Genealogy Chat

Hi Did anyone see the programme tonight? the 2nd episode is on tomorrow night.

yes still watching it now it really good Jeanette

watching now it's really good!!

I did cry when she was giving birth lol, but werent they harsh to that woman, whipping her, Now the men have gone mad and had their wicked way with the women.

Yes, it was a really good mini series, we had it down under a few months ago. How harsh it was for these people in those days and so cruel. Especially for the ones who stayed. We came to Australia 25 years ago by choice and the hardest part was leaving family back home but at least we knew we could jump on a plane and be home in a day. I really admire these people from that Era, no air cons, no showers, no fridges, long thick hot dresses, no cars, Good on em.

Ive just read up on mary Bryan, will have to buy kleenex for tomorrows episode

maybe I am odd ,I was really looking forward to it, but found it boring and so slow, and why do really poor starving people have such lovely white even teeth????

hi, if you like to read ,you may like remember me by lesley pearce, it;s about the same person. been watching tonite can't wait for tomorrow and i know what happens

lol Val, just what I said to hubby - about the teeth I mean! Can you imagine how disgusting the smell must have been on the ships - I dont think I could have survived - Id certainly have been more than willing to do a bit of 'laundry' to get out of that cage.

Val LOLLOL! That's exactly what I always think.....and where did all the new clothes come from, when they were in Botany Bay? I got very confused - is this the Mary Bryant who is supposed to be the 'Mother of Australia'?. If so, she was only eleven when she was transported, so a bit unlikely to have given birth on board ship in those days - puberty would have been late in those days, particularly for a starving girl. I too found it a bit slow and far-fetched - with all those whores around, why did Mary have to sleep with watsisname to get the key? Sorry, I'm an awful fault-finder with telly.... Olde Crone

Damn and blast! I wish you haddnt told me after the event! I forgot to get the telly pages today and missed it....will have to go buy the book now! Gerri

glad I am not the only one, I do like authenticity, And I think its a shame they spoilt a good story, by trying to glamourise it. The baby that was born on board looked remarkably fat and healthy considering the mother had been almost starved. I will watch the second part but only because I did not read the book so want to see what happens.

hi, it explained more in the book, that all the others gave some of their food to her and the baby. it's worth watching tomorrow claire

I thought it was excellent, and really when you think it was not so long ago.... Never really thought how hard it must have been for the first settlers there with the heat, no food etc. No wonder they had good teeth, no chocolate easter eggs in those days. The lengths a girl needs to go to, I don't know - puts a whole new meaning to the saying 'grin and bear it'!

hi Claire I didnt realise that , do hope tomorrows is better

really enjoyed it although you cant take it too seriously. white teeth, white shirts and no food but gallons of alchol?? will watch tommorrow as its easy watching love linda x

I found a write up on the net after about the bloke who wrote it (johnathan king ) said he had to fill the missing pieces in himself, embelish i think the word he used, so im wondering if the writers of the programme last night used his book instead of searching info themselves i found this www.eurekatimes.net/1791-marybryant.htm

I am confused at how she can be the mother of Australia when both her children died. Is it just the Australians like her spirit?

The kids didnt die last night did they? I saw a documentary a few months ? back about this and she is supposed to be the ancestor of about 10% of Australians or something? Yes, hubby said to me, they are starving, but the guy's sitting there drinking beer from a bottle! And I hate to nit pick, but she was a big healthy girl if 'all my village starved to death'. And that well to do lady she mugged, just happened to be wandering through a wood with 2 following constables!!??? And when she went back to the marine chap - she is tearing at bits of bread like a starving dog and her little girl is sitting there carefully spooning soup as though she is in a restaurant!! I believe in the documentary - they only mentioned it in passing last night - that they made some money whoring in South America and South Africa - there were two stopovers on the way. As you say, all far fetched but then if they all had black teeth or gaps and mitzies jumping off them as they frolicked in bed, it wouldnt be such good entertainment would it. (Oh and the abbo who learned English within months! - who knocked up his english clothes!!) This may be awful, but I kept thinking, where did they go to the loo on the ship - did they have to do it in front of all the others and the men!! And what about if they were 'indisposed' with monthlies? Doesnt bear thinking about does it.

heather no they didnt, apparantly when then get to the dutch island her hubby gets drunk and lets slip they are convicts from the colony the hubby and son die froma fever or something on the way back but mary and her daughter survive the daughter dies later and mary ends up in london im sure she remarried, would be interesting to see if she has any living descedants from her sisters, i dont know if mary had any more kids though.