Author Archives: rebelhand

About rebelhand

A Rebel Hand is: about Nicholas Delaney, Irish rebel of 1798, transported as a convict to New South Wales, roadbuilder, innkeeper and farmer. My great-great-great grandfather. Other ancestors transported to Australia, like Sarah Marshall, John Simpson and James Thomas Richards, pop up as well. This blog's also about the historical background to their lives, in England, Ireland, and Australia. My respectable Welsh ancestors sometimes get a look in.

Sarah Marshall 200: a floating brothel

Posted on August 1, 2018

Sarah Marshall – a prostitute? On board the convict ship Friendship II Continue reading →

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A map of Nicholas’s road

Posted on June 13, 2018

Celebrating Sydney’s Botanic Gardens’ anniversary with a map from 1816 Continue reading →

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Ulva, Lachlan Macquarie’s birthplace

Posted on May 13, 2018

The Hebridean island of Ulva is to be bought by a community group including its remaining inhabitants and those of nearby north-west Mull. When I heard the news yesterday, 11 May 2018, my ears perked up. Not just because it’s … Continue reading →

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Sarah Marshall 200: convict ship Friendship II

Posted on January 25, 2018

200 years ago Sarah Marshall arrived in New South Wales on the convict transport ship Friendship II. What happened? Continue reading →

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Posted in Australia, Convicts, Macquarie, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

John Simpson 200: convict ship Ocean II

Posted on January 16, 2018

200th anniversary of convict John Simpson arriving in NWS from the Ocean II on 16 January 1818 Continue reading →

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Posted in Convicts, Macquarie, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Criminal Lives, 1780-1925

Posted on December 27, 2017

Exhibition – Criminal Lives, 1780-1925: punishing Old Bailey convicts Continue reading →

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Posted in Convicts, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Seven years of genealogy blogging

Posted on November 19, 2017

A Rebel Hand is seven years old! This blog is, anyway. The book A Rebel Hand has been around much longer. Seven’s a powerful number. Seven days of the week, seven stars in the sky, seven seas, not to mention … Continue reading →

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Posted in Nicholas Delaney | 2 Comments

The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, is 200 years old!

Posted on June 12, 2016

It’s today! Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden is 200 years old on June 13, 2016. Happy birthday! We’ve seen why this day is the bicentenary – it’s because this is when Nicholas Delaney and his convict road gang finished building Mrs … Continue reading →

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Delaneys return to the Royal Botanic Garden

Posted on June 8, 2016

Descendants of Nicholas Delaney, the man who built Mrs Macquarie’s Road in Sydney, celebrate its 200th anniversary Continue reading →

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Nicholas Delaney and the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney

Posted on June 7, 2016

The Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney is 200 years old on June 13, 2016. Happy Birthday! And the bicentenary’s on that day because of another birthday and the crafty planning of an Irish ex-convict – Nicholas Delaney, my great-great-great grandfather. … Continue reading →

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Posted in A Rebel Hand, Australia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Celestina’s life in Millbank Prison: a Christmas tale pt 22

Posted on April 4, 2016

In the previous post in this series, Celestina Sommer arrived at Millbank Prison on 6 September, 1856, to begin her sentence for murdering her daughter, Celestina Christmas. Her hair was cut off, she was given prison clothes and put in … Continue reading →

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Finding my past in Ireland free: Julia Harrington

Posted on January 24, 2016

I’m spending today using the free access to Irish records offered by FindMyPast Ireland this weekend (until 1200 on Monday 25 January, in case you haven’t seen the special offer – UK records are free, too, but I’ve already got … Continue reading →

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Posted in Genealogy, Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A sad Christmas story

Posted on December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas, and I hope it’s a happy season for you and those you love. That’s a much older (and slightly sinister) version of Father Christmas from 1855, before he turned into jolly red-faced, red-hooded Santa. Old Father Christmas His … Continue reading →

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Posted in History | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

New South Wales 1891 census online

Posted on December 22, 2015

The Shoestring Genealogist here, just popping in to make sure you know that the New South Wales census for 1891 is now online at Family Search – with images! And free to everyone! I had to have a look. There’s … Continue reading →

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Posted in A Rebel Hand, Australia, Genealogy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How to get the FMP half-price offer (ends 30 November 2015)

Posted on November 29, 2015

This offer’s now ended – but do read what Judy Webster says about using the ChangeDetection button on her web pages – see comments at the bottom. Hi, it’s the Shoestring Genealogist popping in to let you know a trick … Continue reading →

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Posted in Genealogy | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments