''These fifth paternal grandparents of ours, Mary Wade and Catherine Lahey, were sentenced to death in England for crimes of chiefly impudence and theft in the 11-year-old Mary and forgery trying to colour base metal coins silver to look like a shilling and a sixpence to pay the weekly rent in Drury Lane in the 18-year-old Catherine,'' she said yesterday.

The information was drawn from the Rudd family history, which was prepared by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and presented yesterday to the National Library of Australia.

Ms Rudd joined her ''dear brother'' Kevin the Prime Minister to mark the hand-over.

''Our family is simple and colourful and we are delighted to meet our ancestors,'' she said.

''Some not only enjoyed the beauty of nature for free, they were gifted with free trips across the oceans to this beautiful island Australia.''

Ms Rudd could relate to her ancestors.

''As a five-year-old, I was repeatedly hit with a stick by a Grade 1 classmate during a one-hour walk from Yandina Creek one-teacher school to my classmate's home where I was told I would be sleeping over that night,'' she said.

''I was powerless. I think later I told my mum and dad of her crime. They didn't report it.

''The girl was never scolded, let alone sentenced to death. It hurt me, physically and emotionally, but I survived. Mary Wade's crime, I consider, was not so much greater.''

As for her ancestor's problems with rent money, Ms Rudd would love to tell her that living beyond one's means was now legal.

''I'd love to ask her how she found silver was it paint? And to tell her that now you don't need it. You just get a gold or silver credit card,'' she said.

The National Library would make the Rudd family history available to researchers.

Ms Rudd said it was a great day of all their ancestors. ''We are inspired by their courage and perseverance, saddened by some of their choices and gladdened by others.

''We are impressed by the value of each and every life and encouraged by the potential for good, for all on earth, in the smallest of steps in the right direction.''