It was only when I started investigating my family tree that I discovered my surname is not really my surname! It goes back about two hundred years, when my ancestor was transported to Australia for a trivial offence. Daniel’s real surname was Brewer. At the age of 18 years old, he was convicted of stealing a linen sheet off a washing line! For this, he was sentenced to 7 years hard labour on a Prison hulk in England.
These prison hulks were notorious places. They were old British navy ships, no longer fit for active service, and were literally rotting away. Poor Daniel was sent to one of these “floating prisons”, somewhere off the south coast of England. Because he was young and fit, he managed to survive, although many others died from disease and malnutrition and brutal discipline.
[Image ID: this link brings you to a YouTube video entitled: “Floating Hell – Life on Board a Victorian Prison Hulk”, made by Fact Feast.]
Daniel had completed 6 years of his sentence, when he heard that his mother was dieing. Despite pleas to the authorities, he was not given permission to visit her, to say his good-byes. So he escaped! Once free, he had no intention of going back to the Prison Hulk. He changed his name to SMITH, which was a good anonymous name.
All went well until he had the bad luck of being arrested again, this time for a different offence! Daniel’s trade was listed as “Brick-Maker”. While delivering bricks to London, he was approached by a man, who offered to sell him a new pair of boots. It seemed a good offer and so he agreed to buy them. Little did he know that the boots had been stolen and the real boot-maker had been assaulted by the thief, who had sold them to Daniel!
Daniel was arrested for stealing the boots because he had them in his possession. His story of innocence was not believed. At some point during his trial, some-one recognised him as the escaped prisoner Daniel Brewer. Because this was his “second offence” – and he had absconded from prison as well! – the judge sentenced him to be transported to the new penal colony in Tasmania. He was transported under the name “Daniel Smith” with a side note added that he was also known as Daniel Brewer.
[Image ID: black-and-white period sketch, showing Hunter’s Island and the port of Hobart, Tasmania.]
This time, my poor ancestor served his seven-year sentence far from home. There were some benefits, however. He was allowed to marry a fellow convict, Grace MacGonnigal, my great-great grandmother. When they had both received their “Ticket of Leave” (an official document to say that they had served their sentence and were now free citizens), they moved to Melbourne, on mainland Australia. Later, Daniel was granted land to farm further north in Victoria State. He made sure never to get into trouble with the Law ever again!
So I am Veronica Smith, instead of Veronica Brewer. I suppose, if I wanted to be posh, I could pretend to be Veronica Brewer-Smith! Then again, what would my humble great-great grandparents say?!
More colourful stories about my equally colourful ancestors anon… !
Author: Veronica Smith, first published 20th August 2024
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