Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Mary Abbey was transported on the Indefatigable And Minstrel, departing 9th May 1812 and arriving 19th Oct 1812 with 331 passengers.
The Indefatigable was built at Whitby, England. She was square-rigged three masted ship of 549 tons and had three decks; a length of 127 ft. and a beam of 31ft. 8ins. The Indefatigable sailed from England on 4th June 1812 in company with the Minstrel. The Indefatigable came direct to Hobart, VDL arriving there on 19 October 1812. One prisoner died on the voyage out. Having disembarked the prisoners in Hobart, the Indefatigable arrived in Port Jackson on 6 December 1812, departing there bound for England in January 1813. The Indefatigable returned to Australia with convicts in 1815 (see separate listing).
Indefatigable And Minstrel (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 67 (35) |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
Claims
No one has claimed Mary Abbey yet.
Photos
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Convict Notes
Mary died on 25th January 1838 at Georges River, Greater Sydney, NSW age 46.
Brian Ahearn (descendent of Murtagh and Mary) has written two books. Beyond the Sea (the life of Murtagh Ahern) and is available to purchase. I am a descendent also and have these two very informative volumes 1 &. II. Brian is available on line.
My comments re Mary's death date: - her death is not recorded in primary sources - the stone, currently at the Pioneer's Memorial Cemetery, was so badly damaged when originally found at Rose Hill Depository that her death date was illegible. - recordings from the stone prior to this eg at SAG have different dates - we know that Emilia Elizabeth, her last child, was born circa August, 1837, so she was alive then - the information re 'Mary being speared to death by aborigines' cannot be found in any records. - at this time the family were living on the other side of the Georges River from Liverpool. Aborigines were not causing problems in this area so late, and if they had been, surely would have been reported?
Embarked on the Minstral on 4th June 1812. Convicted of breaking and entering and stealing linen and other items. Originally sentenced to death. Commuted to transportation for 7 years to Port Jackson, New South Wales, arrived 28 Oct 1812.
Mary Abbey or Aby married Murtagh Ahearn (Murte Ahern or O'Hearn or other spellings) in NSW in 1815. They had up to 17 children. Her grandaughter recalled that she was speared to death for refusing to give a man 'strong drink'. Mary was from Mileham in Norfolk, UK. Murtagh was an Irish Rebel from the 1798 rebellion. They met in Australia. Would love to know what Mary's crime was, for which she received life sentence.