When the 11 ships of the First Fleet sailed from Portsmouth on 13 May 1787, there was many young people aboard shattered over six of the ships. Three convict’s children embarked on the First Fleet died on the voyage. Babies were born alive after sailing of two died before the voyage’s end, with births and deaths recorded in 1788. Most of the children of Marines left when the regiment sailed on the Gorgon in 1791. THE CHILDRENAbel/Tilley, William (1787 – 1788) - son of convict Continue Reading »
Mary Bishop (née Davies/Davis)
By John Heppell Mary Davis was born at Diddlebury, Shropshire, England. Her age as recorded in his journal by First Fleet Surgeon Arthur Bowes places her birth in about 1761 or ’62.[1] Assiduous review of the Diddlebury Parish registers reveals no baptism of a Mary Davies or Davis during that period, or for several years either side. However, there is one only Mary Davies to be found in that record, daughter of a Griffith and Ann Davies, who was baptised on 10th May 1752 in the Continue Reading »
Colonial Vessel ‘Francis’
By Anne Gibson Tuesday 14 February 1792 … The signal was made for a sail, and shortly after the ‘Pitt’ Captain Edward Manning, anchored in the cove from England …, She had on board Francis Grose Esq the Lieutenant-Governor of the settlements, and Major-Commandant of the New South Wales corps, one company of which, together with the adjutant and surgeon’s mate, came out with him. She bought out three hundred and nineteen male and forty-nine female convicts, five children, and seven Continue Reading »
Colonial Fashion
By Anne Gibson and Pat Crothers. From the beginning, due to the climate, the general roughness of life and the lack of material goods led to a determination of the inhabitants of the colony of New South Wales to make do, as was very apparent from their clothing. Clothing was in short supply right from the start, the First Fleet set a precedent by not carrying sufficient supplies of cloth or clothing for the convicts on board. The situation as more joined the colony. Those Continue Reading »
Ann Inett
Ann was born at Abberley, in 1754, the youngest of four children of Samuel and Mary Inett. As a young woman, she made her living from dress-making and had two illegitimate children - Thomas, in 1778, when she was aged 24, and Constance, in 1781, when she was 27. Both were christened at Bayton Church, near Rock. At the age of 31, she was, for some unknown reason, driven into crime. Berrow's Worcester Journal of 14 July, 1785, first reported: The dwelling-house of Susannah Brookes in Grimley has Continue Reading »
Frances Davis : Mary Marshall
Many of the girls who arrived aboard the Lady Penrhyn became friends. They came from similar backgrounds and circumstances and supported each other during the long voyage and in Port Jackson. Two of these women were Frances Davis 22 and Mary Marshall 29, who is not to be confused with the other Mary Marshall, also on Lady Penrhyn. Early in the morning on 2 September 1785, Frances Davis, spinster, broke into the house of Agnes Bennett widow, and stole one Canvas Bag and Continue Reading »
Mary Fowles
Ann Fowles was indicated for feloniously stealing clothing on the 11 March 1785. Tried at the Old Bailey on 6 April, and found guilty, Ann received a sentence of seven years transportation. From the Old Bailey, Ann was held over in Newgate Prison for nearly two years, and it is presumed, her 2 year old daughter Mary Fowles stayed with her. 9 January 1787, Captain Campbell on board Lady Penrhyn wrote, received from Newgate 6 women & 3 children Convicts for Botany Bay. Listed amongst Continue Reading »
