Ann Mulhern

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 16th May 2022

FREE & AWAY: 6 April, 1852: Ann Mulhern received her Free Certificate (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON41-1-7$init=CON41-1-7p116). But she didn't hang around to celebrate. Two days later, an Ann MALHERN was aboard the Emma sailing from Hobart to Sydney, in steerage (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CUS36-1-182). --0--

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 16th May 2022

4 September, 1849: She received a Ticket of Leave. This was revoked on 23 April, 1850, for absconding (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON41-1-7$init=CON41-1-7p116). 14 May, 1850: Ticket of Leave reinstated. --0--

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 16th May 2022

2 August, 1846: Almost 9 months after her arrival in VDL, Ann MULHERN was rated as a 3rd Class passholder under the Probation system (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON41-1-7$init=CON41-1-7p116). About the Probation System: This "was an experiment in penal discipline unique to Van Diemen’s Land. Introduced in 1839, it was modified several times from 1846 until it was abandoned altogether following the abolition of transportation to the colony in 1853… The system sought to punish with a just but dread certainty. It required all prisoners to be classified according to the severity of their offences, with the separation of individuals and classes employed to contain the corrupting influence of the more hardened offenders. All convicts were to be subjected to successive stages of punishment, commencing with a period of confinement and labour in gangs: at a penal settlement for life-sentenced prisoners, or at a probation station for all others. If they progressed satisfactorily through several stages of decreasing severity, they received a probation pass and became available for hire to the settlers. Gangs of passholders awaiting employment remained at the stations and continued to labour on public works. Sustained good conduct eventually led to a ticket-of-leave or a pardon. More than eighty probation stations operated in various locations, for varying periods, throughout the settled districts.” (https://www.utas.edu.au/) --0--

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 16th May 2022

Despite her 66 years and her unnamed illness/infirmity, Ann Mulhern was slated to serve 6 months' Probation (gang labor). INVALID/INFIRM: AKS Piper (2003) has studied the transportation of convicts—male and female—whose age or infirmity would be expected to exclude them from being shipped to the colonies and Ann Mulhern receives a mention. “Transportation spawned invalids directly and indirectly. Invalid prisoners, or prisoners likely to become infirm, were transported to Van Diemen’s Land… In relation to the Lloyds, the Principal Medical Officer reported to Matthew Forster, the Comptroller General, that with few exceptions they were healthy, although two women, Anne Gardiner and Mary Hamilton, had scurvy and required removal to the General Hospital. Three others, Jane Elson, Mary Halliday and Mary Murphy, who were respectively suffering from rheumatism, consumption (tuberculosis) and epilepsy, were also removed to the hospital. Another three, E. Palmer, Mary McDonald (or McDougal) and Anne Mulham (or Mulhern) [the subject of this bio], all aged between 60 and 65 were described as being unfit for labour on account of being aged and infirm. A fourth woman, Mary Davis, aged 45, was also viewed as a potential liability as she had lost her right hand. From this one vessel alone it was likely that Van Diemen’s Land was to be lumbered with seven long term invalid cases… An investigation revealed that, with the exception of Davis, all the women had been healthy when they embarked and that their health and conduct in Millbank Prison [London] was not cause to detain them there. In the case of Davis, William Buly, the Medical Superintendent of Millbank Prison, wrote that while the regulations relating to the transportation of male convicts who had lost limbs had been amended in January 1845, no such instructions had been received for female convicts. On further inquiry… the Home Office [advised it] had no intention of changing this ruling. Loss of a limb continued to be perceived as not a barrier for the transportation of female convicts. The regulation had been changed for male convicts as the loss of a limb was seen as reasonable grounds to incapacitate a man from labour in a probation gang, but as women did not engage in such labour, the same objection could not be raised against their transportation.” (Piper, 2003, pp35-37, at https://eprints.utas.edu.au/). Note: Some corrections to the names above—Anne Gardiner was listed as Ann Gardner. She died in Hobart General Hospital, on 25 November, 1845, 17 days after her arrival in Hobart Town. Mary Murphy should be Margaret Murphy, aged 11½ years. Young Margaret had epilepsy and sailed on the Lloyds with her mother, Margaret, who did not suffer from epilepsy. E Palmer was Hannah Palmer. Mary McDonald was Mary Macdonald (convict #590), aged 16. However, Margaret McDonald (convict #589) was aged 60, born 1785. --00--

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 16th May 2022

IN VDL: 7 November, 1845: On arrival in VDL, she was listed as Ann MULHERN alias Leech, convict #608; transported for 7 years for "passing bad coin"; "previously convicted and many times in prison". She was married and noted as "sick". The ship's surgeon's report said she was "very well behaved" during the voyage (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON41-1-7$init=CON41-1-7p116). --0--

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 16th May 2022

TRIAL: 22 March, 1845: Tried and convicted as Ann LEACH, she was sentenced to 7 years' transportation for "feloniously uttering counterfeit coin, having been previously convicted". She was listed as illiterate and aged 66 years (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for Ann Leach; England; Leicestershire; 1845). --0--