Campbell Town Convict Brick Trail

Campbell Town is an historic town in central Tasmania.  It was named by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1821, for his wife Elizabeth nee Campbell.  The river that flows through Campbell Town is named the Elizabeth River.  Campbell Town is situated between Hobart and Launceston, and was a garrison post on the route between the two major towns. 

Charles was living near Campbell Town when he was involved in the capture of the bushrangers that earned him his emancipation in 1834.  Charles Dewhurst and Elizabeth Banks were married on 7th May 1836 at Campbell Town, by Chaplain William Bedford Jr, in the school house.  Charles and Elizabeth had several properties in Campbell Town, before moving to the north west coast after their 5th child David was born.

Grace and Charles Blight were also married in Campbell Town, on 5th February 1844. 

The Campbell Town Convict Brick Trail was a project started for the Bicentenary of Tasmania, in 2003.  A commercial project, the idea was that the bricks were sponsored by descendants of the convicts, or if you did not have, or know of, a convict ancestor, you could adopt a convict who did not have any listed descendants.  Each brick cost $35 to sponsor, so not every convict is represented, and the information displayed depends on the sponsor's connection to the brick - so, as you can see below, Grace has a brick that was sponsored by someone with Dewhurst connections, not Blight connections.  There is no brick for Charles Blight, that I'm aware of.  Unfortunately the project never became as big as the originator envisaged.

Iron in the Blood!

As well as the quilting and sewing I do, I have a love of early sewing machines - perhaps Charles' blacksmithing has rubbed off on me too :)

This is a Charles Raymond machine sold by James G Weir of 2 Carlisle St, Soho Square, London. Serial number W5268 c. 1877.

The 'Improved Gresham' made by Gresham and Craven of Salford, UK (near Manchester).  Serial number 30221, c. 1870's.  This machine does reverse!

A Willcox and Gibbs - American made machine, s/n A373686. 1884.

The Jones Hand, (sometimes called 'Serpentine') Serial number 126331 dates to 1894.  Stamped 'As Supplied to the Princess of Wales' - this is Princess Alexandra, a Danish Princess, she was the wife of Prince Albert Edward, eldest son of Queen Victoria.  She became Queen Alexandra when her husband became King Edward VII on the death of Queen Victoria.  Dates for these machines, with great thanks and admiration, are courtesy of Alan Quinn, http://www.needlebar.org/.

A Wheeler and Wilson 8.  Wheeler and Wilson of Bridgeport, Connecticut USA  Serial number 267958 c. 1885.

This might look more familiar to everyone, a Singer 27, hand machine, Serial number J1523354 dates to the first half of 1905. 

This is just a small sample of my sewing machines, the older more interesting ones which are a different shape to the more modern styling.  I actually have about 30 hand machines, 9 treadles and a selection of vintage electric machines, about 60 altogether. 

I would love to know what Grace thought of the sewing machine when it became available - I suppose she could have been about 50 years of age when she saw one for the first time.  
Bernadette.

Archives Office of Tasmania - continued.

After you've discovered your convict records, the next place to look is the 'Convicts Applying for Permission to Marry'.

The information contained in the permission to marry will include the ship name if the spouse was a convict. 

Then you can look at the Colonial Tasmanian Family Links search.  These entries don't normally show first and second marriages like Grace's does, but if you contact the Archives Office they are very helpful.  They will add or correct any details if you can provide them with some evidence.

Next to each child's name is their number, and this link will take you to their marriage and children if applicable, up to 1899.

Colonial Tasmanian Family Links Detail

See bottom of this page for explanation of symbols.

STEVENS, GRACE
Gender:	Female
Birth	By 1825 -  CONVICT PER RAJAH   [AO]
Marriage/Relationship:	1844 - CAMPBELL TOWN, TASMANIA (1ST MARRIAGE)  (  BLIGHT, CHARLES  )  [AO]
Death:
Other Names:	GRACE BLIGHT   GRACE DEWHURST
FAMILY INFORMATION
Children:	41209 BLIGHT JOHN LOUCHLAN 1846 444493 BLIGHT ROBERT 1848 26453 BLIGHT MARTHA 1849 26452 BLIGHT SARAH ANN 1851 26451 BLIGHT EMMA AMELIA 1853

Colonial Tasmanian Family Links Detail

See bottom of this page for explanation of symbols.

BLIGHT, GRACE
Gender:	Female
Birth	By 1825 -  CONVICT PER RAJAH   [AO]
Marriage/Relationship:	1855 - PORT SORELL, TASMANIA (2ND MARRIAGE)  (  DEWHURST, CHARLES  )  [AO]
Death:
Other Names:	GRACE STEVENS   GRACE DEWHURST
FAMILY INFORMATION
Children:	92837 DEWHURST GRACE EMMA AMEL 1860 92839 DEWHURST ALICE HORTON 1863 105373 DEWHURST THOMAS 1864 92840 DEWHURST JOSHUA STEPHENS 1866 92838 DEWHURST WILLIAM 1870

We are so lucky to have this wonderful, searchable record in Tasmania.

Bernadette.

Tasmanian Archives - a wonderful resource.

Researching your family history in Tasmania can be easier if you have a convict, than without.  The Archives Office of Tasmania has an excellent record search online.  You do have to keep an open mind about spelling, the way a name was recorded on any day was basically up to the person who wrote it down.  You can see from Grace's convict arrival records:

Grace STEPHENS - from the Rajah arrivals document which is now available to view online.  The record shows that she gave her native place as Pensantz (sic), Cornwall.  Her occupation was 'Ho & Nurse Girl' - Ho meaning House.  Age on Arrival - 17.  5' tall, florid complexion, oval head, red hair. Oval visage, flat forehead, eyebrows lt. red and eyes lt blue.  Nose long, mouth medium, chin round.  Scar on thumb on left hand. 

From the Conduct Records:  STEVENS Grace -   Rajah, 24 July 1841. Transported for Stealing a Gown Print.  Gaol report convicted before a prostitute. Single. Stated this offence stealing a gown piece once for same 3 months. 2 months on the town. Single. Surgeons report Quiet.
Feby 17th 1843 Archer/misconduct in being with Isaac KITT for improper intercourse 6 mths hard labour in the factory, Launceston.  The next bit is very hard to read, and at the end says TL 4/11/45 (Ticket of Leave, 1845)

You could be accused of being a 'prostitute' at that time, if you were, say, in town without a chaperone.  As a servant girl from a poor mining family, Grace was possibly often placed in a position where she had no choice.

Improper intercourse was probably just 'talking to' - but was against the rules for house servants.

I believe the scar on the thumb is an indicator of a criminal record.

Bernadette.

Quilting in the Blood

There will be more of Grace's story and my convict links to share later.
At the beginning of my Blog, I said that I'd link Grace being a Rajah Convict to what I do today. 

Yes, I sew.  Even in my pyjamas.  Sometimes I set up in the lounge room, or on the dining table.

These hand appliqued blocks are made with lovely soft flannel fabrics.

Here they are made up and quilted. 

I'm making this Snails Trail wall hanging for my son Sam, who is 22.  He lives in Ballarat where he is a 3rd year Uni student.  He might get it before his next birthday...

This is Lucy's Dragon quilt.  It's all bound and finished off now except for sewing down the hanging pocket.  Lucy has just moved into a little flat and wants to hang this quilt above her bed.

The Evening Star Wall quilt hangs in my Loungeroom.

A selection of small quilts and decorations that I have made over many years for our Christmas celebrations at home.

A cushion I made as a birthday gift for my friend Ruth. 

and a little sewing set I made for myself, I made my friend Gae a needlecase from the same pattern in blue and grey.

There have been many other projects that I don't have photos of but I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my craft.

Bernadette.

The Rajah Quilt on display

The Rajah Quilt normally lives at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.  They usually only show it on one day per year.  In 2009 and 2010 it was not displayed at all due to it being sent to London for the Historic Quilts exhibition in 2010.  So I'm very excited to learn that it is currently on display at the National Museum of Australia, in their "Irish in Australia" exhibit - which opened on St Patrick's day, and will run until the 31st of July 2011.

Roses from the Heart

This is how to make the bonnet for the project:

Download the pattern from Christina's website.  Print the pieces and cut out - you will have 3 pieces, the brim, the crown and the back insert.  If you fold the edges to the centre of your fabric you can cut 2 bonnets from approx. 60cm of fabric.  I have used plain, unbleached calico.

Pin the crown and brim pieces, and the insert, on the fold, following the pattern directions.  You have to cut the brim twice. 

Join the two pieces of the brim with a 1cm seam, taking care that you are joining the 3 un-notched edges. Clip corners, turn and press.

Sew two rows of gathering stitch along each edge of the crown piece, with the stitch length set to longer than normal.  Or you could use running stitch by hand.

Lightly gather the front and back edge of the crown.

Pin the centre back insert matching the single notch in the centre of the gathered back edge.  (The brim edge has 2 notches).  Stitch into place.

Turn and fold over a small hem along the neck edge.

Pin the gathered front edge of the crown to the brim, matching sides of brim exactly to hemmed edge and matching the notches.  Stitch the brim in place.  Fold the brim forward and press the seam to the back.

Here's our bonnet ready to embellish, and add the ties at the neck.  I hope it won't be too long before I can show you my progress on the decoration.

Bernadette.