In earlier posts I mentioned my desire to build some model sailing vessels based around my ancestors transportation to Van Diemans Land.

Two ships were identified on which my paternal g.g.g.grand parents were 'transported' in the late 1840's. The Earl Grey and The Palmyra.

However, some basic research on my maternal family's general emigration from N.E. Scotland to Portland, Australia in the early 1850's has revealed, 4 of them were aboard the RMS 'Tayleur' and all 'lost at sea' during that vessel's maiden voyage. Those were a mother, daughter and two young sons.

So, of my possible 4 g.g.g.grand parents, 75% had a hard trip Down Under by the sounds of it, with one not making it at all.

(I will follow this up further and, for those interested, I will detail new findings here).

But, wait, there's more... 2 of the family 'men' who couldn't get free passage on board the 'Tayleur', both sons of the lost mother as well(early gender balancing for migration purposes), and subsequently paid for and completed their journey's to Portland, did so on the 'Bournuef' in 1852 or the 'Tasmania' in 1851.

Good grief!

Yesterday at this time I wasn't building any model sailing ships, now I'm obligated to, at least, five!