A history of colonial Australia, not of the famous and heroic, but of the small people, the anonymous people who were the heartbeat of a growing nation In this first book of his social history series, the author sets out on a journey through Australia’s colonial history with his ancestors from British Isles. All arrived by the 1830s, two on the First Fleet in 1788. Most are from central and southern England. Four are from two little villages close by each other in Wiltshire: Semley and Donhead St Mary. In addition, two convicts and one free settler came from Dublin, Monaghan, and Donegal in Ireland, and a farming family of four came from Aberdeen in Scotland. It is surprising how much he finds out about them all—joys, successes, and tragedies. Their lives are anything but dull. James Joseph Wilson, who narrowly escaped the gallows and was surprisingly literate for a man thrice convicted of burglary, arrived in Port Jackson on board the Prince Regent in 1827. The colonial authorities assigned him to Robert Lowe, one of the Colony’s early landholders. Lowe sent him to Mudgee in north-western New South Wales to shepherd his flocks. Young 18-year-old hutkeeper James Joseph was one of the first inhabitants in the Mudgee area. He teamed up with fellow convict Michael Jones to look for land. They married sisters Jane and Elizabeth Harris, daughters of free settlers, and travelled northwest to the Coonamble area, 330 miles from Sydney, to set up their farms. The two freed convicts and the Harris sisters became his great-great-grandparents. Nine convicts are in the direct line of his ancestors. He traces their lives against the social and historical background of colonial Australia, presenting a very different picture from the view usually found in school history books. They all thrive, taking advantage of their second chance. This book is the story of their redemption. Besides offering the reader an interesting, sometimes gripping family story, he reveals the cultural continuities in which his ancestors acted and how they responded to those continuities in a totally different physical environment. He seeks to discover to what extent the outlook, culture and character of his ancestors worked to make his extended family and him what they are. Naming his family Catholic is not gratuitous. Religion, as a social and political force, always plays an important role in a nation. It is emphatically the case in Australia where the national establishment threw together a sizable underclass of (Irish) Catholics with the Protestant Ascendancy. How was that to work out in a democratic order where there was no legal disqualification based on religion? He deals with that. Second, of my original ancestors only three were Catholic. The rest were a mixture of Protestants, from the Church of England to Scottish Wesleyans, to dissenters. How the Wilsons ended up Catholic makes an interesting story. And, finally, perhaps most importantly, he sketches a picture of the way Australia developed as a new people and a new nation. In 1950, most Australians had an ancestry like his.

A Journey through Colonial History with the Ancestors The author's ancestors in Australia all came from the British Isles. Two came on the First Fleet in 1788 and none came later than the 1830s. In the direct lines, the author has found nine convicts. He traces the life of each direct-line ancestor against the social and historical background of colonial Australia, giving a very different picture from that usually found in school history books. The story is not just for family members. The author embarks on a journey through Australian colonial history while his ancestors gradually emerge in flesh and blood from the bone-dry documents and newspaper reports. It is surprising how much he has found out about them - joys, successes and tragedies. Their lives were anything but dull. For example in the Wilson line, convict James Joseph Wilson arrived in Port Jackson on board Prince Regent in 1827. The author traces his redemption from the time he was sent out to Mudgee to shepherd the flocks of Robert Lowe, one of the Colony's early landholders. He tells how James Joseph, who narrowly escaped the gallows and was surprisingly literate for a man thrice convicted of burglary, teamed up with fellow convict Michael Jones, how they married sisters Jane and Elizabeth Harris, daughters of free settlers from Wiltshire, and travelled out to the Coonamble area to set up their own farms. He explains how the two convicts and the Harris sisters all became his great-great-grandparents. In addition to telling an interesting, sometimes gripping family story, the author's aim is twofold: first, to discover the cultural continuities in which his ancestors acted and how they responded to those continuities in a totally different physical environment; second, to discover to what extent the outlook, culture and character of the author's ancestors worked to make him and his extended family what they are. This is a story about Australian identity Prison Hulk to Redemption is the first in a series of four family history books. The others are: Book 2: 1901-1945 - War Depression War due late 2016 Book 3: 1946-1953 - Me 'n' Pete due early 2016 Book 4: 1954-1958 - Billycarts & Two-Wheelers due 2017

SECOND EDITION Revised 2022 A history of colonial Australia, not of the famous and heroic, but of the small people, the anonymous people who were the heartbeat of a growing nation In this first book of the series, A HISTORY OF A CATHOLIC FAMILY, the author sets out on a journey through Australia's colonial history with his ancestors, who gradually take on flesh and blood from the bone-dry official documents. All his ancestors are from British Isles, all arriving by the 1830s, two on the First Fleet in 1788. Most are from southern England: Wiltshire, Lancashire, Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Huntingdonshire. Astonishingly, four are from two little villages close by each other in Wiltshire: Semley and Donhead St Mary. A small Irish contingent of two convicts and one free settler come from Dublin, Monaghan, and Donegal. A farming family of four from Aberdeen Scotland, the Burgesses, literate people with a keen sense of decorum, make up the full count. It is surprising how much he finds out about them all--joys, successes, and tragedies. Their lives are anything but dull. James Joseph Wilson, who narrowly escaped the gallows and was surprisingly literate for a man thrice convicted of burglary, arrived in Port Jackson on board the Prince Regent in 1827. The colonial authorities assigned him to Robert Lowe, one of the Colony's early landholders. Lowe sent him to Mudgee in north-western New South Wales to shepherd his flocks. Young 18-year-old hutkeeper James Joseph was one of the first inhabitants in the Mudgee area. He teamed up with fellow convict Michael Jones to look for land. They married sisters Jane and Elizabeth Harris, daughters of free settlers, and travelled further north-west to the Coonamble area, 330 miles from Sydney, to set up their farms. The two freed convicts and the Harris sisters became his great-great-grandparents. There are nine convicts in the direct line of his ancestors. He traces their lives against the social and historical background of colonial Australia, presenting a very different picture from the view usually found in school history books. They all thrive, taking advantage of their second chance. This book is the story of their redemption. Besides offering the reader an interesting, sometimes gripping family story, he reveals the cultural continuities in which his ancestors acted and how they responded to those continuities in a totally different physical environment. He seeks to discover to what extent the outlook, culture and character of his ancestors worked to make his extended family and him what they are. And, finally, perhaps most importantly, he sketches a picture of the way Australia developed as a new people and a new nation. In 1950, most Australians had an ancestry like his. This first book is a history of colonial Australia, not of the famous and heroic, but of the small people, the anonymous people who were the heartbeat of a growing nation--people like his ancestors. Since the publication of Prison Hulk to Redemption in 2016, the author has made many adjustments and additions, besides rewriting passages that could have been clearer. In preparing this second edition, besides thoroughly revising the text, the author stresses the social and cultural continuities to bring out his ideas on what it means to be a people and a nation.

'the love of my life'... John Ward, writing whilst incarcerated on Norfolk Island, tells a story of thwarted love that–he claims–led him to a life of crime: including theft, sexual assault and more. In telling the candid story of his downfall he exposes his own ruthlessness and lack of empathy. This book, using the diary as its base, is fascinating on so many levels. It is an insight into the criminal mind, ably examined by author June Slee. It is a glimpse into 19th–century aristocratic life–dress, food, pastimes and prejudices–from a servant's perspective (Ward was a groom to an officer gentleman). And it is a unique record, perhaps the only extant diary ever written during the Australian penal era whilst its convict writer was imprisoned. Plus, Ward records a particular moment in our history: not only life aboard prison hulks which he describes in detail but also the timing of his arrival in Sydney when convicts were no longer being accepted; he was sent straight to Norfolk Island where we get a fascinating insight into the rule of Captain Alexander Maconochie. Moconochie believed in a system of improvement for convicts based on a marks system for good behaviour rather than humiliating punishment. In this way, Ward gained access to writing materials for his diary. It's all in this book: love, history, convicts, crime and criminology, Norfolk Island ... The author weaves the diary – Ward’s own words – into her text seamlessly to tell a gripping story. Illustrated with over 150 images including paintings, photographs, documents, newspapers and drawings, the book includes text box features that elucidate aspects of life at the time: oyster bars and eating out, disease, smuggling, county justice, convict marriage, convict class and society, the end of transportation, and more. June Slee is an experienced writer and researcher, lecturer and practitioner in the field of criminology, particularly relating to the Australian convict era. Slee was immediately drawn to Ward’s story, not just for its insight into 19th-century crime and punishment, but also for its outstanding literary style and rarity as a diary that was written while its author was still incarcerated. Currently she is completing another book on convictism and has plans for two further books. June currently lives in New Zealand

Delve into American Political History with "Jefferson and Hamilton: The Struggle for Democracy" Step back in time to witness one of the most pivotal moments in American political history with Claude G. Bowers' masterful work, "Jefferson and Hamilton: The Struggle for Democracy in America." Through meticulous research and engaging narrative, Bowers brings to life the epic clash between two of the nation's founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, as they vied for the soul of the young republic. Unravel the Complexities of Early American Politics In "Jefferson and Hamilton," Bowers skillfully navigates the turbulent waters of late 18th-century America, offering readers a front-row seat to the ideological battle that shaped the nation's future. From Jefferson's vision of agrarian democracy to Hamilton's advocacy for a strong central government and industrial economy, Bowers illuminates the contrasting visions and strategies of these influential figures. As you follow Jefferson and Hamilton's intertwined journeys through politics, policy, and personal ambition, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped the early American experiment in democracy. Bowers' vivid prose and keen insights shed light on the complexities of power, ideology, and human nature, painting a rich portrait of a nation in flux. Why "Jefferson and Hamilton" Is Essential Reading: In-Depth Analysis: Gain valuable insights into the personalities, principles, and policies of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, two towering figures in American history. Relevant to Today's Issues: Explore themes of federalism, populism, and partisan politics that resonate with contemporary debates, offering valuable context for understanding the challenges facing modern democracy. Engaging Narrative: Bowers' compelling storytelling and attention to detail make "Jefferson and Hamilton" a captivating read for history enthusiasts and casual readers alike.Embark on a journey through the corridors of power and the battlefields of ideas with "Jefferson and Hamilton: The Struggle for Democracy in America." Discover how the competing visions of these founding fathers continue to shape the American political landscape to this day.

The history of a nation through the lives of ordinary Australians whose beginnings were in a penal colony. In 1901, the author’s great-grandparents, James Patrick and Mary Jane Wilson, moved from rural Tallawang near Gulgong to the fledgling suburb of Chatswood on Sydney’s North Shore. Accompanying them were Bert (the author’s grandfather), Bert’s sister Elizabeth and his younger brother Leo. Older brother Percy followed later. Bert, Percy and older brother Tom began a business, building houses from Chatswood through to Hornsby on Sydney’s northern border. The breakout of the First World War saw dramatic changes. Rowland Wilson, Bert’s nephew, enlisted only to be engaged shortly after his arrival in France in one of the bloodiest battles of the War – the battle over Pozieres. His remains are mingled with the mud and dirt of Pozieres’ farmlands. Leo, Rowland’s uncle, followed a year later. The author gives an account of their terrible experiences. On the author’s mother’s side, it was his grandfather Steele’s brother, Percy Steele, who endured the same frightening ordeal, carrying a lifelong war wound. Australians were hardly over the War when the Depression struck, causing many builders to lose their businesses. The Wilsons hung on by the skin of their teeth, improvising as best they could, while the Steeles, always with work with the New South Wales Railways in clerical positions, did much better. The author provides an engaging account of his parents’ upbringing before they met at Chatswood in 1938. They were from very different backgrounds. The class difference would cause them heartache. The Second World War intervened. His father was a leading sick berth attendant on HMAS SYDNEY during the great cruiser battles in the Mediterranean. It was a deadly period, but the SYDNEY survived and returned to Australia where his parents were married in 1941. Tension was never far away between his father and his mother’s parents. Among all these happenings were much drama and excitement. The book ends with the author’s father building their first house at Lane Cove, a suburb adjacent to Chatswood. Book 3, ME AND PETE, covering the author’s early childhood, was released in 2020.