Author Archives: Heather
Fuddling
…fuddling, fiddling, and dancing at the hour of 12 last night. Catherine Boyle, reported by the police. Sydney Gazette 1827 Although fuddling could be used as another term for drinking, the word originates from the drinking game especially popular in … Continue reading
The Much Admired Australian Quadrille
In 1835, the music for The Much Admired Australian Quadrilles arrived in Sydney. The colonial the music-seller, Mr. Ellard of Hunter Street, had arranged for his father in Dublin to print and ship the music, specifically for the Australian market. … Continue reading
Darby Kelly O
Convict musician, Jeremiah Byrne was sent to ‘dance’ on the treadmill for disturbing the peace and being absent from his assigned home. Darby Kelly O was one of the tunes he played on his flageolet (similar to a tin whistle) … Continue reading
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Dancing in Fetters at the Redcliffe Museum
Dancing in fetters: the culture of convict dance Discover a completely different aspect of convict life. When we think of convicts, we don’t tend to think of music and dance, but dance was an integral part of everyday life and … Continue reading
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Tagged australian culture, australian history, Convict dance, convicts
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Claudine 1821
From 4-6pm all the convicts on deck dancing.1 Henry Ryan, Surgeon-Superintendent on the convict ship Claudine, kept a detailed journal from 13 August 1821 to 15 December 1821. The voyage took 113 days from Woolwich to Van Diemen’s Land and … Continue reading
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John Barry 1821
Dancing on convict ships 19 August 1821 …the soldiers were still on deck in numbers at the time, having just finished their usual evening dancing… Surgeon-superintendent, Daniel McNamara kept a medical journal on the convict ship from 16 May to … Continue reading
Grenada 1821
6 June 1821; serving Lime juice and sugar to the guard and convicts,… gave permission to dance. Surgeon-superintendent, Peter Cunningham was noted for encouraging the convicts in his charge to dance. His medical journal of the convict ship, Grenada, was … Continue reading
Guildford 1820
Dancing on convict ships The surgeon recommends that convict ships should carry pipes and tabors so that convicts may dance to prevent them brooding on their misfortunes.1 The Guildford transported 190 convict men to the colony from England in 1820. … Continue reading
In transit from hulk to convict ship
Dancing on convict ships. Before leaving the Hulk, the convicts are thoroughly clothed in new suits, and ironed; and it is curious to observe with what nonchalance some of these fellows will turn the jingling of their chains into music … Continue reading
Daphne 1819
Dancing on convict ships. Music and dancing on deck in the evening. The Daphne transported 180 convicts from Ireland in 1819. These men came from all over the country and had been held in the Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, and … Continue reading
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Tagged Convict dance, convict research, dance history, transportation
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