Mary Bruce

53

Beth Taylor on 3rd February 2026

TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1787 [from Female Factory Records] Sentenced: 16/09/1812 at Middlesex [see trial record below] to 7 years transportation Crime: Stealing Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent (Brox): 27 1812 - MARY BRUCE, Theft > grand larceny, 16th September 1812. 697. MARY BRUCE was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 7th of September, an apron, value 6 d. two towels, value 6 d. a shift, value 2 s. and two pillow-cases, value 2 s. the property of Sarah Downes. SARAH DOWNES. I live at No. 12, Road-side, Whitechapel-road. The prisoner was my servant. Q. Did you lose an apron and towels - A. Yes, and one shift and a napkin. Q. When did you lose them - A. I missed some in June, and some I did not miss until a fortnight back. The prisoner left my service on the 7th of September. I promiscuously went into the room, where her box was; I saw in it some muslin, which I believe to be mine; but it was not marked. I could not swear to it. DELANEY. I am a pawnbroker. I produce a frock, a pair of gloves, a pin-cloth, and two towels. Q. Do you know who pledged the towels - A. The towels were wrappers about other parcels, which Mrs. Downes saw in the shop. Q. Is there an apron there - A. Yes, that also was a wrapper. I do not recollect the person of the prisoner at all. - DRAKE. I am an apprentice to Mr. Peart, pawnbroker, Whitechapel. I produce a shift, two pillow-cases, and a napkin. I think it was the prisoner that pawned them on the 29th of June; but I am not exactly sure. Prosecutrix. The two towels, apron, and shift, are mine. I made them myself, and the pillow-cases. SAMUEL MILLER. I am an officer. I took the prisoner in custody. I searched her box; I found one duplicate in her box; the other Mrs. Downes gave me. I found in her box a quantity of halfpence and a handkerchief, which Mrs. Downes said was her property. The duplicate I found is for the napkin and pillow-cases, two shillings and sixpence, Pearts, Whitechapel. Drake is the apprentice. Q. to Drake. Is that the duplicate you made out for these things - A. Yes. Q. Mr. Downes. Where did you see that other duplicate - A. In the prisoner's pocket-book in her box. I took it out, and went to the pawnbrokers. I asked him to let me see the things; he did. Then things are in another indictment. Prisoner's Defence. Some of the articles belong to me. The prisoner called one witness, who gave her a good character. GUILTY , aged 28. Transported for Seven Years. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Justice Gibbs. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org ) ALSO ON SHIP EMU IN 1812 Certificate of Freedom 2340 (indent) 1814 Muster: Mary BRUCE, Brox, con, on stores, FF, Parra (3291) 1822 Muster: Mary BRUCE, FBS, Brox, wife of J Green, Sydney (A02485) Mary BRUCE, child, Orphan School, Parra [is this a child of Mary?) 1823-1825 Muster: Mary BRUCE, FS, Brox, 7 years, wife of J Green, Windsor (13431) 1826 – Mary Bruce, 3rd Class, was returned to the Female Factory from Sydney Gaol. (SRNSW Returns of the Female Factory, Parramatta, Reel 702; 4/1791) 1826, 26 May - “Windsor – A frail damsel, known by the appellation of Mistress Green, has been lately sent by the Magistrates of Windsor to take her trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions for Sydney on a charge of bigamy. It seems she came to the Colony a widow, not indeed despairing, for “’Twas not alone on an inky cloak, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Not the dejected ‘haviour of the visage That could denote her truly.” She mourned not over the memory of her buried lord, nor prayed “In a second husband let me be accurst, None wed the second, but who killed the first.” Not she indeed; she thought her condition very unenviable & being of the opinion moreover that “One warm lover, full of life & bloom, Is worth ten thousand cold ones in the tomb.” She became the better half of a man named Taylor, who, on his part, was content to receive her for better or worse. Alas! “the course of true love never runs smooth,” jealousy, “slight cause will soon suffice” – “trifles light as air,” took possession of the mind of poor Taylor, he would not “…lead a life of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon.” With him ‘twas “But to suspect at once to be resolved;” and he sold her to one Charles Wilson for the sum of five pounds, well & truly paid, in the presence of a publican, in Clarence Street Sydney. Patiently did she bear this deep indignity: but “patience” it was “perforce with wilful choler meeting,” & one night, “the time agreeing, confederate season, & no creature seeing,” she fled from this purchaser of her charms, & became the lawful wedded wife of John Green, an honest sawyer, well able to maintain her by the sweat of his brow; “and sure,” she said to the Magistrates, “was it not better to do so than become a bad woman altogether?” With Green she lived for six or seven years, until at age when one would have thought the “hey-day of the blood was tame”” one John Wheeler, of better condition, came under the cognisance of the bewitching fair, & being off her guard, “…she forgot, Just at the very moment she should not.” She eloped & they were married, “He caught her affections, So light & so vain, And carried her home as his spouse.” This however would not have mattered if, as she had not left undone, she could have kept unknown, but, who can control their fate? “One little month, may not so much,” fourteen days has only passes, when, alas, poor John Wheeler! He was left mourning over the loss of much more than his faithless wife. Rumour, with it’s hundred tongues, soon discovered the place of her retreat, and the activity of the police ere long stopped her career, else she had doubtless “ruined more men”.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 26/05/1826) 1828 Census: Mary Bruce, 40, Brox, 7 years, prot, FF, Parra (B2888) [Additional Information: 7 years colonial sentence] & child – Jessie BRUCE, 2 months, BC, Presbyterian, FF, Parra (B2889) 1829, 21 March – Mary Bruce (or Green), Class 3, had in her possession, contrary to regulations, monies & gold rings. She received a punishment of 14 days, ordered by the Committee. (SRNSW Female Factory Records, Reel 2802; 4/2094) 1829, 14 April – The Matron from the FF Factory wrote to Alex McLeay Esq, Col Sec, stating that she had found in the possession of prisoner Mary Bruce, the sum of 2 pounds, 3 shillings & a half-penny, this in money as well as a promissory note for 5 pounds sterling, signed by Felix Brown. The money was confiscated & forwarded to the Benevolent Society. The note came from Corporal Felix Brown, while he was in charge of the Penitentiary. [He was made to pay up!]. When questioned by the Superintendent of Police at Parramatta & asked what he had got in return, Felix said he gave the note for cash 2 years previously. (SRNSW Female Factory Records, Box 4/2027; Ref 30/7047) 1829, 20 June – List of persons confined in the Female Prison by sentence of Supreme Court. Mary Bruce, native place – Aberdeen, original sentence – 7 years, Free, Third Class, sentenced at Supreme Court in Sydney on 24 May 1826, crime – bigamy, sentence – 7 years. (SRNSW Female Factory Records, Box 4/2082; Ref 30/7047) 1832, 22 May – A Petition was sent to the Col Sec from FF about Mary Bruce. It stated that she had served 5 (?) years of her [colonial] sentence & the Matron said she was well behaved. (SRNSW Female Factory Records, Box 4/2109; Ref 31/4375) 1832 – A letter was sent from the FF to Col sec saying that Mary had been pardoned on 29 Feb 1832 & they had been in touch with her & were sending the office details of her whereabouts. It was said she was employed by W Leburn (see below), publican, Sydney & she was paying 7 shillings board a week. She was described as – Mary Bruce, from Brox, native of Aberdeen, house-servant, sentenced originally for illegal betting [wrong!], in London for 7 years, born 1787, 4’11¾” tall, pale & slightly freckled, brown to grey hair & hazel eyes. (SRNSW Female Factory Records, Box 4/2144; Ref 32/4023) 1832 – LEBURN Joseph Publican Shear Hulk George St. 1832 Source: Earliest Pubs in Sydney (CBD) 1788 to 1848: Index to Sources & Listed by Name of Publican & Pub, Vol. 1 (2010), by Elizabeth Hook 1832, 26 May – Mary Bruce, per ship “Brox.” was granted a Conditional Pardon on 26/05/1832 . Mary was a native of Aberdeen, born 1787, a house servant, 4’11¾” tall, pale slightly freckled complexion, brown to grey hair & hazel eyes. “Pardon sent to Mr Hely for delivery 5 June 1832.” (Source: SRNSW Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870, Reel Number: 775; Roll Number: 147; Volume Number: 4/4493.) NSW BDM: 1) John Taylor, aged 30, Free, Abode: St Philips [Sydney], Signed X; & Mary Bruce, aged 29, arrived per Broxbornebury, Abode: Parramatta, Signed X; married 11 Dec 1814, registered St Johns Church of England Parramatta by Banns by Benjamin Vale; Witness: John Shannan, Signed X; Witness: Jane Shannan, Signed X. (Source: St John's Church of England, Parramatta NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 55-56) 2) Jessie Bruce died as an infant, aged 3 months, parents not listed, in 1828, registered at St Johns C of E, Parra (V1828-8177-2C) 3) Mary Bruce died ? Jess’ Girls - SAG:  1814 - Muster  Pop. Book 1819 - with J Taylor, 1 child  1822 - Muster  1825 – FS, wife of J Grose (?), Windsor  1828 – Census  Mutch – m John Taylor 1814  Reel 702 – Received in FF from Sydney Gaol in 1826  Mutch – Jessie died 10 Nov 1828, aged 3 months, St Johns Parra Notes from the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on tbeth3370@gmail.com for further info

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 24th October 2024

1814 - St. John's Parramatta, Marriages No; 443. John Taylor. Free. [age] 30. of the Parish of St Johns & Mary Bruce, [age] 29. Ship; Broxbournebury Married in the Church by Banns. Clergyman; Benjamin Vale. Date; 11 December 1814 Witness; John & Jane Shannan

53

Beth Taylor on 25th May 2013

Tried - 16 Sept 1812 Middlesex Mary received a sentence of 7 years when she came before the Court in 1812, a servant charged with stealing from her employer Sarah Downes. Sarah lived at 12 Roadside, Whitechapel Radd and she said that after Mary left her service she found an apron, two towels, a shift and two pillowcases missing. The items were found in a nearby pawnbroker and the ticket was in Mary’s possession. Mary was first sent to NSW in 1812 on the Emu in 1812) and finally reached there in 1814 on the Broxbornebury. The Female Factory at Parramatta (where she was to spend much of her time), was Mary’s first abode in NSW. In 1822 she was FBS having served her original 7 year term and was living in Sydney as the wife of John Green. However, the Quarter Sessions Court in Sydney in 1826 decided that Mary had a bigamous marriage and she was given another 7 years to serve at Parramatta. The newspaper wrote that Mary had come to the Colony as a widow and soon married John Taylor, who then sold his wife to Charles Wilson for £5! After leaving Mr Wilson, Mary then married John Green “an honest sawyer” in 1822. After living with him for 6 years she “disappeared” and became the wife of John Wheeler, but after only two weeks of marriage, was discovered and appeared before the Court. The newspaper report stated that the Police had “stopped her career, else she had doubtless “ruined” more men”. Mary stated to the Magistrates in her defence “and sure... is it not better to do so than to become a bad woman altogether?” She had a child born at the Factory in 1828, Jessie, who died aged only 3 months. The name of the father was not stated. While here in 1829, Mary was found to have broken the regulations when she was found with money and gold rings in her possession and was given 14 days punishment. A month later Mary was found again with money and a promissory note for £5 signed by Corporal Felix Brown who had been in charge of the Female prison. When he was questioned about it, he said he had exchanged it for cash with Mary two years before. Was he the father of her baby? Mary petitioned the Governor in 1831 for an early release, with a recommendation from the Matron and she was pardoned in 1832. She found a position working for a publican in Sydney and she was described in the Female Factory records as being 4’11” tall, pale and slightly freckled, brown to grey hair and hazel eyes. It is not known what happened to Mary Bruce after this date.