TOOLS DOWN
The big day has arrived, and the finishing touches have finally been put to the new Government launch that has been taking shape in John's Joinery over the past few months. That's Darren, John's trusty offsider in the picture.
It has been a wonderfully satisfying project, not only for the fellows in the Joinery, but for all those who have called in to check on the progress and lend a hand on a regular basis.
In the late afternoons after work, there would often be a number of fellows gathered there around the boat, helping out with a bit of sanding or painting, or just running their hands over the surface as blokes love to do with timber (a bit like us women with fabric.) There has been a wonderful sense of community pride about the whole project, especially as this is the first time the Government launch has been built on the island for some decades.
The pride and excitement were very evident on Monday when the boat was finally loaded onto its trailer and towed out of Devon Cottage. There was a sizeable audience of helpers and onlookers, and much clicking of cameras to record the occasion.
In the picture below, the launch is heading out of the Devon Cottage driveway on its way to the Administration Works Depot for its final fitting out, ready for the christening in a week or two's time. Are you wondering what the name will be? Well, watch this space?

HIBISCUS AND PASSIONFRUIT
It has been a very cold wintry day, and I decided a big pot of curry would go down well for tea, and that has been simmering in the crockpot all day. All it needs is a generous slurp of coconut cream and it will be ready. I have prepared some dishes of my home made lime pickle, and plum sauce to go on the side.
Because some of the kids are going to join us, I thought I ought to stretch myself and prepare some dessert. In the pantry I found a tin of fruit salad left from Bounty. I added chunks of some of the mandarins I had bought yesterday (to help with my cold), then I thought I would go over to Devon Cottage garden to see if there were any ripe passionfruit. While I was picking them, I looked over to the cottage, and John's hibiscus bushes were just a mass of these stunning orange blooms. Just the thing to brighten up a grey day!!
The passionfruit have a little story. A few years ago, I had some leftover food from a picnic, and fed it to the worms in my worm farm. This included some remnants of a fruit salad in which I had used tinned passionfruit. Some weeks later, I used those worm castings in my potting mix, which I was using to pot up plants for the Spring Fair. A couple of weeks later, dozens of little passionfruit seedlings sprouted in the pots alongside the cuttings. Most of them ended up getting sold at the Fair, but I planted a couple out in the garden, and they have been wonderful bearers. For years, they have steadily produced passionfruit for 8-9 months of the year, mostly through the winter. A couple of years ago, they stopped bearing, so I cut them back, fed them up, and away they went again!
The variety is the "Jamaican" passionfruit. It has a pale yellow pithy skin. It is slightly tart, but has a beautiful flavour. With their prolific bearing, it is no wonder that this seems to be the variety used for tinned passionfruit!
Meanwhile I thought I would post this picture which I took when I was cleaning up after one of our get togethers during the visit of the Tahitians. I had just swept the hibiscus flowers up from the tables and dumped them in a pile.....and could not resist a quick snap of the camera before I discarded them. I think that you will agree that they grow just beautifully here on Norfolk Island...and that we are lucky to havew such an easy table decoration!

Our son Charles has always believed he can more or less do most anything he sets his mind to. He may need to ask a question or two, or watch someone else for a while. Then he will tackle it. He is a busy person, but he makes the time, often by working well into the night. He loves a challenge.
This week he has been turning his hand to making pies. Charles loves his sweets, and perhaps we do not make them often enough for him. So he has solved the problem by learning to cook them himself. And he has done a great job.
Sweet pies - such as lemon, passionfruit and coconut are a very traditional thing on Norfolk Island. No island function is complete without them. We believe the tradition began in the 19th century when Norfolk Island, and Pitcairn before that, was a port of call for whalers from America. Often, the whalers' wives would stay on the island while the men went off for the whaling season, and no doubt they and the island women were happy to share recipes and culinary expertise during these times. Sweet custard pies were also a tradition in America, particularly in the New England and Boston areas, from which many of the whalers came. Other traditions were also introduced by the whalers to the island, including the celebration of Thanksgiving. At one stage, Norfolk Island even had an American consul!
Anyway, we have all enjoyed sampling Charles' pies. He has tried passionfruit and coconut, and next Kim is going to see if he will make some lemon pie.
I might add that Charles has never been sexist about the skills he acquires. He learnt to crochet when he was about 8, and even made an Afghan rug (but I do not think he has done it since.) He also comes and uses my sewing machine when Kim needs an alteration done on her clothes. He does not think of it as female creative stuff. To him it is just a matter of learning a few techniques and using a bit of logic.
I should add that my other sons are reasonably good cooks, but Charles has really not entered the kitchen domain before. He has had women to cook for him and wait on him ever since he went to Boarding School at the age of 14! So we are looking forward to more of his culinary adventures!

RECYCLING
In this modern throw away world, it is so good to know that there are people who still like to recycle, especially when it is 60-70 year old lace!!!
Our friend Margaret has been visiting the island again with husband Tony, and brought me another bag of very precious pieces of lace, which she inherited from her mother. I mentioned before that Margaret's mother used to sew lingerie for clients, real heirloom sort of stuff, although I suppose it was normal in those days. Sadly, none of her skills were passed on to her daughter, who was even denied access to the sewing room as a child.
After seeing some of the things I do with lace, Margaret brought me a few pieces on her last visit. She said the delighted expression on my face was worth a million thank yous, and so she has brought me more.
Some of these pieces are actually pre-made petticoat frills (like tablecloth edgings). There are also some beautiful insert and applique pieces, and edgings....all in fine cotton.
A couple of the laces have brown marks in spots, but I have no desire to remove those. I feel they add to the "patina" and ambience of these lovely textiles.
It is going to be hard for me to cut into those petticoat frills, but Margaret says she doesn't mind, and is quite happy to see them given a new life in something new that someone will treasure.
Meanwhile, my daughter has been home for a break, and admits to being horrified at the extent of my stash. She went and had a look at everything I had in the attic (stuff that will be "vintage" one of these days.) She is dreading the giant garage sale when I pass on to the Great Sewing Room in the Sky, but I told her that if I can't take it with me, then I am leaving it to my younger granddaughter, who loves the sort of treasures that I do!


Meanwhile, we have also had a visit from Eleanor and Kelly from Benalla. Kelly used to be the Bank Manager here, and was about the last of the good old-fashioned family bank managers! Eleanor brought a lovely gift for me...a little bag of treasures, carefully chosen...some Robyn Pandolph rose fabrics, a rich Japanese crane print, some beads, beaded fringing and some ribbon. People are so kind and thoughtful!

STILL CELEBRATING!!

What a week it has been. Much celebrating and partying. Lots of wonderful food.
Much hugging and kissing...on both cheeks. The Tahitians say we Westerners are lazy for only doing it on one cheek!

And music...wherever we went! Those Polynesian rhythms will be pulsing through me for a long while. I seem to hear them wherever I am, even in the dead of night. Our Tahitian friends just love to strum, sing and dance! What a joyful attitude to life.

Mile, Sylvia and Moana went home on Sunday...but not before they had the whole airport terminal singing "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" and "Now is the Hour" at the top of their voices.
Tomorrow, sadly, we will farewell Gladys, Little Gladys, Amelia and Amelie. Everything will seem so quiet after that.

My schoolgirl French, not practised for many decades, has improved enormously in this past fortnight, I could not believe how words and phrases were starting to come back! But fortunately, some of the Tahitians had enough English to enable most of us to communicate. Not that it mattered. The music and laughter bonded us.Many of us plan to go to Tahiti in October 2008 to celebrate the 220th anniversary of the Bounty sailing into Matavi Bay. The links that have been established with these distant cousins are strong and precious.

A BEAUTIFUL BOUNTY

I run the risk of running out of superlatives to describe our 150th Anniversary (Bounty) Day yesterday.
There was an early start getting picnic tables and chairs down to the picnic spot, and getting the cars loaded with the food. There was the usual rush to find the right gear to wear, with some swapping round of shirts etc. Miriam had to make some hurried alterations to her dress, which was too long. We thought we still had plenty of time....until we found the kitchen clock had stopped.
On our arrival at Kingston, we were amazed to see literally hundreds of people in their Bounty gear converging on the pier, and all the laughter and the camaraderie had started already. There were just so many of 'uklun' that I do believe we outnumbered the visitors who had gathered to watch the parade.
I must tell you about an amazing thing that happened just as we left the pier to proceed to the Cenotaph. A humpback whale chose just that moment to frolic around in the waters between Norfolk and Phillip Island. Although whales traditionally pass this way on their way North at this time of year, it is rare to see one so close, and the timing was incredible. Many people felt that it was a good omen for the future of our island!
The parade proceeded a little more slowly than usual, with the enormous numbers. Some of the oldies 'hitched' a ride on Marie's old A-model Ford Tour Bus, others were pushed in wheel chairs, while the very young were in arms, on shoulders, in strollers and even in Pitcairn style wheelbarrows!
After the wreath laying at the Cemetery, we proceeded to Government House where we were able to see all the banners that had been produced by the individual families.
Rolling down the hill after the time at Government House is a well-loved tradition among the children (and even the occasional high-spirited adult), and I believe it is almost a rite of passage when one becomes old enough to do it!!
Back at the Compound, the tables were piled with every sort of good thing to eat, including wonderful Norfolk and Pitcairn traditional dishes. But first, before we sang Grace, there were short speeches from our V.I.P. guest, the Governor-General, and from our Chief Minister, who urged us to be proud of who we are, and to hold fast to our Norfolk Way.
And there would not have been a soul there who did not feel very proud, either to be Bounty descendant, or of having the opportunity to share in this very historic celebration.
While the grown-ups relaxed and let their very bountiful feast settle, the children assembled on the Oval for a lolly drop from the Ultralight plane.
We were well into the packing up, when there was a great cloudburst of rain, but it could not dampen our spirits. The Tahitians, in fact, clustered under a big sun umbrella, and the singing and strumming continued to the very end.

I know their friends in Tahiti and other parts of the world are keenly following their activities on Norfolk Island, so I thought I would let you know a bit more about what Gladys, Gladys, Sylvia, Mile, Amelie, Amelia, Mile, and Moana..and their Norfolk cousins... have been up to!
We have been out on an Island Bus trip, we have had afternoon tea at our Legislative Assembly and at Government House, there have been lunches and dinners all about, including a couple of meals at Mokutu Inn where they are staying. After the special day at Simon's Water, we enjoyed another pot-luck supper, and an evening of music, singing and dancing at Roy and Mai Nobbs.
There has been lots of laughter and fun times, and last night at Cat's Cafe was no exception. About 35 of us gathered to enjoy one of Ngaire's delicious island smorgasbords.
Tom and Ann took turns on the old pianola, with the wonderful collection of rolls...so there was no need for the ukeles to come out this time.
The highlight of the evening was when Greg Quintal decided to get in touch with his Tahitian roots! He donned a long black wig, a grass skirt, and sported an enormous pair of bare boobs. Now if you had seen Greg(who is well into his eighties) dancing, you would never believe that a year or two ago they wanted to remove one of his legs, and he was very sick man. Fortunately Greg decided he was too"attached" to his legs, and so he was able to enjoy last night to the fullest!
They say a good belly laugh is good for you..and we certainly had the benefit of that last night.
The language differences have not been a problem....our French is improving, as is the Tahitians' English, but laughter and hugs are universal!!
Today we are all busy cooking!
Charles has brought me some taro, yams and cassava from his garden over at the Pitcairn settlers' Village..I hope it will remind our visitors of home!
The weather is just beautiful. We hope it keeps up tomorrow!

A SPECIAL START TO BOUNTY WEEK

There are so many wonderful and inspiring happenings on Norfolk Island at this time that it would take several blog postings to cover them, and I would need to be in several places at one time to do it justice.
It has just so good to have so many Norfolkers, former visitors and long ago residents come home to celebrate the very special anniversary of a unique and beautiful island and community.
Yesterday was one of those days we will treasure in our hearts for a long time.
There was a Sesqui-centenary Service at All Saints, with thanksgiving and prayer for past, present and future. Bishop Robert Forsyth, who is a great friend of Norfolk, took part, and had the unenviable role of speaking about the future!
Raymond Nobbs also participated, and as was fitting for a historian, he spoke about our proud past. There was also an opportunity to launch his new book on "Norfolk Island and its Third Settlement." Our Tahitian visitors shared with us in the time of worship, and not only took one of the readings (in French and English), but also sang a hymn in Tahitian.
There was a street parade later in the morning, which I believe went well, but we were all busy with last minute preparations for our big event out at Simon's Water.
About 1 p.m., between 150 and 200 of us gathered out there, and the weather, which had been somewhat threatening earlier, was just so kind to us.
We began with a very moving ceremony out near the cliff edge, where Sylvia Hermann (from Tahiti) unveiled the seat which we have placed there to mark the special relationship with our Tahitian cousins. Two pines were also planted, one by Gladys and her group from Tahiti, and another by Edie and the Norfolkers. Two special stones from Matavi Bay were placed at the base of each hole, and black sand from Tahiti was sprinkled around each tree.
Then there followed the feast, and bundle after bundle of succulent and steaming meats and vegetables, wrapped in banana leaves, were lifted out of the cooking pit, and placed on the tables to be enjoyed with all the delicious salads that had been brought to share. The Tahitians had also been busy cooking many of their dishes, including two kinds of poi and taro leaves cooked in coconut milk.
There was an incredibly joyful atmosphere, and we carried on eating, talking, sharing, singing, strumming and dancing, right until the sun started to go down and the temperature started to drop. The children ran around having great fun and games, and enjoying blowing bubbles from the giant bucket of soapy water someone had brought along. They also enjoyed "christening" the new long-drop that Charles had only just put in place!
A memorable occasion, in true Norfolk style!
I really should let the pictures tell the story!

THE FUN BEGINS
It is just one week away from our special 150th Anniversary (Bounty) Day, and the party time has begun! You would not believe the crowds of locals at the airport yesterday meeting the planes....lots of family, relatives and friends coming home for a week or two join in the special celebrations.
Our daughter Miriam arrived from New Zealand, and on the same plane was the Tahitian contingent, whose visit we have been planning for over the past few months. Miriam's friend from Matamata, Gayleen, had arrived a few days earlier.
Last night there was a big Pot Luck Supper here at "Devon", to welcome everyone and renew friendships. About 55 people came along and shared in the food and festivity.
Two big long tables absolutely groaned with wonderful dishes of delicious food, mostly hot dishes...and with the weather a little on the cool side, we really did it justice, with lots going back for seconds.
Several people had brought along photo albums, with lots of pictures taken in Tahiti in October, and everyone had fun reminiscing about the good times they had!
We had made up gift bags for our visitors, with some brochures, a book, a Bounty mug, a Ball Bay stone with "Tahiti - Pitcairn- Norfolk" laser engraved on it and in its own little bag, a pen engraved with the recipient's name, a Norfolk bookmark and a T-shirt. These were presented during the evening by David Buffett on behalf of us all, and there was much hugging and kissing (French style!)
There was plenty of singing and music, with Moana (from Tahiti) and Matt (from Norfolk) accompanying on their ukekeles, and Gladys providing some rhythm playing the spoons! Most of the singing was in French, but we kept time in English!!
The kids had a great time running round in the dark, and when they had exhausted their energies, they retired in front of the TV while the grown ups partied on.
Our visitors had travelled a long way, so it was not a late night, but it was a bit too late for one little fellow, who sought the comfort of his grandpa's arms.

COUNTRY MUSIC TIME AGAIN
I doubt if there is any other community of fewer than 2000 people in the whole world that enjoys the cultural and entertainment experiences and opportunities that we do here on Norfolk Island. Our own Community Arts Society fosters local talent, and last weekends locally-composed song competition was a good example of this.
Throughout the year, we have a wealth of visiting performers and artists in all sorts of areas of performing and creative arts....... poetry, theatre, rock music, jazz, opera, drumming, ballroom dancing, line dancing, Polynesian dancing.
One of the main highlights of our year is the Trans-Tasman Country Music Festival, held in May each year. The big tent goes up next to Rawson Hall, and enthusiastic Country fans from Australia and New Zealand, as well as lots of local Norfolkers, gather to experience the top talent from all three places. Not only do we have the week of shows in the tent, but the artists also entertain at all sorts of places during the week, in the clubs and pubs, in the street, and in many other places.
Take Dennis Marsh, for instance. Dennis is a popular Maori Country entertainer who has been coming here for years, and is much loved by the locals....and obviously by his fellow Kiwis, if the enthusiastic fans who followed him over here are anything to go by. Dennis, who has a wonderful easy-to-listen- to style, was there entertaining wherever one went, last week....in church, on the radio, in the street, at the RSL, out at the White Oaks Seniors Club, and he even sang a couple of numbers at the airport before departing on Sunday!
The highlight of the week for Bernie and me was a special show, organised at a late date, on Wednesday 5:30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. There were only two artists...the well-known Felicity Urquart and Graham Connors, each entertaining us for an hour or so. There was no band that evening, just the accompanying guitars, which was just wonderful for the older folk who took the opportunity to go along. It made it so much more personal and intimate. We had great seats, and did not need ear plugs. Graham Connors gave his very first rendition of his song about Norfolk Island, only composed in the past 24 hours! "In my heart...there is an Island." Quite moving, in Graham's inimitable style. It was a winner.
Another winner was his "What if..?" song, where he unexpectedly slipped in the line "What if John Howard left Norfolk Island alone?" It produced a great round of applause!
This week is the Line Dancing Festival. Some intrepid Country fans have made a double-act of it, and stayed for the fortnight. So we will continue to see many boots and big hats around town for a few days yet!

CHOOSING THE SPOT
The Tahitians arrive in just a few days, and there are plenty of preparations underway.
On Sunday 4th June, we are going to have a special ceremony out at Simon's Water, which will affirm our friendship and strong family connections.
Our John has been working on a special seat, which will be unveiled by Sylvia Hermann, the Tahitian lady who has been working for some years to foster the link between the Bounty descendants of Norfolk and Tahiti. Last weekend, some of us went out to Simon's Water to choose the spot where it will be placed. It will, of course, face out to sea in a northeasterly direction so it looks towards Tahiti!
Simon's Water was chosen as the site because the property was an original grant to Simon Young when the Pitcairners first came to Norfolk Island in 1856. Simon Young was one of those who returned to Pitcairn with his family, and I think it was his granddaughter Ida who went to live in Tahiti. Many of our Tahitian friends trace their family back to Ida and Simon!
Simon's Water actually continued to belong to Simon, and was later part of his estate, until earlier last century when it was purchased by a member of the Buffett family. Bernie bought the 54 acres from Bobby Buffett in the 1960's (when all land was just 100 pounds an acre!) It is lovely to think that the link with the Young family will be re-established!
I think you will agree that the outlook from the seat will be very beautiful, from this photo taken in the late afternoon with the sun shining down on Cascade Bay.
On the day of the ceremony, there is also to be a tree planting. Two Norfolk Pines will be planted.....one by Archie on behalf of the Norfolk Islanders, and one by Gladys Lintz, on behalf of the Tahitians.
After the ceremony, we will have a feast, with the food from the "Ahiimaha" which Matt Bigg will prepare earlier that day. An Ahiimaha is a Tahitian-style "Hangi", and there will be all sorts of goodies to go into it. Matt has been fattening a pig, and Arthur will be killing several ducks next week. Peter has some lovely sweet tatie, and no doubt there will be plenty of other veges and meats to feed all the people we are expecting to join us that day!
This past week, Charles has been burning the midnight oil building a semi-portable outside loo to put out there on the day. There is no stopping him when he gets an idea in his head.
Today the boxing was put in place for the concrete base for the seat, and it will be poured in the weekend. Darren Bates is going to prepare wording on wooden plaques using his computeried routing equipment. This will be in both Tahitian and Norfolk languages.
Many months of planning, fundraising and preparation have gone into this visit, and we know everyone is going to have a wonderful time.
You can see Bernie is getting excited.....if all the arm and hand gestures are anything to go by!!!


Finally, I could not resist including this lovely shot of one of Norfolk's most loving Grandpas with grandson Reuben!

WILLIAM'S QUILT
William Fist's quilt, which has come down through the women in my family to me, is what is known as a "Military Quilt." It is made from the cloth from which the military uniforms used to be made. It is called "feltcloth", although it is not true felt, just a very tightly woven woollen cloth. However, the yellow border on William's quilt is actually felt...no doubt used for greater colour impact, or maybe because he ran out of the other fabric!
There are a number of examples of these quilts still around. The only one I have actually seen is in the Military section of the Auckland museum, but I have seen photos of others, including a couple in the American Museum in Bath, England, and one in Tasmania. There is also quite a lot of information and pictures in a book called "Quilt Treasures -The Quilters' Guild Heritage Search" put out by the Quilters' Guild in Britain. There is a famous painting by a Thomas Wood, painted c. 1956, showing a soldier sitting up in bed in a military hospital sewing a patchwork quilt.
The making of these quilts was a strong military tradition for over half a century. It is believed that tailor's scraps were used for making them, and sometimes cloth from the uniforms of soldiers who had died. About half of the known military quilts were made by men serving in India, as in William's case, and these tend to be in brighter colours than the others. Evidently some of the sewing was sometimes done by Indian civilians attached to the British Army, but it appears that William denies having had any assistance!!
One of those shown in the picture below was made as late as the Boer War.
The quilts tend to use detailed geometric designs and are made with great "military precision." William's quilt is incredibly square, although it has over 5500 half-inch pieces (before seams).
In the picture above, which shows the reverse side, you can see the tiny seams worked in a strong cotton thread with a backstitch. Some of the thread ends are still hanging. There is no doubt that this very strong cloth would have been rather challenging for a woman's daintier fingers to sew!
It is believed that some of them were made as a form of rehabilitation for convalescing soldiers, or while in a Military prison. I have no reason to think William was ever wounded, but he may well have served a short time in prison for one of breaches of duty that caused his demotions!
Actually, William's quilt is somewhat more modest than most of the others I have seen pictured. It is, nevertheless, a fine achievement and evidence of great persistence and endurance, as well as a somewhat artistic bent. And it is an heirloom I will always treasure.

SOLDIER AS SEAMSTRESS - Part2
In my last posting, I wrote about a quilt that made by my great-great uncle William Fist. The quilt was apparently commenced during his service with the British army in India in 1869, and at some stage...we do not know when...was sent back to England to his sister Sarah Castle.
My own mother remembered the quilt well as a child, because it was draped over a small round table in her grandmother's front parlour. It must have been there for some years, because there is still a circular area stretched out of shape. Mum also recalls talk about a "rich uncle" in Australia, but when she asked if he was likely to leave them any money, she was told that he had lost all his money playing cards!! There may be some truth in that, because the quilt is described as a "cloth" and is just the right size for a card table cover!!
The quilt, along with William's India medal and a photo was passed down to Sarah's unmarried daughter Sally...the one who did crazy patchwork. She in turn passed it on to her niece Rose, who was my aunt and godmother.
About 20-25 years ago, when visiting her relatives in England, my mother was handed the quilt by Aunty Rose, with instructions that it was to be given to me. I was delighted to receive it, but funnily enough, at the time I was more intrigued with it as an article of historical interest than as a piece of patchwork.
A year or two later, I met up with the then vice-president of the N.S.W. Quilter's Guild, who was holidaying on the island. When I showed her the quilt, she was extremely excited. The result was that it went on display in the Antique Quilt section of the big Bicentenary Quilt Show in Centrepoint Tower in 1988. It also featured in the first version of Margaret Rolfe's book of the History of Quilts in Australia. It was through the article and the photo in this book that I came into contact with the descendants of William's brother John. Bevin Fist, a Uniting church Minister in Melbourne, has been able to give me much more information about the Fist family and about uncle William, and he also gave me the photo of a younger William, shown here.
Along with the quilt, I received the medal, and an old photo of William that was sewn to a piece of card. The following words were written on the card. We believe it is in Aunt Sally's handwriting:

Soldier as Seamstress

Mr W. Fist of Richmond Australia. An Army Veteran. Since the year 1869 in fashioning a Table Cover of Military Cloth showing all the colours of the Regiment to which he was attached. 9th Lancers. 16th Lancers & the 19th Hussars. This cloth is worked in 32 inches square & is made up of 5,593 half inch pieces. The foundation is in emerald green cloth which is an effective foil to the scarlet, blue and yellow. Several fair fingers offered to help. But the Veteran went on with his task alone and unaided.

Mr Fist wears the red and white Riband of the Indian Mutiny & these colors are given a prominent place in the Cover-"

There is still more to tell you about this wonderful heirloom, and in the next post, I will show you some close-up pictures.

SOLDIER AS SEAMSTRESS -PART 1
I promised to give you another chapter in the family quilt story.
This time we go back to Christmas Day 1830 when John Fist married Jemima Hawkins in St Mildred's Church, Canterbury, Kent, England. John is listed in records as a "cordwainer", so we assume he was fairly dexterous with his hands. They had eight children, but those involved in this story are their first born (also John), born 1832, their third son William born 1840, and their second daughter Sarah born 1842.
Father John Fist died in 1849, leaving Jemima with a large young family to support. We are told she worked as a shoe-binder to help support the family. However, things must have been tough, as by 1851, son John was awaiting transportation on a prison hulk for burglary. He was transported to Tasmania, where he was eventually freed, and became a very respectable citizen, with a number of descendants still living in Australia.
Meanwhile daughter Sarah married a James Castle, and they were my great-grandparents.(Shown in the first picture.) Their son James was my maternal grandfather, and their daughter Sarah was my great-aunt Sally, about whom I wrote in the previous posting.
William (shown in the second picture), embarked on a military career, advancing his age to receive adult pay! He achieved the dubious distinction of being promoted to Corporal and Sergeant twice, and demoted back to private twice for misdemeanors! He served two terms in India, the first during the Indian Mutiny, service which earned him a medal (in my possession). In his second term he was transferred to the forces of the British East India Company. Around 1869, William began making a quilt in his military colours - more about that later!!
On his discharge, William went to Australia, possibly to join his brother John, now a free man with a family. We know he kept in contact with his sister Sarah in England. His mother, meanwhile had remarried.
While his convict brother had become an honourable citizen, William's life was one of ups and downs. For many years he lived with a Mary Ann Kiely. They never married, but had a son William who was an epileptic and ended up in an institution. He did later marry after Mary's death.
William was something of a drifter. It would appear that he kept contact with many of the veterans with whom he had served in India, and was actually chosen to represent them and make a presentation to the visiting Prince of Wales to Melbourne in 1920.

William himself died in 1921, and was buried in the Dandenong Cemetery. There is no headstone for him.

Some of his possessions....a handpainted coffee pot and a rosewood walking stick...were handed down through his wife's family, but have been given now to descendants of his brother John, who also have a cup and saucer William gave to John's granddaughter Isabel.
However the quilt he had made, at some stage, found its way back to England to his sister Sarah. We are not sure when, but my mother remembers it being on a little round table in her grandmother's "front parlour." William's medal also went back to England, and Great-grandmother Sarah had it fashioned into a lovely silver brooch.
I will tell you more about that quilt in my next posting!