Tattoos

[FrancesStickley]

Hi everyone,

Sorry - last post on this!

I've some descriptions of distinguishing marks of my relatives from Criminal Records (1850s/1860s) and there's a bit of a pattern with regard to tattoos.
All of the men in the family tattoo their initials on their hands/ arms with MAF and MAC being a common tattoo above the knees and on the upper arms. Anchors on hands are turning up quite a bit too.
Stupid question I know but I'm grabbing at any hint I can - do the tattoos or the the letters have any significance at all?

Thanks ever so much.

[Steve G]

Anchors on hands are turning up quite a bit too.
Stupid question I know but I'm grabbing at any hint I can - do the tattoos or the the letters have any significance at all?

 I really wouldn't know about the initials and so forth, Fran. But, the anchor stuff generally suggests a navel connection. Some sort of leaning towards the sea, at least.

 That said; I wouldn't mind a £ for every black panther / tiger I've seen crawling up a blokes arm. Leaving its little red scratch marks ..... What in hell's That supposed to signify? See?

 Sad and simple fact is that many basic tattoo designs were simply the in thing of their time. Fashions. And some of those fashions have endured for generations.

 Dunno. The anchor design is something I was well used to seeing, around Portsmouth ~ Unsurprisingly  . Here in land locked Co. Leitrim though ....? Then again; Tattoo's are rare enough here.

 Didn't ye mention Bristol in some earlier post(s)? I expect the 'Trade Mark' anchor would have been quite popular around there, in those days. Sea farer's thing.
 

[CitizenSmith]

Hi Fran

You'll find there are a number of books and articles about the meanings of tattoos found on those who were transported to Australia. I'd suggest that the same meanings probably apply to tattoos of the same period (late 18th and 19th centuries) on those living in Britain.

Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, an Australian academic, is one of  the world's leading authorities on convict tattoos. You could try a Google on his name. There are some notes here: http://www.rootschat.com/links/09u1/

I understand that transportees would often give themselves and their ship-mates tattoos while en route to Australia, to pass the time. Initials often record the names of loved ones. Anchors – as Steve says – can indicate a link with the sea but are also apparently a symbol of steadfastness in love (perhaps to the person behind the initials) or the Holy Trinity.

Best wishes
Sharon

(Descendant of two transported Gypsies who had tattoos...)

[FrancesStickley]

Thanks so much Steve G and Citizen Smith - I'll definitely give those books a look. Got some great information turning up at the moment - highway men and gold diggers and all sorts out there in Oz so I'll read up as much as I can.

Really good point about the Bristol connection to the sea. Hadn't thought about that. They spent a while in Prison Hulks and sea crossings during deportation so that makes a lot of sende.

Thanks ever so much to you both.