Susannah Green

53

Beth Taylor on 4th February 2026

TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1783 Sentenced: 14/07/1813 at Middlesex [see trial record below] to transportation for 7 years Crime: Stealing Previous Occupation: Housekeeper Age on Convict Indent: 31 1813 - SUSANNAH GREEN, Theft > theft from a specified place, 14th July 1813. 12. SUSANNAH GREEN was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 5th of July, four gowns, value 30 s. three shifts, value 9 s. a pair of stockings, value 1 s. two shirts, value 8 s. two tablecloths, value 12 s. an apron, value 6 d. and one coat, value 10 s. the property of Giles Bird , in his dwelling-house . DOROTHY BIRD. I am the wife of Giles Bird ; we live at 49, Perceval-street, in the parish of St. James, Clerkenwell. My husband keeps the whole house. On the 5th of July, about three o'clock in the day, I was coming into the passage; I saw the prisoner going along the passage towards the street door. I halloaed out to her to stop. She had a bundle with her. She stopped in the passage. I called a man to stop her; she went away a few steps from the door; the man made her come in. She had still the bundle on her arm. I examined the bundle. The articles all belonged to me. Prosecutrix. This gown is mine. She came down stairs with this apron tied before her; two tablecloths are mine; a pair of stockings, two shirts, and three shifts, and one coat, that is mine, and the shawl is mine. Q. Where had these things been - A. They were taken from a closet in the two pair of stairs front room. I never saw the prisoner before. I asked the prisoner where she found them things; she said, a tall man in black gave them to her. I had seen the things safe in the morning. I asked the prisoner a second time where she got the property; she then said, are they yours? I said, yes, they are mine. GILES BIRD. I occupy this house in Perceval-street. In my judgment the articles are worth three pounds. THOMAS PARRY. I was at work in the back parlour. Mrs. Bird called me; I stopped the prisoner; she had this bundle about her. JOHN TURNER. When I took the prisoner in custody she was intoxicated in liquor. I asked her how she came by the bundle; she said she met a man on the stairs, he gave her the bundle. Prisoner's Defence. I was coming by the door, a man gave me the bundle; he asked me to take it to the bottom of the street and he would give me a shilling. If I had not been in liquor I should not have done so. Q. to Prosecutrix. When you first saw her she was in your passage - A. Yes. Q. Do you know whether she had been up stairs - A. Yes, she must have been up stairs, because the things were taken from up stairs. GUILTY, aged 29, Of stealing to the value of 39 s. only. Transported for Seven Years. Second Middlesex jury, before Mr. Justice Bailey. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org ) 1814 Muster: Susan GREEN, con, Brox, off stores, to Mr Wall, Sydney (6818) 1817, 11 Feb. – Susan Grey, or Green, was on a list of prisoners sent to Newcastle on the ship Lady Nelson. She had been tried before the Criminal Court, Sydney on 10 Nov 1816 & sentenced to 14 years. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6005; 4/3495 p501)] 1822 Muster: Susan GRAY (?), FBS, Brox, 7 years, govt employ, Newcastle (A08564) Thomas SCOTT, con, Larkins, 7 years, govt servant to Mr A Bell, Windsor (A18789) [Susan’s husband-to-be] 1822 – Susan petitioned Gov Brisbane for mitigation for her sentence. She stated that she had originally been sentenced to 7 years, but in 1816, she was again tried in Sydney & given a 14 year term. She had now served 6 years of that sentence. TL written. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Petitions Fiche 3218; 4/1865 p91) 1823 to 1825 – Susan GREY, per Brox, 1823-1825, Newcastle Courts NSW, Convict victualling records, Reel P3-8, Section ML-MSS2482-4, frame 7, Film CY 367. (Source: Tasmanian Colonial Index CD-ROM [includes some NSW records]– Digger (Kiama Family History Group) 1823-1825 Muster: Susan GRAY (?), con, Brox, life, wife of Thomas Scott, Newcastle (22893) & spouse – Thomas SCOTT, FS, Larkins 1817, 7 years, employed by Mr Warren, Newcastle (39490) 1824 to 1825 – Susan GREY, per Brox, 1824-1825, Newcastle NSW, Court trials, Reel P3-8, Section ML-MSS2482-4, frame p82, Film CY 367. (Source: Tasmanian Colonial Index CD-ROM [includes some NSW records]– Digger (Kiama Family History Group) 1824, 22 Dec. & 1825, 11 Jan. – Susan, prisoner per Brox, is given permission to marry Thomas Scott, TOL per Larkins, at Newcastle. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6014; 4/3513 p247) 1825 – “PRINCIPAL SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, SYDNEY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1825. THE undermentioned Prisoners having absented themselves from their respective Employments, and some of them at large with false Certificates, all Constables and others are hereby required to use their utmost Exertions in lodging them in safe Custody : 3. Grey, (alias Scott), Susan, Broxbornebury, 41, London, Government Service, Newcastle…” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 29/09/1825, p4) 1826 – “In the District of Patterson's Plains- “William Scattergood, Ship Atlas (3), and Thomas Scott, Ship Larkins, both holding Tickets of Leave, to be Constables.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 06/12/1826, p1) 1828, 20 Feb. – Thomas SCOTT resigned his position as Constable. (Source: Sydney Gazette, 20/02/1828, p1) 1828 Census: Susan SCOTT, 45, GS, Brox, 14 years (?), prot, labourer to Alex Warren, First Branch, Hunter River (S0318) & spouse – Thomas SCOTT, 41, TL, Larkins 1817, 14 years, prot, to Alex Warren, Jarriston, Hunter River (S0264) [the property had 2,000 acres, 1,500 sheep, 600 cattle & 5 horses] 1835, 3 Dec. – “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN - THE undersigned, through some mistake in the Colonial Secretary’s Office, has not been able to obtain her certificate of freedom, she takes this method of informing all concerned that she arrived in the colony by the ship Braxonbury (sic) on the 14th July, 1814, and that she is now free. SUSAN SCOTT. William’s River, 13th November, 1835.” (Source: The Colonist, 03/12/1835, p8) 1836, 19 March – A trial was held at the Sydney Supreme Court over several days and many witnesses were called. Mr Wighton, of William’s River, [Dungog], charged Mr Howe, the publisher and owner of the Sydney Gazette with libel. Mr Wighton, the “Plaintiff was chairman of an association for the prevention of cattle stealing, and bringing offenders to justice, and owing to his activity numerous offenders bad been brought to justice and convicted. In consequence, Mr. Wighton was attacked through the "Sydney Gazette" and called a Sabbath breaker-a peace breaker-and the clandestine vendor of grog. Mr. W. had that day come before the court to clear his character from such aspersions…” “Mrs. Thomas Scott. I have taken a bottle of ginger beer and a small quantity of brandy-; I have every objection to be sworn ; I am afraid of being sworn against if I speak the truth, and I may be placed in the pillory, and you laughing at me (here followed a long story) ; witness was then sworn. I live within three quarters of a mile of Brandon; my husband never obtained spirits there; I have, from Mr. Kensly, the overseer, in September or October; before the month of August I went to Mr. Wighton about some private business, when he gave me a glass of rum as a present, also a bottle as a present; he never charged me with it; plaintiff knew I was calling as a witness, he sent for me and I went to the Royal Hotel, he gave me his address; he wished me to compromise the affair; I went to Mr. Kinsley, and he said he would swear I never paid him for the rum; I gave him four half crowns for a quart of rum ; from what he said I was afraid of being sworn to-day ; I never bought rum of plaintiff; two constables took me to the Barracks yesterday to put aside my evidence….Edward Kingsby. I was at Brandon about six months, Grahame and I attended the stores ; I also a tended the farm ; …I have been speaking to some of the witnesses, among the rest Mrs. Scott; I know a man named Clarke; Mrs. Scott told me she had been charged with using a nonsensical expression to a person that she had paid the enormous sum of 10s. at Mr. Wighton's for a bottle of rum ; she said she paid it me; I said she did not; she never paid it me ; she never paid me any me any money in her life ; I remember her coming and telling Mr. W. her husband was very ill. Mr. W. told me to give her some spirits and I did so so; I entered it the same as other entries; it was a quart bottle; perhaps she wanted some herself as she is very fond of it; I went into Abrahams public house; Mr. Wighton was there; I had some ginger beer; I did not see Mr. W. take any thing ; we went upstairs; Clarke and Mrs. Scott were there…” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 19/03/1836, pp2-4) [Note: Magistrate Wighton was later awarded ₤500 damages.] NSW BDM: 1) Susannah Gray (?), per Brox, marr Thomas Scott, TL, per Larkins, at Newcastle on 20 July 1825. Both were from Newcastle & both signed the register. The minister was Chaplain Middleton. (V1825-39-9) [Note: No record of children born to the couple] 2) Susannah died? 3) Thomas Scott (from Williams River) aged 59 and Mary Loungs (from Seaham) aged 30 were married at Christ Church, Newcastle in May 1837. Witness Benjamin Sullivan of Clarencetown. (Source: Church Register of Christ Church, Newcastle, p69) 4) Thomas Scott died? Jess’ Girls – SAG:  1814 – Muster  1818 – servant to William Wall, Sydney  1822 – Muster  Reel 1029 – Susannah was sent to Newcastle 1817 for 14 years  Mutch – m Thomas Scott in 1825 Convict Indent & COF: Thomas Scott reached Sydney on the ship Larkins (1) on 22 Nov 1817. He had been tried at Kent Assize on 17 March 1817 & given a 14 year term. Thomas was a native of London, aged 30 [bc1787], occupation lighterman, 5’8½” tall, with ruddy pock-pitted complexion, black to grey hair & hazel eyes. TL – 1386. Thomas SCOTT received his COF on 09/06/1831. It was written that he was per ship Larkins (1) in 1817, native of London, tried at Kent Assize 17/03/1817 with “robbery”, he had received a 14 year term, occupation lighterman, born 1787, 5’8½” tall, with dark ruddy pock-pitted complexion, brown to grey hair & hazel eyes. Tattoos of crucifix & TS on right arm – 1802 on the left. Had a TOL dated 21/10/1824, now surrendered & cancelled. (Source: SRNSW Certificates of Freedom, 1827-1867, NRS 12210; Item: 4/4306; Roll: 987.) [Note: A lighterman is a worker who operates a lighter, a type of flat-bottomed barge, which may be powered or unpowered. In the latter case it is today usually moved by a powered tug. The term is particularly associated with the highly skilled men who operated the unpowered lighters moved by oar and water currents in the Port of London.. Source: Wikipedia] 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