John Graham
Arrived 1825
Escapee, rescuer
Escaping and living with the Aboriginal people was one way to avoid the drudgery of a life in custody. Graham used his knowledge of Aboriginal ways to achieve his liberty.
Irish convict John Graham arrived in the colony in 1825 with a seven-year sentence for stealing hemp.
Graham befriended Aborigines in the Parramatta area, becoming familiar with their culture and skilled in their fishing and food-gathering ways. A conviction for theft saw him sent to Moreton Bay (now Brisbane) in 1826, but he escaped and lived for several years with the local Aborigines.
A decade later the brig Stirling Castle was wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef and Aboriginal people held the survivors captive. Graham volunteered to rescue the party, which included the captain's wife.
After he was transferred back to the Hyde Park Barracks, Graham petitioned the Governor to reduce his sentence. Along with a ticket of leave, he was rewarded with £10.
Other convicts might have described Graham as: croppy, prig, scurf’d, boned, done, grab’d, nibb’d, pulled up, sevener, bolter, ticketer. See our glossary of Flash language (convict slang words) to find out what these words mean.
Convict Sydney
What was ‘flash’ language?
Convicts transported to NSW brought a lot of different things with them. In some cases this included their own slang language, called ‘flash’
Read what John Graham said to the Governor when he pleaded for his sentence to be reduced as a reward for good behaviour.
…Your petitioner having his four Christians safe in the Boat, they left the inhospitable coast and landed them safe at Moreton Bay to the great joy of the Commandant who again assured your petitioner that no effort should be wanted on his part to induce your Excellency to befriend your petitioner who had risked his life for the sole purpose of saving the above named Christians 'Your petitioner therefore most humbly prays your Excellency to take his case into your humane and early consideration and grant him such relief as to your Excellency shall seem meet. 'And your petitioner will ever pray & etc,
'John Graham, 29 December 1836.'
Source: ‘The humble petition of John Graham’, Dixson Library, State Library of NSW, DL SP 196
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Dr Fiona Starr
Former curator
Fiona claims her love of history is hereditary – passed on by her mother and grandmother, each interested in Australian history, genealogy and world history, with a passion for visiting and learning about heritage sites around the world. Her interest took root with degrees in historical archaeology and museum studies, and through internships at the Museum of London and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Paris. Work on archaeological digs, with museum collections and on numerous exhibition and site interpretation projects inspired her PhD research into encouraging the private sector to help conserve cultural heritage sites. As curator of the Hyde Park Barracks Museum and The Mint (Macquarie Street Portfolio), Fiona combines her curiosity for colonial and convict history with expertise in managing and interpreting archaeology to help bring the fascinating stories of these sites to life for visitors.
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