Mary Bird

28

P Waring on 27th June 2024

Statement of John Green, Clerk of Emu Plains Establishment, 2 June 1827, relating to female convicts sent to the government Agricultural Establishment at Emu Plains in 1822-23, Colonial Office Records, CO 210/182, p. 329 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-987061981 : Mary Walker [Bird] per Providence Recd May 1st/[18]22 Dischd 17th Aug 1823 with her Husband, a miller, being one of the men she lived with on the plains. They lived some time with Mr Hawkins at Bathurst from whence she ran away from her Husband and lived in Sydney by prostitution until apprehended and sent to the Factory from whence she is again taken by, and living with her Husband, she has a Husband and 2 children in England and one child belonging to him now living with her. See also: Australian (Syd), 21 Apr 1825, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37071356.

116

Tony Beale on 28th February 2021

Old Bailey Online 93. MARY BIRD and MARY TERRY were indicted for stealing, on the 9th of November , six handkerchiefs, value 2 l. 2 s., the goods of Rhoda Wilson , privately in her shop ; and JOHN WALKER BIRD was indicted for feloniously receiving one handkerchief, value 7 s. part of the said goods, knowing it to be stolen . SAMUEL WILSON . I live in the Minories . Rhoda Wilson is my mother, she is a silk mercer . On the 9th of November, at six o'clock in the evening, the two female prisoners came to the shop, and looked at some black and coloured silk handkerchiefs. I shewed them a quantity, they chose one black and one coloured, left me 2 s. on them, and promised to call in a few days for them and pay the remainder. In about an hour, on folding the handkerchiefs up, I missed six. I immediately sent to the different, pawnbrokers and found one at Mr. M'Ennis's, Sparrow-corner. Having occasion to go to Ratcliff-highway in the evening, I accidently saw the prisoners at a house looking at some silk handkerchiefs. I beckoned to a person in the shop to detain them till I got an officer. I did so, and we followed the prisoners to two public houses and then took them. I am positive they are the women. Mary Bird was scuffling with the officer, and two pieces of handkerchiefs fell from her, which the person at the house where I found them claimed. On Terry we found a duplicate of one of my mother's handkerchiefs. Nobody else had been in the shop till I missed them. HENRY LUCEMORE . I am servant to Mr. Sowerby, pawnbroker, who lives in Cable-street. The prisoner Terry, on Thursday, the 9th of November, pledged a silk handkerchief for 3 s., and about seven o'clock Bird pledged one for 3 s. FRANCIS JACKSON . On the 9th of November Mr. Wilson came and informed me, that two women in Mr. Sanders's shop had robbed him. I watched them out, and followed them along Ratcliff-highway to the Jolly Butchers. They came out of there and went to the Crooked Billett. Terry then came out and called for Toms. I apprehended them immediately. I found a duplicate on Terry. The male prisoner came to see them in the morning, and I stopped him. (Property produced and sworn to.) MARY BIRD 'S Defence. I went to my husband and asked him to pawn the handkerchief. I told him I bought it. TERRY'S Defence. A young man came into the public-house, and asked me to pawn a handkerchief. He gave me the ticket as he was going to sea. MARY BIRD - GUILTY . Aged 27. MARY TERRY - GUILTY . Aged 57. Transported for Seven Years . J. W. BIRD - NOT GUILTY . London Jury, before Mr. Recorder.

174

Iris Dunne on 15th July 2020

Indents: Mary the Wife of John Walker Bird, aged 36, convicted 6 Dec 1820, Trade Washerwoman August 1823, On return of Convicts discharged from the Establishment, Emu Plains, "Mary Bird from Providence. Wife of James Field"