Mary Harris

53

Beth Taylor on 4th February 2026

TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1775 Sentenced: 28/10/1812 Middlesex GD [see trial records below] to transportation for 7 years Crime: Stealing Previous Occupation: Laundress Age on Convict Indent: 39 1812 – Trial #1 - MARY HARRIS, Theft > shoplifting, 28th October 1812. 858. MARY HARRIS was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 24th of October, 36 yards of ribbon, value 30 s. the property of John Flint, and John Ray, privately in their shop. NOT GUILTY. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. 1812 – Trial #2 - MARY HARRIS, Theft > shoplifting, 28th October 1812. 859. MARY HARRIS was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 24th of October, 18 yards of ribbon, value 10 s. the property of Griffen Andrews , privately, in his shop. GUILTY, aged 35. of stealing, but not privately. Transported for Seven Years. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org ) 1814 Muster: Mary HARRIS, Brox, con, off stores, to W Hensell, Sydney (6929) [Also assigned here were Catherine Kean & John Henshall, husband of Mrs Hannah Henshall, per Brox.] 1816 – Mary HARRIS, “wife of William HARRY”, per Brox. (from England), tried OB London 28/10/1812, 7 years, on list of 60 female convicts sent to the Derwent VDL (from Sydney) via ship Kangaroo on 28/04/1816. (Source: Tasmanian Archives, Convict Assignment lists and associated papers, CON13/1/1p4) William HARRY, per ship Somersetshire, tried Glanmorgan GD (Wales) 31/03/1812, 7 years, on list of 40 male convicts to the Derwent VDL (from Sydney) via ship Kangaroo on 13/04/1816 (Source: Tasmanian Archives, Convict Assignment lists and associated papers,CON13/1/1, p57) 1823-1825 Muster: Mary HARRIS, FS, Brox, 7 years, wife of Jacob Jonas, Parra (24201) & spouse – Jacob JONAS, FS, Earl Cornwallis 1801, 7 years, labourer, resident Parra (27180) 1827 – “Police Report. WINDSOR. Sept. 20. - Jacob Jonas, an old good natured fellow, formerly residing at Parramatta, and more commonly called "Old Yankiff," was charged on suspicion of having stolen a pocket handkerchief, the property of one James Teaster. The prosecutor and the prisoner had been drinking together the day before, and playing cards as friends would. “Seven's the number, seven” but as for the handkerchief, there is a hazard in the business. Committed for trial at Sessions.”. (Source: Sydney Gazette, 15/10/1827, p2) 1828 Census: Jacob JONAS, 68, FS, Earl Cornwallis 1801, 7 years, prot, lodger at William Cawell, Parra (J0613)[Where was Mary? Had she died? Or was she back in Tasmania?] 1831 – Jacob Jonas, a free man, was admitted to Parramatta Gaol on 03/10/1831 as a “debtor” owing ₤1, 15 shillings & sixpence. He was discharged on the 31/10/1831. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Item: 4/6529; Roll: 174) NSW BDM: 1) Mary Harris married Jacob Jonas at St Johns C of E Parra on 16/12/1816. (Jacob Jonas, aged 54, Free, Abode: St Johns [Parramatta], Signed X; & Mary Harris, aged 35, Abode: St Johns [Parramatta], Signed X; married 16 Dec 1816, registered St Johns Church of England Parramatta by Banns by Samuel Marsden; Witness: Andrew Nash, Signed; Witness: M A Nash, Signed. Source: St John's Church of England, Parramatta NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 55-56 & V1816-1989-3A & 767-147B) 2) No record found of death for Mary Jonas or Jacob. Jess’ Girls – SAG:  Occupation - Laundress  1814 – Muster  1816 – went to Tasmania  1818 – single, Sydney  1819 Pop. Book – with J Jones  1825 – FS, wife of Jacob Jonas, Parra “Notorious Strumpets and Dangerous Girls” page 144 – • Gaol Report [Eng], several times in custody • Mary Harris arrived at Derwent from Sydney on 28/04/1816 on the Kangaroo • 1826 – 6 months imprisonment [she was in Sydney in 1823-1825!] Convict Indent & Records for Jacob Jonas and William Harry: Jacob Jonas reached NSW on the ship Earl Cornwallis on 12 June 1801. He had been tried at London GD on 4 July 1798 [see below] & given a 7 year term. (Source: Ship indent) 1787 - JACOB JONAS, Theft > theft from a specified place, 18th April 1787. 375. JACOB JONAS was indicted for stealing, on the 13th day of April, 26 lb. weight of congou tea, value 4 l. one paper bag, value 1 d. the property of Edward Eagleton, in the house of John Payne. EDWARD EAGLETON sworn. On the 13th of this month we cleared a great quantity of tea, between thirty and forty chests, part of which our people were emptying and stocking, at a house in Cheapside, opposite Wood-street , in my shop, which is in a house of Mr. Payne's; the tea came home that day about three or four o'clock in the afternoon; and they were employed in weighing it in bags of a quarter of a hundred each; about half past eight I desired them to be particularly careful, that nobody took any of the quarter of hundreds. I went out that evening about half past eight, this was on the Friday. When I came to town on the Saturday morning between eight and nine, I was informed there was a man in custody. Prisoner's Councel. You do not live there? - Yes, I live there, I have the shop and the warehouse, that if I chuse to sleep there I can. Mr. Payne pays the taxes; and I rent a part of it for the accommodation of the shop, for myself and servants. Mr. Payne is not at all connected with you in business? - Not at all. Does Mr. Payne lay there at all himself? - Yes, I am accommodated with the whole house if I want it, I have a house in Bishopsgate-street; it was only taken on account of the extension of business. BENJAMIN WOODHALL sworn. I was coming along Cheapside, on Friday the 13th of April, about half past eight, or rather more, between that and nine, I stopped by chance to look in at Mr. Eagleton's window; and a man came to me with a bag across his shoulders, and said to me, that teas are much cheaper than they were, he was in the street, I did not take notice of him before; I looked at him very hard; and he said, do you think you should know us again? I looked round towards the door of the shop; and I saw the prisoner standing at the door; and a man a little further on with a knot across his shoulders, then I watched them; and I crossed the way, and went a little way further down towards Bow-church on the other side of the way, then I turned again, and came almost opposite the shop, when I got almost opposite the shop, I saw the prisoner coming out with a parcel of tea, he came to a man about three yards from the door, who had a knot, I suppose him to be the same man I saw before with the knot, he returned into the shop, and came out again with another parcel, when he was coming out, there was a man and a woman selling nuts and oranges, I spoke to the man and told him; by that time they were both turned down Pread street, and were gone, the man that was selling nuts blamed me for not speaking sooner; however, in two or three or four minutes they all three came again, the prisoner walked backwards and forwards several times, at last they all three came across the way, the prisoner I believe bought a half penny worth of nuts, the other bought an orange, the man I spoke to fixed himself up against one of the houses, then they all three went over directly; and they all walked backwards and forwards two or three times; and the prisoner went into the shop again, and brought out another bag, then the man that sold the nuts and me both took hold of him, a mob got round us, we never quitted him, we seized him while he had the bag in his hand, we brought him into the shop, the bag was put into the constable's hands, the bag that was delivered to the constable was the same I took from the prisoner. - NORMAN sworn. I am constable. I have had it in my possession ever since, it is the same bag. THOMAS LYNCH sworn. I was sitting along with my wife at a stall opposite Mr. Eagleton's, and the witness came across the way, and told me; I saw the prisoner coming out of the shop door, with a bag, and I run across the way and laid hold of him by the collar, before he got to the corner of Bread-street. Did you see him go out of the shop? - I did. JOSEPH FULLFORD sworn I am shopman to Mr. Eagleton, on the 13th of this month I was very busy tying up quarters of hundreds bags, I was informed a man had come in and taken one of the parcels, I instantly went out and found the prisoner in custody, he was brought into the shop with one of the bags, it was one of those that I tied up, there is my own mark on it, we mark every bag that we tie up with the quantity, this was tied up before it was taken. Prisoner. There was no mark upon it but what was put on afterwards. Prisoner's councel to Mr. Eagleton. Have you any partners in this business? - No. Do you carry on this shop on your own account? - Yes. Nobody is concerned at all with you in this shop? - No, I am the only person that have any thing to do with the profit and loss. Has this dwelling house any communication with your warehouse? - Yes, they go through the shop, there is a side passage, only inside shutters makes the passage. What is the tea worth? - Four pounds. Court to Fullford. Is the prisoner an entire stranger to you? - Yes. Not a person employed in the shop? - No. GUILTY, Death. He was humbly recommended to mercy by the Jury. Tried by the London Jury before Mr. RECORDER. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org ) 1789 - Old Bailey Proceedings supplementary material, 9th September 1789. The following capital convicts were offered his Majesty's pardon, on condition of Transportation to the Coast of New South Wales, for seven years , which they accepted, viz….William Clay, George Wallis, Daniel Brien, Thomas Wood, Jacob Jonas etc. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org ) 1800, 13 Oct. - Jacob Jonas Per "Earl Cornwallis", 1801. On list of convicts on board the "Earl Cornwallis" (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Reel 6028; 2/8283 p.26) 1806 Muster: Jacob Jonas Per "Earl Cornwallis", Status: FBS (Free by Servitude); Occupation/Residence &c: Dealer Self [Employed] 1806, 15 Oct. – Jacob Jonas Per "Earl Cornwallis", 1801. Re the identity of Thomas Mills (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Reel 6041; 4/1719 p.1j) 1819, 10 June - Jacob Jonas Per "Earl Cornwallis", 1801 (Toll-gate keeper). Toll duties received in Police Fund (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Reel 6038; SZ1044 p.60) William HARRY tried Glanmorgan Wales 31/03/1812, arr Sydney 16/04/1814 per ship Somersetshire, 7 year term. Description: native of Glanmorgan, basket maker, aged 40, 5’10¾” tall, dark pale complexion, brown hair & hazel eyes. (Source: Ship indent) William HARRY tried Glanmorgan Wales, Spring 1812, for “larceny” & received a term of transportation for 7 years. (Source: www.ancestry.com England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892, HO 27; Piece: 8; Page: 387) 1825 to 1842 – William HARRY per ship Somersetshire1811, had an extensive convict record in VDL from 1825-1843. He had several charges brought against him such as: Drunk, to be sent to a road party; Refusing to work the day; Obtaining a pass from the police office under false pretensions. William received many punishments for his misconduct. (Source: Tasmanian Archives, Convict Conduct Record CON31/1/18, p10) 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

342

Maureen Withey on 12th June 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 12 June 2020), October 1812, trial of MARY HARRIS (t18121028-17). MARY HARRIS, Theft > shoplifting, 28th October 1812. 859. MARY HARRIS was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 24th of October , 18 yards of ribbon, value 10 s. the property of Griffen Andrews , privately, in his shop . GRIFFEN ANDREWS . I am an haberdasher ; my shop is at the corner of Greek-street, Compton-street . On the 24th of October, the prisoner, and I think another woman, came into the shop; she asked to see some ribbons. I served her. She bought some ribbon; she paid for them. I gave her change; and I thought she was gone. I had done with her, and had gone to other customers. A young woman gave some information. I accused her of the ribbon; I requested her to walk up stairs; I sent for an officer to have her searched; my wife went up stairs first, I sent the prisoner in the middle, and as I was going up stairs, she dropped a piece of ribbon from between her gown and petticoat. I saw it fall, and picked it up, it was eighteen yards of ribbon. I said to her, you wicked woman, I am convinced you are a shop-lifter. She then begged for mercy. Q. What is the colour of the ribbon that fell from her on the stairs - A. An olive. The white ribbon was not found upon her. A window on the staircase was open, a young man found the white ribbon in the yard; and after I had given charge of her at the watch-house, it was shewed to her, she denied it, and owned to the olive; the young man that found it is not here. I know the ribbon to be mine. WILLIAM GOSLING . I am a constable. I took charge of the prisoner. I searched her, and did not find the white ribbon. I told Mr. Andrews, the prisoner must have thrown it out of the staircase window; and after I had taken her to the watch-house, a young man came in with the ball of white ribbon. Prosecutor. The olive ribbon I saw drop from her, she owned that she stole that, and wished me to let her go. She did not own to the white ribband. GUILTY, aged 35. of stealing, but not privately . Transported for Seven Years . First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. -------------------------------------------------- In 1816, Mary Harris went to Van Diemen's Land on the ship Kangaroo, in a group of 60 female convicts being sent to the Derwent. 58 of the women were Irish female convicts, transported on the Alexander to Sydney and then on to the Derwent. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1$init=CON13-1-1p55 60 female convicts embarked on the Brig Kangaroo for the Derwent, 10 April 1816. No 59. Mary Harris, (wife of William Harry) per Broxbornebury, Tried O.B. London, 28 Oct 1812, 7 years (Extracted from Indent) --------------------------------------------------