An opportunity to research the family tree ‘on location’. It’s a convict ancestor and to walk the street where there was possibly a crime committed. This row of elegant Georgian houses attracted the wealthy so they were a target for the needy. Committed 200 odd years earlier, as a teen, John would not have predicted how life would change forever. The Paragon, still an elegantly arched row of Georgian houses built c1790 was constructed specifically with the wealthy in mind. Clearly, Bath UK was a place where silk handkerchiefs were in plentiful supply.
Just across the street, though, life painted a very different picture—one that shaped the story of my 3 x great-grandfather John Bennett.
In the early 1800s, John Bennett was born into a family struggling to make ends meet. As fate would have it, they lived just steps away from the Paragon’s grandeur. On the less affluent side of the street.
At 16-17 years old, John’s life took a dramatic turn. Caught stealing silk handkerchiefs an item of significant value in Georgian times he was sentenced to transportation to Australia. It was c1820 and for John, this was no temporary punishment. It was a one-way ticket to the unknown of Sydney Town NSW, an outcome shared by many convicts of all ages during that era.
But fate often surprises us with fortunate moments. After serving seven years for his crime, John Bennett found himself in the Windsor and Wilberforce region of New South Wales, Australia. It was there that his life took an unexpected turn for the better.
John met and married the daughter of a prominent local family—a remarkable twist for a man once labeled a convict. Together, John and his wife built a life of stability and support far removed from the struggles of his youth in Bath UK.
You might wonder how an ex-convict like John managed to marry into a respected family. While there’s no definitive evidence that I am aware of, perhaps shared experiences played a role in their acceptance of him.
In an intriguing parallel, the bride’s father had also once been a convict. Pardoned several years after arriving in Sydney c1812 where he went on to marry the woman who had been his employer and guardian. No doubt this shared understanding of redemption and resilience opened the door for John’s new life.
St Swithins WALCOTT UK
Walking along the street of the Paragon and possibly retracing John Bennett’s footsteps reminded me that history is more than just dates and records. Researching ancestors ‘on location’ is a tapestry of choices, challenges, and transformations—stories of second chances that connect us to the past.
For John Bennett, stealing 4 silk handkerchiefs led to a new beginning on the other side of the world. It’s a tale of redemption and resilience that shaped not just his life, but the course of my family’s story.
It literally is a ‘Rags to Riches’ story.
Researching the ancestors is an extremely enjoyable and satisfying interest and often learning of DNA cousins through varying media channels and in person.
To learn more, contact me.
AFTA Travel Certificate - International 2006
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