of 1845. He was sent out for "larceny from a building". Three others were Irish women, mother and daughters, during the Great Famine, also in 1845, who "killed a calf with felonious intent". Something to do with starving to death I expect. Another was caught stealing "a sack and half a bushell of wheat" (2 separate crimes) in company with his son. He took the rap and got 7 years. Amazingly and VERY rarely, the entire family was re-united in Geelong, Victoria in 1852. SJ I played golf in Geelong and was amazed at all the 'roos on the course, totally unaffected by the proximity of balls whizzing by them, or in some cases even hitting them. Also all the Sergeant Major cockatoos (I think) in the surrounding trees. What beautiful birds. All of this has nothing to do with your relatives, but your mentioning Geelong just keyed up some wonderful memories.
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Post by Sir John on Aug 29, 2012 13:04:28 GMT -5
Denny, That would be the Major Mitchell Cockatoo. A VERY raucous member of the parrot family, by far the dominant species of Australian birds. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Mitchell%27s_CockatooJohn Glasscock was a bit unique in the convict system in Australia. His transport was one of only 4 that delivered convicts to Victoria instead of Tasmania. Only half of the convicts on the 'Sir George Seymour' were off loaded and handed a 'Ticket of Leave' as they stepped ashore, so in fact at that moment they were no longer convicts but free men. John's lot were then taken to Hobart in Tasmania where 8 days later they also were given a ToL. Most soon ended up back in Victoria, and John became one of the very early settlers in Geelong. SJ
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