Thursday 28 October 2010

Ann's Bonnet

For this project this is my little contribution. I'm not a hand embroiderer but it's cheerful enough I think.
My chosen convict was tried on 24th July 1842 but I haven't been able to establish her crime. She was then kept at Dublin before being shipped out on the East London for the four month journey to Tasmania, in May 1843. Authorities in Australia complained about the condition of convicts who arrived, not only "unskilled and "of little use" but frequently unfit for work due to malnutrition and disease. This was before the famine. My convict died at sea, as did several of her fellow "passengers". 
Researching was fascinating at times as photographs of some original log books and documents are available on line. In places you can access great detail such as descriptions of visual appearance and character of individuals. It is also a frustrating business, as I'm sure amateur geneologists will testify, when lines of enquiry come to a dead end. 

4 comments:

renilde said...

Your bonnet looks beautiful, I like the idea you made it on your '20 singer machine.

Anonymous said...

I'm so impressed you did this. I was very inspired when I saw the exhibition at the show but confess to shying away from the complexities of making a bonnet AND hand embroidering it! Respect :)

Lucille said...

What a wonderful project. Your bonnet is beautiful. I can attest to the frustration of dead ends too.

MILLY said...

Your bonnet is beautiful, love that you stitched it on your old singer and your embroidery is just so lovely.
I commented above before reaching the bonnet!
Now I am inspired to get started seeing how well yours turned out.
Well done, clever you.