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44,000 convicts were sent to out to our American colonies during the 1700s until the American Revolutionary War (1775-83). These hulks in the River Thames photo in 1856 held 400-500 prisoners awaiting transport.
Not clear where they were sent in America.
And a map of early Virginia with King Powhatan. The Europeans who came to Virginia settled there, learned about raising tobacco, and started an entire industry bringing it back to Europe.
Many well known descendants of these immigrants to the Massachusetts colony.
All of us descend from some immigrants, unless we're Native Americans!
And a very interesting post by fellow blogger that included a visit to Jamestown, with info from some of the historic sites. Millie Fiori Favoriti
Sharing with Sepia Saturday this week.
Today's quote:
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
-Robert A. Heinlein, science-fiction author (1907-1988)
I wonder how many folks in the U.S. are related to those 44,000 convicts England sent over here? Boy, the English didn't fool around. Back then if you committed a crime, you wound up in America. or Australia - that is if you survived the trip. If that is a true photograph of Pocahontas, no wonder John Rolfe wished to marry her. She was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnd those descendants aren't aware of how their ancestors might well have been convicts. There were quite a few indentured servants who worked off their passage fees over several years, both in New England and Virginia colonies. Sorry, no photos would have existed of Pocahontas, camera's weren't invented yet.
DeleteThanks for all the fun facts.
ReplyDeleteSusan
Thanks for visiting, Susan. Glad I went ahead and approved your comment!
DeleteI was not aware that convicts were not only sent to Australia but also to the United States. I look at Americans very differently now :-) But seriously, thanks for an informative post!
ReplyDeleteI always find the early history of the USA fascinating and one of my favourite books is “The Winthrop Woman” by Anya Seton. Thank you for your contribution.
ReplyDelete