A pioneer printing family

Australia’s convict history has always fascinated me. Sitting in history class, I was captivated by the stories of those transported to the other side of the world, sometimes just for stealing a handkerchief or a piece of cheese. I was shocked by the number of lashes a convict would receive for a minor offence, and I came to understand why so many of my fellow Australians still get riled up about the English. One of my favourite primary school teachers, Mr D, came to school with his family tree. He was beaming with pride as he told us the story of his convict ancestor. It got me thinking: perhaps I had an ancestor like that, too?

As I began researching my family history, I hoped fervently