Convict reputation

Topic: First contacts
Student activity

Students examine Esther Abraham’s husband’s letter to understand the impact her convict past had on her family.

This is the student activity 1 of 7 of the Esther Abrahams: a life transformed learning activity.

Task No. 1

Convict reputation

Esther Abrahams was a convict. Hers is a success story but in the society of her time having a convict background could be a problem. George Johnston writes in a letter that his wife’s convict origins affected the opportunities for his sons. George tried to get his son a place in the military by ‘buying a commission’ in the NSW Corps.

Read what George Johnston writes on 12 August 1804. The officer in charge, General Grose, refused their son a place in the NSW Corps as,

Genl Grose was particularly averse to it on Account of his Mother.

Look at the words handwritten in his letterbook.

Handwriting
Image 1: Detail from George Johnston letterbook, 1803-1807; includes some letters received by Johnston, 1804-1805
Handwriting
Image 2: Detail from George Johnston letterbook, 1803-1807; includes some letters received by Johnston, 1804-1806

Define the expression particularly averse.

Answer these questions:

  • Why do you think General Grose refused?
  • How do you think Esther felt about that?
  • How do you think George felt about that?
  • How do you think their son felt about that?
  • How do you feel about it?
  • Do you think your parents’ history would impact you today?

In the colony of NSW anyone with a convict background would always be labelled a convict.

Answer this question:

  • If Esther’s convict background was a challenge for her children who lived a privileged life, how do you think the children of convict parents who lived a poor life were impacted?

Esther and George sent their children to England for their education and did not see them for years.

Read this quote from George Johnston’s letter when he was in NSW in 1807.

…indeed the distance is so great between this & England &… it makes me always anxious & uneasy respecting my Children.

Answer these questions:

  • Why did Esther and George send their children to the other side of the world to attend school? [Suggested answers in Additional Information.]
  • How would you feel if you were going to school in England and did not see your parents for many years?
  • What would have been the challenges?

Esther’s family became prominent in Sydney society in the later 19th century despite the shame of having a convict background which should have disbarred them. Today many people are proud to be related to convicts but there have been many past generations of people who were embarrassed by their convict ancestors.

Research your family history by asking your family (perhaps parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles). Are there any convicts in your family tree? Regardless of convicts, there are sure to be some great stories in your family’s past! Create a class book of family history stories.