Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Maria Coverley was transported on the Wanstead, departing 31st Jul 1813 and arriving 9th Jan 1814 with 120 passengers.
Wanstead (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 108 |
| 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
"5x great grandmother"
Photos
No photos have been added for Maria Coverley.
Convict Notes
The entry concerning Maria's conviction for lewd exposure states that no penalty was recorded against Thomas Moore. However, both the Australian newspaper (21/4/1830) and the Sydney Gazette (17/4/1830) reported that the Quarter Sessions at Windsor on 13/4/1830 was found guilty of "indecently ex-posing his person, and open lewdness", and sentenced to 3 months to the House of Correction - effectively the same penalty as was given to Maria.
James and Maria appear to have always remained poor. In 1830 Maria was before the courts for lewd behaviour. Maria Lord and a military labourer Thomas Moore indecently exposed their person in the daytime of the 4th of March 1830, and for lewdness (prostitution probably instigated by her husband James Lord) on the banks of the river at Windsor NSW. They were described as:- “being persons of wicked, filthy, lewd, depraved and abandoned of minds and dispositions and wholly lost to act with a sense of decency and good manners heretofore to wit on the 4th day of March 1830 near the dwelling houses of the King’s subjects and also near the Common Highway there unlawfully, wickedly and indecently did expose to the view of said subjects their bodies and persons of them the said Thomas Moore and Maria Lord naked and uncovered for long spaces of time to wit for the space of an hour. To the great scandal and disgrace of Maria Lord, to the evil example of all others…of our manifest violation of decency and good manners and against the said Lord the King his Crown and Majesty.” Maria was further described as:- “being a scandalous, and evil disposed person and devising contriving and intending the morals of divers liege subjects of our Lord the King to debouch and corrupt.” The outcome of the case was that Maria was sentenced to 3 months work at the Parramatta Female Factory but her husband stood bail for her. No penalty was recorded against Thomas Moore.
Sainty and Johnson; 1828 Cenus of New South Wales: Page 239…. [Ref L1124] Lord, James, 40, FS, Lord Eldon, 1816, 7 years, Protestant, a labourer at Richmond. [Ref L1125] Lord, Maria, 37, FS, Wanstead, 1812, 7 years Protestant. [Ref L1126] Lord, Sarah, 6, born in the colony. [Ref L1127] Lord, Lord, 5, born in the colony. ??? [Ref L1128] Lord, John, 2, born in the colony. ## The incorrect first name entry would be Henrietta. It also seems that James and Maria may have had more than the three children stated here in the 1828 Census. One or possible two died in infancy prior to the Census and two, Maria and Richard were born after the Census.
Maria Coverley had two children from short liaisons with other convicts. A daughter Elizabeth Coverley was born May 2nd 1815, registered father William Badgood (Convict, 1803, “Glatton”). Another child, a son, William Coverley was born February 13 1817, registered father William McLoughlan (Convict, 1813, “Archduke Charles”). Then on 13th March 1820, at Parramatta, Maria married James Lord (Convict, 1817, "Lord Eldon"). James Lord (Lord Eldon) of the parish of Parramatta and Maria Cobley (Wansted) of ditto were married in this church by banns this 13th day of March 1820 by me Richard Hill James and Maria both made their X marks in the register in the presence of John Onions who signed the register and Maria Smith who made her X mark.
Old Bailey Trial Transcript (t18121028-109) Maria Coverley, Theft, 28th October 1812 (www.oldbaileyonline.org) MARIA COVALY was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 24th of October, three gowns, value 10 s. two petticoats, value 4 s. and one apron, value 1 s. the property of James Smith. MRS. SMITH. My husband, James Smith, is a leather pipe maker. We live in Castle-Court, Castle-Street, behind Shoreditch Church. Q. When did you lose these things - A. Come next Saturday it will be a fortnight. I left the prisoner in charge of my place. I went out a little before eleven, and I returned before one; and found the prisoner at the bottom of Wildegate-Street. RICHARD HUTCHINS. I took the prisoner in custody. She confessed to Lock, the officer of the night, that she took the property, and that she would see the procucutrix d - d before she should have them. Q. to Mrs. Smith. How long have you known this woman - A. Only the Tuesday before. I hired her at Spitalfields market. GUILTY, aged 21. Transported for Seven Years. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder.
tried at the Old Bailey on 6th November 1812 for stealing 3 gowns worth 10s., 2 petticoats 4s., and one apron 1s. from her employer, Mrs James Smith