Mary Green

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iain Frazier on 14th September 2024

Family connections for Mary (Green) are: GREEN Mary (Green) was tried for stealing, on 1 3 1787, a china teapot etc of Hannah & Robert (Corrack) at probably Old Bailey, sentenced to 7years, held at London Gaol Delivery & Newgate & arrived in Botany Bay NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 9months on First Fleet ship PRINCE OF WALES. She was sent to Norfolk Island arriving on 3 12 1789. She had a second relationship with John (Harris his second relationship), was living with him & her son on 100acres (at Sydney Town on 1 7 1791-a statement that I canot now verify) & married him on 5 11 1791 in group ceremony on Norfolk Island & produced 3children. She was living with her husband & son on a farm in June 1794. She left Norfolk Island with her family on 19 2 1796 on RELIANCE. She died about 1801 perhaps. [Noted a Mary (Harris) is recorded as dying on 22 12 1826 & buried at St James CofE Sydney & another died in 1841 age70.] [Some details taken from this Website] John (Harris) was born about 1758 in Ireland & became a wax chandler. He married & produced 2children. He was tried for stealing, on 30 12 1782, table spoons etc of Peter (Livies) Esq-Chief Justice of Quebec Canada (he seems to have been physically punished before being handed to police)-in London at Old Bailey on 15 1 1783, sentenced to death reprieved to 14years in Americas, held on hulk on Thames River then sent to Americas on 26 3 1784 on MERCURY- a mutiny occurred on this ship after which the occupants reached shore at Torbay/Torquay? Devonshire. He made his way to Exeter then to London where he was captured at Hammersmith on 17 4 1784-many other mutineers/escapees were held on hulk DUNKIRK & he may have been also. He was tried for escaping from transportation at Old Bailey on 26 5 1784 claiming to have voluntarily returned to custody &, after the court seemingly made genuine efforts to determine his culpability in the mutiny, he was sentenced to Life in Africa & was held on hulk CAESAR/CERES from 3 3 1785. He was also held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery at some point. He arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 12months on First Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH. In Port Jackson it was he who proposed the idea of forming a nightwatch of prisoners to protect & deter criminal & civil disturbance-which commenced on 8 8 1789. He was sent to Norfolk Island arriving on 29 1 1790 on SUPPLY. He was living with Mary (Green) & his son on 100acres (at Sydney Town on 1 7 1791-a statement that I cannot now verify). In December 1791 he was working with the nightwatch at Greenville Vale. He was granted 2more acres, which was taken from him, seemingly unfairly, by the soldiery. On 7 9 1793 he was appointed constable on Norfolk Island. He was living with his wife & son on a farm in June 1794. He applied for a Pardon which was issued on 6 12 1794, partly in recognition of his nightwatch service. He left Norfolk Island with his family on 19 2 1796 on RELIANCE. He was issued his Absolute Pardon in September 1796. He gained a lease of 6.5acres at Mulgrave Place Hawkesbury on 1 1 1798. He was recorded as a licensed victualler in June 1798 & operated Cross Keys tavern at Toongabbee & became an agent of John (Macarthur). He obtained a lease of 4acres at Parramatta on 12 3 1800. Governor (King) asked him to return to the police force, which he declined not wanting to abandon a lucrative business. Soon afterwards Gov (King) declared that he had acted against government regulations by buying rations from convicts with liquor- he was taken into custody by Samuel (Marsden) & while detained the governor had one wall of his house torn down, his liquor casks staved open and his spirit licence withdrawn & later deprived him of his land grant. He was not formally tried & was released. In January 1801 he returned to England with his son John, perhaps to seek recompense form authorities in UK, on EL PLUMIER via New Zealand and Fever Islands then damaged on a reef-the ship reached Guam where she was taken as a wartime prize with he & his son being sent to Manilla as prisoners where they were freed & eventually reached England in October 1803. He produced 5children in his lifetime & suffered many unfair deprivations as well as successes [Some details taken from this Website] References: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land'

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Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

Mary was married/in a relationship with John Harris who arrived on the Scarborough - Harris left Mary and his two daughters behind, claiming he wrote ‘as not being old enough to travel’. The two daughters were then taken into the care of his cousin James Larra (Convict Scarborough 2 1790), as they were then orphaned. It is not sure what happened to Mary Green at that time, however a Mary Green died in 1841 aged 70 but it is not clear if they are one and the same.

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Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

On 7th September 1793 John was sworn as a constable at Norfolk Island, serving for the next few years. In June 1794 he was still with Mary Green and son John and employed a convict on his farm. He received his Conditional Pardon on 12th December 1794 and an Absolute Pardon in September 1796. A daughter Elizabeth was born in 1795 on Norfolk Island. The family of John, Mary and children John and Elizabeth left Norfolk Island by Reliance on 20th February 1796. On 1st January 1797 another daughter Susannah (called Hannah) was born, and she was christened on 25th January 1797

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Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

MARY GREEN was indicted for stealing, on the 9th March 1787 last, one china tea-pot, with a cover, and a silver spout, value 5 s. six tea-cups and saucers, value 5 s. 6 d. the property of Hannah Corrack , widow , and Robert Corrack . ROBERT CORRACK sworn. I am partner with my mother; I lost the things mentioned in the indictment, on Monday evening, the 9th of March last, about half after nine, I was up at tea with my mother; I only speak to the property. - BROWN sworn.I am servant to the prosecutor; on Monday evening, the 9th of March last, I was standing at the door, and the prisoner came in, and asked for a penny bason; I went to the back part of the shop, to fetch a bason, and when I returned, I missed the china tea-pot, with a silver spout; I missed neither cups nor saucers; the prisoner paid me a penny for the bason, and went out; I rung for my master, and ran and caught the prisoner by the cloak; she asked me what she had done; she came back, and said she knew nothing of it; by the time I got to the door, my master came down stairs, and me and my master saw the prisoner shoot the property out of her apron on the counter; the things are my master's. (Deposed to.) PRISONER's DEFENCE. I went in to buy a bason, and the young man shoved me against the counter. GUILTY: Sentenced to Transported for seven years on 18th April 1787 .Tried by the London Jury before Mr. ROSE. On 30th April Mary was sent with a group of women convicts from Newgate by wagon to Portsmouth and embarked on the Prince of Wales on 3rd May 1787 just 10 days before sailing on 13th May 1787 to Botany Bay.