AI Recreates Faces of 19th Century Welsh Convicts Sent to Australia

Artificial Intelligence has been employed by researchers to recreate the faces of Welsh convicts who were deported to Australia in the 19th century. This groundbreaking project has traced the lives of 60 criminals from Anglesey, revealing the harsh realities faced by those involved in minor infractions, such as stealing a handkerchief. By utilizing detailed prisoner records, historical sketches, and photographs of modern-day descendants, the team aims to provide a visual representation of these individuals.

Tracing the Lives of Convicts

Most of the convicts were found guilty of theft, with many being repeat offenders. Some were transported for relatively trivial offenses, including trampling on the turnips of local landowners. An estimated 162,000 convicts were sent to Australia between 1788 and 1868, with at least 1,000 originating from Wales. Among them was John Frost, a prominent figure in the Chartist movement, who was initially sentenced to death for his involvement in the Newport Rising before his punishment was commuted to transportation to Van Diemen’s Land, now known as Tasmania.

Roger Vincent, a volunteer guide at Beaumaris Gaol in Anglesey, has dedicated years to uncovering the historical connections between Wales and Australia. The prison, which operated for nearly 50 years in the 1800s, housed both men and women in a silent environment, where any communication could lead to solitary confinement. After visiting Australia, Vincent became fascinated by the number of individuals transported from Anglesey.

“I was amazed how many people had been transported to Australia, so I started concentrating on that and found 60 Anglesey islanders that were transported to Australia over a relatively short period,” he explained. Vincent spent countless hours combing through archives in Llangefni to document the lives of those deported, noting that the crimes committed and the sentences imposed seemed disproportionately severe by today’s standards.

The Impact of Transportation

The reasons for transportation were threefold: overcrowding in prisons across the UK and Ireland, the high costs of incarceration, and the demand for manual laborers in Australia. Remarkably, it is estimated that 20% of all Australians are descendants of convicts, with that figure rising to approximately 70% in Tasmania.

According to Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, an academic specializing in convict history, the perception of Australia’s origins as a settler society based on criminal transportation has shifted over time. “It used to be considered a ‘badge of shame’, but now, especially among Tasmanians, there is a growing sense of pride in having convict ancestry,” he noted. Maxwell-Stewart’s research has contributed to the establishment of the Unshackled memorial of convicts in Hobart, which recently gained recognition as Tasmania’s top-rated experience on Tripadvisor.

Due to the significant distances involved, many convicts chose to remain in Australia, establishing new lives and families. One such individual is Caterina Giannetti, a direct descendant of Ann Williams, who was transported from North Wales to Hobart in 1842 after being sentenced to ten years for theft. “It’s really fascinating to know where you’ve come from, to discover family traits and abilities,” Giannetti remarked. “It’s very exciting to uncover your origins, and for many Australians, having a convict in their lineage is almost a badge of honor.”

In summary, this innovative project utilizing AI not only sheds light on the lives of Welsh convicts but also enriches the historical narrative connecting Wales and Australia. As researchers and volunteers continue to explore these connections, the stories of those who faced deportation emerge, illustrating the complexities of their lives and the legacies they left behind.