“In my search for my LYNCHEY ancestors I have enquired previously about a series of tattoos recorded by the authorities as being in several places on the son Thomas.
The most enigmatic being some initials.
"TL" is very likely his own initials "Thomas LYNCHEY. However I have been unable to come up with an acceptable solution to "CLAIJL".
I have tried Australian Convict sites on Rootsweb, and County Down Site (he was probably born there.
One response was to suggest that prisoners were "Branded".
I have heard of this in earlier times but not in the 19th century.
Was this practice carried out on the Island, or possibly in England on the way to Australia?
I am doubtful that this is the explanation as they are just part of other tattoos including the Three Legs of Man, a brother's name, anchors, dots and other symbols unlikely to be some jail reference.

Peter
Melbourne”