/ Source: Reuters
An ancestry Web site released online on Wednesday the records of tens of thousands of British convicts sent to Australia from the 18th century.
The site (www.ancestry.co.uk) features the records of 160,000 convicts who were transported to Australia between 1788 and 1868.
"We invite you to search this collection and discover your convict ancestors. After all, they're still family," the site said.
Some of the convicts were guilty of serious crimes like murder and assault but many were for minor offences.
The first cargo of 732 convicts were landed in Sydney Cove in January 1788 by 11 ships from the British First Fleet.
