@zooma

Thank you Bob, much appreciated.

I'm 67 y.o. and until 8 months ago I knew zero about "that side" of the family. 'They' were never talked about at polite family gatherings.

Now I know why!

Two convicts, an insane asylum patient and some seriously dubious activities in and around 'roaring twenties' Melbourne might have something do with it.

Me? Proud as punch as it turns out!

Cheers

Murray.

Hi Murray, and welcome aboard !

I have read this thread from start to finish, and although I have nothing helpful to contribute (or even any really serious interest in old sailing vessels), I did find it a really interesting read.

My wife has done a lot of work on our own family ancestry and I know just how much time can be spent before finding any small nugget of information, and then having to spend even more time having to validate it.

Your family history is much more interesting than mine, and I will enjoy reading about anything else that you discover……and of course, the two ship models that you are hoping to make.

Good luck with your continuing family history research and with making replicas of the two sailing ships that transported your early family members all those years ago.

Bob.

BTW. I do like the look of that large Cutty Sark kit you pictured.

I have visited that preserved ship many times since I was a child …….so, thinking about it, maybe I do have a little more interest in old sailing ships than I admitted at first……….

@jumpugly

This one?

@jumpugly

Terrific, thank you.

I'll start with something that suits my stumpy old fingers and basic modelling skills and equipment I think.

That's a good variety of options to get started with though.

Cheers.

@Avoca
Should you want to go plastic...
Any one of the large 1:96 scale Revell kits are a great staring point...especially the USS Constitution, Cutty Sark or Thermopylae. Although experienced "clipper" builders prefer the slightly smaller Imai Cutty Sark, which is 1:120 scale and more true to the original. Imai has also released a very large 1:80 wooden plank-on-frame Cutty Sark that is awesome. Lindberg's Sea Witch is another good plastic kit and more reasonably priced than the Revell kits.
👍

@Ronald

Yeah, I notice some inconsistencies and/or repetition over the ages with names.

Your point about vessel configuration a various times was central to my thinking currently.

Would it really be feasible, financially viable or even possible to transport a human cargo from Dublin to Hobart on a single masted ship?

Fortunately, I have a wealth of official records in public archives, including Captain's and Ship's Surgeons logs of this particular journey to go through and hopefully glean more information about the vessel itself.

Yup, victims of the Irish Potato Famine I'm afraid.

In my family's case, exactly what, when and how it all transpired is surely, as you say, lost to history and any attempt to apportion blame or make excuses is futile.

But there are, thanks to the pedantic British (g'day your Maj..) establishment, lots and lots of snippets to follow.

@Avoca
When you get into researching these names, you will discover that those names have been used for various vessels over time. Even though the one bearing the same name, is mentioned as a single mast, it doesn’t mean it is the same vessel your relatives sailed on.

Regarding the girl who stole from her Aunt, consider the events of this time of history. Was it during the potato famine when many children were sent away to foreign countries?

We were shocked to learn of the history engaged by the Cod fisheries on the east coast of Canada and in particular the region of Quebec’s Gaspe shores. The connection to certain wealthy Glasgow families and the slave trade. Many of the fishing communities were from Ireland and where sent to those Quebec shores to work, including children. Many didn’t survive the harsh work conditions or the weather.

Salted Cod was a cheap source of protein to feed the slaves on plantations. Their labour force brought molasses, rum, sugar, cotton, and more to markets.

So, your relative from long ago, might have just been a victim of the circumstances of that time in history. I doubt you will hear her side of the story but you might?

Wow, thanks Ronald.

Very helpful information and links, thank you.

In terms of vessel research, this forum is my first port-of-call, so to speak, in researching either ship used to 'transport' my ancestors to Australia.

Firstly to clarify, the Earl Grey Irish Famine voyage you provided a link to is not the voyage taken by my g.g.g.grand-mother.

Though Irish, she was not an orphan but a 12 year old girl 'transported' to Van Deimans Land(Tasmania) for 7 years as punishment for theft, of 10 pounds to be exact, from her own aunt, aboard the Earl Grey on its last journey as a convict ship in 1849(1 of only 4 such journeys made by the Earl Grey).

(As a quick side-note, she was initially 'sold into service' to the aunt by her parents, the proceeds of which were used to pay for passage to Canada for her parents and 5 siblings who emigrated legally. So who knows, we may be distant cousins!)

Having read the article associated with your link, can I suggest that particular group were on a luxury cruise in comparison to the convicts. But still a very interesting read and story. Thank you.

With regard to the 2 vessels used for the journeys, your link to the Clyde Shipyards gives, in part, the following information about the Earl Grey.

"...Coaster General Cargo - Wood Sailing Vessel 1 Mast Sloop..."

with its ultimate fate listed as

"...converted to a lighter...

So, I need to do further research to dial-in on her more before any build decision can be made.

With regard to the Palmyra, fascinating stuff.

Apart from the Endeavour, the Bounty, and Golden Hynde, the Cutty Sark was my favourite sailing ship when young.

I look forward to making the comparisons you suggested and getting started on that project first, I think.

Again, thank you.

@Avoca
The ship Palmyra was built at the Robert Steele Company on the River Clyde, Scotland.

What research have you conducted so far? Would not want to pass along knowledge you already have and thus wade through your emails.

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?a1Dir=DESC&a1Page=352&ref=21856&vessel=PALMYRA

Earl Grey (1835 Ship): A British merchant sailing ship built in Newcastle upon Tyne that famously completed four convict transport voyages to Australia.

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?a1PageSize=50&of=&a1Page=58&ref=57774&vessel=EARL+GREY

https://earlgreysfamineorphans.wordpress.com/tag/earl-grey-and-thomas-arbuthnot-voyages-compared/

From what I am seeing, Earl Grey was a typical sailing ship resembling the Cutty Sark and other such .

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=5627

Compare the photo with other clipper ships, if your desire is to build a bookshelf model, then built a model of a clipper & add the name plate desired ship name.

https://ehive.com/collections/3906/objects/1007248/cutty-sark-general-arrangement-sail-and-rigging-plans

Looking at the Earl Grey Mizzen Mast, just remove the yard arms from the Cutty Sark. Also 1 less yard arm from the Main mast.
The Thermopylae in its later years reduced the sail square yardage. It removed the Mizen yard arms too.

Look at the life boat located on the Earl Grey and the Cutty Sark or the Thermopylae cutter.

https://jamesbaybeacon.ca/?q=node/1470
Here in these photos we can clearly see the reduced canvas being carried by the Thermopylae on the Mizen .

@ColRay

Mmmm, well, off-grid hydro, hey. Food you say, huh? OK, yup, "move along, nothing to see here..."

Ender 3. Cool, we all have to start somewhere. Love to get your thoughts on options.

Tending towards more resin based printers than fibre rolls, but I'm not sure the quality output I'm after falls within my budget just yet.

However, I'm also eyeing off a basic FPV drone as a base for a few agricultural projects I have in mind.

But, right now I want to build an old sailing ship or two.

The question is where do you start if Tamiya(?) don't do a kit already?

🤣😉

Murray
Akay worked in Perth 20 years
Don't ask about myself and motor bikes a bad mix
Off the grid a few years back all our food came via an 'Off the Grid Hydroponics System'
At the moment I have an Ender 3 bottom of the range, one day will update Col

I guess someone should ask where's your buccaneers... under you bucking hat Col

@jumpugly

Haha... thanks Sir🫡.

I was wondering how long the first Arrrrr would take.

Aye Mate! Welcome aboard to the best damn website there be!!! ARR!!!!
😉

Welcome aboard Murray.
Julian

@ColRay

Reservoir, Melbourne.

I built and repaired mainly electronic stuff by trade(worked and lived in Perth for 7 years), the odd scale motorbike and robots, computers and cyber security stuff by research and need. Off grid solar setups, etc. etc. Just tinker here and there now.

Planning on buying a 3D printer in the new year. Can't wait

How about you?

Murray two questions what part of the large island is your home and the type of craft you build Col

@ColRay

Hey there, thanks for dropping by.

Very interesting.

I have just done the genealogy journey on my paternal side and it was such an eye opener and well worth the effort.

I'm not sure how well setup the WA convict records are for the public, but my great-great-great grandparents were both convicts and she went to the Cascades Women's Prison and he to Port Arthur, 7 years in both cases. Tasmania have fantastic historical convict records and infrastructure to research through.

In addition, one of the earliest industries in Tassie was ship building from the native and abundant Huon Pine resources and, of course, huge number of un/under employed ship-builders who ended-up there. Similar to Sth West WA's Jarrah and Karri resources no doubt.

I'm happy to help suggest a few sites and government resources if you want to follow it up. The entire journey cost me nothing but time, if you know where to start.

Cheers and thanks for the welcome.

Murray

G'day Murray a warm welcome from the south of WA
I also have a convict in the woodwork Uncle George who was one of the fourteen men transported to Australia after the Pentrich Revolution of 1817.
That if the online records can be trusted . my view is 50/50 Col

@Avoca
Welcome from me too, Murray.

@EdW Cheers Ed.

Hi Murray, welcome on board

Regards
Ed