There's been a nagging question for some descendants of First Fleet HMS Sirius Able Seaman Peter Hibbs. The husband of Peter's daughter Sarah, was an Irish convict Francis Byrne who was transported on the Guildford in 1816. The question has been, was Francis a son of Irish rebel convict James Byrne, who was transported with other Irish rebels on the…...
There’s been a nagging question for some descendants of First Fleet HMS Sirius Able Seaman Peter Hibbs. The husband of Peter’s daughter Sarah, was an Irish convict Francis Byrne who was…
10/09/2025
John Kell has prepared a comprehensive list of Aboriginal Place Names for the Port Jackson area: Port Jackson original Aboriginal Names A reference cited: Dr Val Attenbrow – Australian Museum, Sydney, who put a paper out in 2005: Forum UNESCO University and Heritage – 10 th International Seminar “Cultural Landscapes in the 21 st Century, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 11-16 April 2005”
John Kell has prepared a comprehensive list of Aboriginal Place Names for the Port Jackson area: Port Jackson original Aboriginal Names A reference cited: Dr Val Attenbrow – Australian Museum, Sydn…
06/09/2025
"Paintings of the First Fleet Ships by Frank Allen" Robert Richardson came from a sailing family and was an apprentice aboard Golden Grove [1]. Notes Richardson, William A Mariner of England 1780-1817 (John Murray, London, 1908) p 40SourcesSturgess, Gary List of First Fleeters – Preliminary List (privately published, no place, 2025) Written by Roderick Best, July 2025.For any additions or corrections to this story please send to membershipfff@optusnet.com.au
“Paintings of the First Fleet Ships by Frank Allen” Robert Richardson came from a sailing family and was an apprentice aboard Golden Grove [1]. Notes Richardson, William A Mariner of En…
06/09/2025
Charles Reynolds was a private marine and carpenter in the 54 th (Plymouth) Company who was assigned to Captain James Campbell’s company upon arrival at Port Jackson. From September 1788 to 28 February 1790 he was employed as a carpenter and “an indifferent cape=renter’ according to Major Ross. SourcesSturgess, Gary List of First Fleeters – Preliminary List (privately published, no place, 2025) Written by Roderick Best, July 2025For any additions or corrections to this story please send to membershipfff@optusnet.com.au
Charles Reynolds was a private marine and carpenter in the 54 th (Plymouth) Company who was assigned to Captain James Campbell’s company upon arrival at Port Jackson. From September 1788 to 28 Febr…
05/09/2025
Today, September 5 2025, represents a full year of blogging on the Fellowship's Wordpress site. Our blog posts have been listed with a number of Categories and Tagged with a range of labels. Click on a Category or Tag to discover relevant posts: Blog Post Categories Aboriginal / Indigenous / First Nations Peoples Convicts Education Explorers Founders Free Settlers Graves…...
Today, September 5 2025, represents a full year of blogging on the Fellowship’s Wordpress site. Our blog posts have been listed with a number of Categories and Tagged with a range of labels. …
04/09/2025
In 2018, Sydney Lawyer Margaret Cameron-Ash's provocative book on Captain Cook's Endeavour Voyage was published. Margaret has also been an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales and a former visiting fellow at the University of New South Wales James Cook has been maligned for his failure to observe and report on Bass Strait and Sydney Harbour, as well as citing Stewart Island as a peninsula and not an island at all. ...
In 2018, Sydney Lawyer Margaret Cameron-Ash’s provocative book on Captain Cook’s Endeavour Voyage was published. Margaret has also been an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of New So…
26/08/2025
Our Fellowship President has been interested in the use of AI for writing articles etc - so I've done some more experimenting - with some good results and some real duds - it all depends. Have you given it a go - what do you think?
Disclaimer: The above image was generated using Microsoft CoPilot AI. Have you used AI in Genealogy - Family History? Have you found it useful - or have you found it misleading? Still not sure where to start? I am interested in hearing experiences and views on others' use of AI in Genealogy - Family History. 🧠 Exploring AI in Genealogy: From Skepticism to Strategy…...
Disclaimer: The above image was generated using Microsoft CoPilot AI. Have you used AI in Genealogy – Family History? Have you found it useful – or have you found it misleading? Still n…
22/08/2025
Have you seen our blog post - "Encounters – from the FFF Archives" in past issues of Founders - recounting 9 articles by Ena Harper originally published from 1978?
Ena Harper opened the first instalment with “How much does the average Australian know about the first encounters between Europeans and Aborigines in the early days of the colony? Speaking for myself, I must admit I know little of what really happened and found it of great interest to discover the varied reactions of each race to the other. These have been recorded in the journals of explorers and settlers. .."
Disclaimer - note in today's world we would use Aboriginal Peoples, Indigenous or First Nations Peoples as we now understand that the word "Aborigine" could be considered offensive.
From 2017 – 2019, the Fellowship of First Fleeters republished a series of 9 articles by Ena Harper, of the Ashfield Historical Society, in its Founders journals. In her first article in 1978…
14/05/2025
Twenty one years ago, at the Fellowship's 2004 Conference, Laurie Hadley gave a fascinating presentation on the Ships of the First Fleet. Laurie had decided share some less well known aspects of the ships - their return journeys: The Sirius' voyage to NSW was relatively peaceful, unlike her voyage to the Cape of Good Hope in September 1788, when she was almost lost in a storm, during which, the waves broke halfway up to her fore yard…...
Twenty one years ago, at the Fellowship’s 2004 Conference, Laurie Hadley gave a fascinating presentation on the Ships of the First Fleet. Laurie had decided share some less well known aspects…
05/05/2025
George Bouchier Worgan, First Fleet Surgeon, brought a Piano to the New South Wales Colony in 1787 - 1788. In Founders Volume 47 No. 4 in 2016, it was reported that the Piano had been donated to Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. It was planned to be sent to the UK for restoration by Lucy Coad, as part of its Founding Pianos Project....
George Bouchier Worgan, First Fleet Surgeon, brought a Piano to the New South Wales Colony in 1787 – 1788. In Founders Volume 47 No. 4 in 2016, it was reported that the Piano had been donated…
Address
First Fleet House, 105 Cathedral Street Sydney, NSW 2011
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Our Founders Newsletter has been the main vehicle to communicate with our current financial members about what is happening in FFF Inc and in all of our chapters across Australia. It is sent out about 6 times each year to our current FFF Inc financial members - via email or by Australia Post to those without email.
This page and the Facebook group have been set up to supplement the Founders newsletters. The Facebook presence is also to engage with people who may be First Fleet descendants, but who have not yet joined as Financial members, or do not wish to become a financial members at this time.
We are a not for profit and all-volunteer run group. FFF Inc members' fees pay for the running of the organisation, including the costs of First Fleet House in Sydney, ie rates, water, electricity, insurance, organisation registrations and repairs including the necessary substantive repairs to the roof this year. First Fleet House holds FFF Inc's records, library, and is where volunteers respond to research inquiries. It is possible for people to come in on one of the three opening days/week and there they can seek advice on their FF ancestors - though we recommend people contact FF House in advance.
We always welcome new members to FFF Inc and to participate in our Chapters - membership of FFF Inc is via one of 3 categories - full membership for those who can prove their FF ancestry by documentation, associate membership for the partners of descendants and also we have a Friend Category for others.
Like any such organisation, FFF Inc is there to serve people who have chosen to become members in the three categories of FFF Inc as described above. Where there is available capacity, some of our internal FFF Inc activities may be open to others who have not joined FFF Inc.
If you would like to join FFF Inc in one of these 3 categories, or learn more about joining the FFF Inc, then here is where you can find more information. http://www.fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au/join.html
