Mary Burgess

71

Robin Sharkey on 23rd January 2026

Mary's Story of falling overboard from the ship; Referring to the contribution above, that Mary Burgess was re-captured at Christchurch. This is a town in the south of England a t Dorset, not far from Bournemouth. It’s on the River Stour and a little bit up from its harbour where the ships sailed past hugging the English coast before reaching Plymouth. (Christchurch in NZ did not exist). Therefore, it's feasible that she might be believed in her story as the area had a lot of fishermen (and smugglers) and it's believable that one might have picked her up and taken her back inside the harbour.

342

Maureen Withey on 1st May 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 01 May 2020), October 1787, trial of MARY, wife of WILLIAM BURGESS (t17871024-30). MARY BURGESS, Theft > theft from a specified place, 24th October 1787. 841. MARY, wife of WILLIAM BURGESS was indicted for stealing, on the 29th of September last, two linen sheets, value 3 s. a tea-chest, value 12 d. two guineas, value 2 l. 2 s. one half-guinea, value 10 s. 6 d. and 25 s. in monies, the property of James Detheridge , in his dwelling-house . JOHN EBERALL sworn. I am servant to the prosecutor; he is a smith ; he lives in Strutt's-alley, St. Luke's ; I saw my master come and seize the prisoner with the property; I was at work with him in the shop, and I saw the officer take her; I went out of the shop and assisted him; I saw the prisoner come out of my master's house, and he took her and sent for an officer, and he took her; he is not here; he took a tea-chest and sheets out of her apron in my presence; and he broke open the tea-chest and there was the money in it, in the presence of the people and me; there was two guineas, and a half-guinea, and some loose silver, my master is gone to fetch the property. JAMES DETHERIDGE sworn. I am a nailor; I remember the prisoner; between two and three; I was at work in the lower shop, and I turned about, having finished making one of the nails, and saw the prisoner come down stairs; I followed her, and caught her within a few doors; I found two linen sheets and a tea chest, two guineas and a half, 22 s. in shillings, a half-crown piece, a sixpence, and some halfpence; the prisoner said some man threw it into her apron as she stood at the door; I saw her come out of my house down two or three steps; nobody lodges in my house; the things have been in my possession ever since. (Produced and deposed to.) The sheets were taken out of a chest of drawers in the one pair of stairs room, and the tea-chest stood on a box in the room, with the money, two guineas and a half, 22 s. a half-crown piece, and one six-pence, I had seen the money and the things not an hour before; I had been taking some from it to pay away. PRISONER's DEFENCE. I was looking for a man to give me an account of some money received; I had a direction in writing; I was going up the street, and a man met me just at the door of this man's house; I gave him the paper to read, and he gave me the things to hold while he went to find the place out, and and this gentleman came and took me into custody; I never saw the man since; I never was in prison in my life. Prosecutor. I saw her come down stairs; she said there was a man with her, and I went to search and found nobody. GUILTY, Death. Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice HEATH. -------------------------------------------------- National Archives. HO 47/9/4 1789 Apr 17 Report of James Adair, Recorder of London. Also includes a list from the Recorder of London enclosing a list of capital convicts respited but who cannot be removed until their pardons are confirmed, they are to receive sentence of transportation as set against their names: Middlesex Mary Burgess. Convicted in October 1787, recommended to 7 years transportation.

106

Carol Axton-Thompson on 20th December 2013

Mary Burgess was convicted for stealing sheets and a tea chest of money, at the Old Bailey Oct 1787. Death sentence, commuted to life transportation. Transported on the 'Lady Juliana' bound for New South Wales, Australia. Mary escaped and remained at large for 3 years. She was apprehended at Christ Church (? New Zealand) and claimed that she had been ill, fell overboard and saved by a fisherman. She was recommended for mercy.