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Convicts on Top
Kerry:
--- Quote from: brokeplex on June 22, 2008, 06:19:47 pm ---why do they call themselves "convicts"?
--- End quote ---
Sydney was originally founded as a British penal colony in the late 1700s. The British called such felons "convicts." These people were not criminals as we know them today. In those days, one could be executed for what we today would call a minor crime. Certainly, serious criminals such as murderers never made it to Sydney. They were executed in England. The sort of convicts transported to Sydney were convicted of minor crimes such as stealing bread to feed their starving families. Lots of the so-called "crime" was a result of poverty. To give you an example, the part of Sydney where I live was once owned by an emancipated ex-convict who had been transported for stealing lace. I guess she didn't need the lace to feed her family, but that'll give you an idea of how strict the legal system was back then. Australians wear their convict heritage as a badge of honour. It's always very exciting to find a convict in your family. They've taken on folk-hero status. Mainly because they were transported for such trivial "offences." Lots of Australians trace their families in the hope that they'll find a convict ancestor. It can sometimes backfire on you, though. I remember once reading about a woman who was very excited about discovering she had a convict ancestor and went to a great deal of trouble researching the history of the case. She finally tracked down the original London court records and was shocked to find that her convict ancestor had been transported to Australia for having "carnal knowledge" with a sheep! Oops! Sometimes it's best for the past to stay in the past! Haha! :o
Having said all that, I suspect another reason why the Convicts rugby team call themselves that is because it sounds sooooo butch! ;) :laugh:
ZK:
--- Quote from: Kerry on June 22, 2008, 09:30:41 am ---They'll be taking on the All Blacks next, Matt! :o
--- End quote ---
Hey now that would be a match worth watching. ;D ;D
David In Indy:
--- Quote from: Kerry on June 22, 2008, 07:12:09 pm ---Sydney was originally founded as a British penal colony in the late 1700s. The British called such felons "convicts." These people were not criminals as we know them today. In those days, one could be executed for what we today would call a minor crime. Certainly, serious criminals such as murderers never made it to Sydney. They were executed in England. The sort of convicts transported to Sydney were convicted of minor crimes such as stealing bread to feed their starving families. Lots of the so-called "crime" was a result of poverty. To give you an example, the part of Sydney where I live was once owned by an emancipated ex-convict who had been transported for stealing lace. I guess she didn't need the lace to feed her family, but that'll give you an idea of how strict the legal system was back then. Australians wear their convict heritage as a badge of honour. It's always very exciting to find a convict in your family. They've taken on folk-hero status. Mainly because they were transported for such trivial "offences." Lots of Australians trace their families in the hope that they'll find a convict ancestor. It can sometimes backfire on you, though. I remember once reading about a woman who was very excited about discovering she had a convict ancestor and went to a great deal of trouble researching the history of the case. She finally tracked down the original London court records and was shocked to find that her convict ancestor had been transported to Australia for having "carnal knowledge" with a sheep! Oops! Sometimes it's best for the past to stay in the past! Haha! :o
Having said all that, I suspect another reason why the Convicts rugby team call themselves that is because it sounds sooooo butch! ;) :laugh:
--- End quote ---
It does sound very butch Kerry! I like the name. :)
Do you have any convicts in your family? Have you performed any research to find out?
pnwDUDE:
Brad
injest:
--- Quote from: bradINblue on June 23, 2008, 03:06:13 am ---
Brad
--- End quote ---
LOL!! Took me a minute........ ::) ::)
what can I say? I am slow...
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