Australian Shackles

I'm attempting to find a true set of "Australian Shackles". That is, a pair of leg irons that were used upon British criminals transported to Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales on the first, second or third fleet.

Thank you.

your email address doesn't work.

I'm attempting to find a true set of "Australian Shackles". That is, a pair of leg irons that were used upon British criminals transported to Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales on the first, second or third fleet.

Thank you.

Oops.

Little finger got carried away.

Sorry.

I'm attempting to find a true set of "Australian Shackles". That is, a pair of leg irons that were used upon British criminals transported to Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales on the first, second or third fleet.

Thank you.

but what domain? most email addy's go nickname@somedomain.com

I'm attempting to find a true set of "Australian Shackles". That is, a pair of leg irons that were used upon British criminals transported to Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales on the first, second or third fleet.

Thank you.

You've set your sights high.

The biggest difficulty, I would think, would be in establishing the provenance. There must be some old English fetters in Oz, but I'll bet dinner you won't be able to find documentation that reliably links them to the early days of colonization. After a couple of years, I doubt the settlers would be able to tell which ones came with the First Fleet and which came off the latest supply ship. Nor would they care. They were just so much hardware.

Anyway, good luck in your quest, and please let us know if you triumph. Photos will be required!

I'm attempting to find a true set of "Australian Shackles". That is, a pair of leg irons that were used upon British criminals transported to Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales on the first, second or third fleet.

Thank you.

These are very difficult to find as authentic irons of the era. After the prisons closed, ex prisoner would make reproduction to sell to the tourists of that time. As the workmanship would have been very similar, it is nearly impossible to work out which is which.


Ian
(Australia)

I'm attempting to find a true set of "Australian Shackles". That is, a pair of leg irons that were used upon British criminals transported to Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales on the first, second or third fleet.

Thank you.

Hi:

Sorry Anon about leaving the @ stuff off. I suppose it was one of my "thick as two planks put together with moron glue" days.

I will happily and readily confess that I have little in common with most of the kind souls who patronize this venue, or little that would be of interest. My area of collection regards fetters and manacles made before the Industrial Revolution; that is, before 1840 or thereabouts.

Yes, Ian, attempting to establish the provenance of such an item as is next to impossible, and I know that. I'll confess that I do have what is unquestionably a set of fetters from the First Fleet. My reason for looking for another set is to get an additional known example of hand-forged puddled iron shackles that hopefully will help me date and identify other items in my modest collection.

Thanks,

Tristan