RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: theotherone on Thursday 10 March 11 01:09 GMT (UK)
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I have an object which appears to be a bobbin and it has the name Ann Maria Bellamy and the year 1864 formed on it's surface with small pin-prick marks. It was found in the sand in the bed of the Sandy Bay Rivulet in Hobart near where it meets the Derwent River. I am hoping someone may know of an Ann Maria Bellamy that this could be. If someone can show me how they are descended from her I would be more than happy to reunite the object with you.
David
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Hi,
how nice to have found that lovely item.
There is a reference to a person b c1849 of that name in this site which would make het about age 15 when the aarticle was made
http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/print.cgi?bellamy::381.html
As this person is American there may be no connection but it is at least a lead. Her husband may have been a mariner or a whaler and visited Tasmania at some stage.
lots of ideas on this but not my place to speculate.
good luck
Robyn
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Hi, I think regross could be very correct. Whalers were very active in Tasmanian waters. This from Allan Carters site;
http://www.abc.net.au/treasurehunt/s983442.htm
"Scrimshaw is the name given to carved or etched items made from whalebone, whales’ teeth, or from other bone-like material such as deer antlers, shells and walrus tusks. Items were either incised (etched) to create pictures or carved and turned to produce useful objects like baskets and sail-making tools.
Hobart was a very important whaling port from the 1840s to the 1890s and the quaint sandstone warehouses of the waterfront district from Salamanca Place to Hunter Street were then bustling with activity, reflecting the prosperity that whaling had brought to the state. At any one time it was not uncommon to have up to forty whaling ships in the harbour.
The whalers may have long since departed but Hobart is still Australia’s home of scrimshaw and both the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the W L Crowther Library in the State Library of Tasmania have large collections on display."
With thanks to Allan.
Neil
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Neil and Robyn,
Thanks for your responses. I tried to respond from work earlier today but the system was playing up. I certainly think this is a possibility. I live in Hobart, so did know about the whalers and the American connection and so this does seem an avenue worth pursuing. I don't think it is whalebone and I am not totally convinced it is a bobbin, so it may have had another use. I will take a photo and post it. I will also see if I can find more by taking it to TMAG. Thanks again.
David
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Glad the lead may be useful.
The item you have may have been used in sail or net making on a ship, I am not familiar with all the tools used in sail and net making but a thimble like object would have most liekly have been used in the sewinf process.
We tend to forget how widely people actually travelled at that time
It is remarkable that the Irish in America mounted several expeditions to Van Dieman's land to rescue Irish political prisoners, including one who was a descendant of the kings of Ireland. Others from New York fitted out a whaling ship, whaled their way round the cape and across to Freemantle to rescue Fenian political prisoners.
good luck
Robyn
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Thanks Robyn,
I hope to get some expert advice on the object soon and am also amazed that you have mentioned the Irish Political prisoners who escaped from Tasmania. My son plays in a band called the Blue Mosquitoes and I have just arrived home from Westbury where they played at the Irish Festival. They play a tune called 'Meagher's Escape' about Thomas Meagher's escape from Van Diemen's Land. They also play a song called the 'Irish Pier' which I wrote the lyrics for and tells of Meagher meeting one of his fellow-rebels by the middle pier of the Tunbridge Bridge. Each remained in their respective districts on either side of the pier as required by the regulations, but here they met for lunch served by the local publican.
I will try to find time to take a photo of the object and post it later.
Regards,
David
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Here is an image of the object
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Hi
what a wonderful image of the object, to me it looks like a tool used in making fishing nets but of course I may be wrong.
What a coincidence about the Irish political prisoners, have you read THE GREAT SHAME by Thomas Keneally? It also details the story of the meeting in the middle of the bridge. It is compelling reading.
regards
Robyn
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Robyn,
The fishing net option sounds a real possibility. I only went on what soemone else said in terms of a resemblance to a silk bobbin, but they seemed to have far more grooves and definite places to loop the line. This looks much more like something that only has line attached to the end. I have a friend in Scotland who is interested in fishing history who may be able to help.
I have read the Great Shame, which is where I first came across the story of Thomas Meagher. Meagher's memoire, Meagher of the Sword, is also freely available online. The song that I wrote with my son, The Irish Pier won the Tasmanian Folk Federation's annual prize for best song and you can see my son's band playing it on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USYdEJkmO18
Regards,
David
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Nice clip
And I agree about the resemmblance to a bobbin as it was this that reminded me of some of the antique lace making bobbins and tatting bobbins I had seen.
Length and diameter of the object may be useful for your friend to gauge its use.
Might also be useful to google antique lace bobbins, fishing bobbins etc to see what is out there .
Regards
Robyn