If you are interested in the early history of Australia and transportation of criminals, then I suggest this book: The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fatal-Shore-Rob ... 697&sr=8-3My ex’s family were English convicts that were sent out to Australia with the second fleet, 1790 (Charles Cross and Hannah Flood), and if I remember right, Charles had stolen a silver spoon, and Hannah had stolen an apron. For this they were sentenced to 7 years each.
Years ago I visited the Bishopsgate library in London,
http://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/content.a ... goryID=968 and I came across copies of old Sydney newspapers. In these articles I found several references to Charles Cross. One article that I recall was about Charles receiving stolen goods and in another there was a tale about Mr. Cross walking to town when he was attacked by spear wielding Aborigines.
This looks like a useful site for research
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/navigators/con ... index.htmlSecond Fleet.
http://members.pcug.org.au/~pdownes/dps/2ndflt.htm