By Ann Gibson
ADVENTURES OF A FIRST FLEET LASS
Saturday, 7th June 1788
Phebe Flarty was charged on the suspicion of making away with 2 pairs of stockings, I pair of shoes, 1 waistcoat, 1 new shirt, 1 pair of trousers, and 1 silk handkerchief, the property of John Romain. Ann Smith and Phebe Flarty gave evidence. Romain said that he had given the articles to Ann Smith to take care of for him. On Wednesday the 4th Phebe Flarty was very much in liquor and had to be put to bed by Ann Smith. The next morning the things were missing from her tents. The prisoner was discharged.
From Sydney Cove, 1788 ed by Dr John Cobley
Phebe/Phoebe Flarty was sentenced at the Old Bailey along with Ann Parsley on 21 February 1787 to be transported for seven years, for the theft of three muslin shawls, value 30s. the property of Robert Hicksman, privily in his shop.
The group of boys and girls who were roaming the streets of Piccadilly together at that date was made up of waifs who sold pins and matches, young people who were without the skills to make a living, who would pick up goods that could be pawned for money. They knew each other quite well, some of them lodging in the same house. Phebe was taken from Newgate to Portsmouth and embarked on Prince of Wales on 3 May 1787.
Phebe Flartee is recorded at Port Jackson in 1788 sharing a tent with Ann Smith, also transported on Prince of Wales. Again, on 7 September that year Phebe was charged and acquitted. Along with Ann Smith, Ann Mather and Mary Mitchcraft, the four girls were accused by Captain Brown of the store-ship Fishburn of making use of insulting and improper language towards him. Ann Smith said she did not open her mouth and was discharged. The others declared they would never do the like again, and were also discharged. It is likely the four girls were hardly more than children.
Wednesday, 7 October 1789. One of the magistrates sat at Rosehill. Ann Mather and Phebe Flarty were accused of stealing fourteen and half ounces of pork from John Gepp, Hardwicke Richardson, William Parish and the accused gave evidence. Each prisoner accused the other. Each was found guilty and sentenced to 25 lashes. William Boggis was accused of stealing a jacket and a comb of Jon Haydon. Caroline Aylocke, John Haydon, William Boggis, William McNamara and James McKay gave evidence and the prisoner was discharged.
Landing at Norfolk Island 3 March
On 4 March 1790 Phebe was sent to Norfolk Island by Sirius. A month after arrival she received 25 lashes for allowing hogs into the garden was tending and in October, she received 26 of 50 lashes ordered for repeatedly coming into town from Charlotte Field without permission. At 16 June 1794 Phebe was living with William Welsh, one of the groups she and Ann Parsley had gone to Piccadilly with in 1787. He was only 12 years old at his own trial in 1787. He arrived as a Third Fleeter and by 1794 was a free man. Phebe had one child possibly by William Welch, a year later she left Norfolk Island by Supply with two children, Zachariah and Mary Flaharty. Also, on Supply leaving Norfolk Island was Richard Podmore (Pitt 1792) a private of the NSW Corps. On 1 January 1810 Richard Podmore who had joined the NSW Corps in England in 1789, received a land grant of 100 acres at St George, Botany Bay. On 30 July that year, he and Phebe Flarty were married, he signing his name to the register. They had four girls and two boys.
Phebe died in Botany Bay on 27 January 1817 and was buried at Sydney Burial Grounds, age given as 44 years. She would have been hardly more than 14 when tried in 1787.
Postscript:
At the Old Bailey, London on 31 May 1786, Phebe Flawty, Lydia Munro and Catharine Moreing were indicated for feloniously stealing on the 15th May last, thirteen yards of thread lace, value 13s and eighteen yards of silk lace, value 12s. the property of Isaac Brown. Acquitted.
Lydia Munro was tried again on the same day, 31 May 1786 for feloniously stealing with Catherine McCord. Both found Not Guilty. However, this did not deter Lydia Munro. Together with Ann Forbes, they were tried at the Surry Lent Assizes at Kingston upon Thames on Monday 2 April 1787 for stealing ten yards of printed cotton, the value of 20s. Found Guilty. Written across their indictment was Guilty No Chattels to be Hanged, Reprieved to transportation: Lydia 14 years and Ann 7 years.
Phebe Flawty, and Ann Parsley (same trial) and Lydia Munro and Ann Forbes (same trial) and Mary Mitchcraft (separate trial) embarked aboard the Prince of Wales on 30 April 1787 bound for Botany Bay. All friends.
References:
Sydney Cove 1788 ed by Dr John Cobley
Sydney Cove 1789-1790 ed by Dr John Cobley
The Founder of Australia by Mollie Gillen
Norfolk Island and its First Settlement by Raymond Nobbs
Proceedings of the Old Bailey, London’s Central Criminal Court. Records on-line
First Fleet Fellowship Folio Newsletter: June 2022
