Mary Jones

53

Beth Taylor on 4th February 2026

TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1791 Sentenced: 16/09/1812 Middlesex GD [see trial record below] to 7 years transportation Crime: Stealing Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent: 23 Ticket of Leave 792; Certificate of Freedom 1301 (from indent) MARY JONES, Theft > shoplifting, 16th September 1812. 746. MARY JONES was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 1st of September, twenty-one yards of printed cotton, value 20 s. the property of Griffith Foulkes, privately in his shop. GRIFFITH FOULKES. I am a linen-draper, No. 2, Russell-street, Convent-garden, in the parish of St. Martin in the Fields. On the 1st of September, about four o'clock in the afternoon, I saw the prisoner come into my shop; she was alone. She asked to look at some printed cottons. George Banks served her, and Thomas Richardson was in the shop; they are here. They were all the persons who were serving in the shop. When the prisoner got to the door, I observed, she was walking in a singular manner. I suspected that she had something about her. George Banks went after her, and brought her back. And when Banks brought her back, she dropped a piece of print, containing twenty one yards, at the door. Q. Did you see her take it - A. No; I had no idea of it. She was a long time being served. The piece of printed cotton had my shop-mark on it. Q. Had you sold it to her - A. No; nor I had no idea that she had taken any thing. I have valued it at twenty shillings. I have no partner. GEORGE BANKS. I am a servant to Mr. Foulkes. I served the prisoner when she came into the shop. She asked to look at some printed cottons to make frocks. Thomas Richardson shewed her some; she was twenty minutes at the counter. There were a great many pieces shewn to her; she bought two quantities, it came to four shillings. I was not aware that she had taken any thing, when she went out of the shop. I suspected her by her walk; I went after her and brought her back. She had got about a yard from the door; I told her to come back; that she had got something that did not belong to her. She dropped the piece of printed cotton on the sill of the door as I brought her back; it dropped from underneath her petticoats. It was only from her manner of walking, that I suspected her. I received no information from any one. There was nobody in the shop but Richardson, myself, and master, and another young man. He was at the other counter. Mr. Foulkes. There was another shopman in the shop; he was not serving. THOMAS RICHARDSON. I assisted in serving the prisoner at the counter. I did not perceive her take any thing. The property produced and identified. Prisoner's Defence. I did not take the cotton at all. When I was at the door, the cotton dropped off a chair at the door. GUILTY, aged 21, Of stealing, but not privately. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org) 1814 Muster: No record found. 1815 – “THE Public are hereby Cautioned against giving Credit to my Wife, Mary Wright, as I will not be responsible for any Debts she may contract. No. 7 York-street, Sydney. G. WRIGHT.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 23/12/1815, p2) [Note: This appears to be “our” Mary Jones.] 1822 Muster: Mary JONES, FBS, Brox, 7 years, wife of G Wright, Sydney (A11570) & spouse – George WRIGHT, TL, Somersetshire, life, husband of M Jones (A23323) & child – George WRIGHT, aged 5, BC (son of M Jones A23324) 1822 - George Wright per ship Somersetshire 1814, informed the authorities that contrary to government orders, 2 assigned servants were engaged in plastering the house of Mr Bacon in George St. He stated that one of the men was supposed to be assigned to Sir John Jamison & that George could prove it. George said he was a family man and had a “large family to support” & hoped to be rewarded for the info. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Received Reel 6056; 4/1763 p297) 1823 – “PUBLIC NOTICE. THE undermentioned Persons have obtained Certificates, Conditional Pardons, or Tickets of Leave, during the last Week : CERTIFICATES. Broxbornebury, Mary JONES…etc” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 11/09/1823, p1) 1823-1825 Muster: Mary JONES, FS, Brox, 7 years, wife of G Wright, Sydney (27313) & spouse – George WRIGHT, TL, Somersetshire 1814, life, plasterer, Sydney (46582) & children – Mary 10 & George 8 – both BC, both as WRIGHT, child of G. Wright, plasterer, Sydney 1825, November – George was listed to receive a CP. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Fiche 3292; 4/6974.1 pp47 & 75) 1828 Census: George WRIGHT, 36, TL, Somersetshire, life, prot, plasterer to John Ewings, Harrington St, Sydney (W2675) & son – George WRIGHT, 12, BC, prot, servant to James Clark, [a tinsmith], Pitt St, Sydney. No record found for Mary. 1829 – George Wright, prisoner per ship Somersetshire, was tried at the General Sessions in Sydney on 10/11/1829, charged with “stealing”. George received a sentence of “Iron Gang, 3 months” at Parramatta. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930 for Sydney Gaol; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6431; Roll: 851) NSW BDM: 1) No record of marriage found for Mary & George Wright. Children born to George Wright and Mary Jones: • Mary WRIGHT/JONES born c1815, died? • George WRIGHT/JONES born c1817, died? 2) No record of death found for Mary Jones. 3) George Wright died ? “Women of Botany Bay” - pages 330-1 – “Mary Jones, “Broxbornebury”, went alone to a linen-draper in Convent Garden &, after being served by the shop’s boy, left “walking in a singular manner”, she was brought back, dropped 21 yards of printed calico at the door, & was apprehended & convicted.” Jess’ Girls – SAG:  1818 – servant  1822 – Muster  1825 – FS, 7 years, wife of George Wright, Sydney  Indent – TL 792 Convict Indent, TOL & Conditional Pardon: George Wright arrived in Sydney on the ship Somersetshire (1) on 16 Oct 1814. He had been tried at Middlesex [see trial record below] on 27 Oct 1813 & received a life sentence. He was described as a native of London, a plasterer, aged 22, 5’5¼” tall, fair ruddy complexion, light brown hair & hazel eyes. TL – 1563. CP – 610. 1813 - GEORGE WRIGHT, Theft > theft from a specified place, 27th October 1813. 1055. GEORGE WRIGHT was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 9th of October, a plated dish and cover, value 2 l. and a tablecloth, value 10 s. the property of John Wilson, in his dwelling-house. SAMUEL BOLEY . I am a servant to Mr. Wilson; he is a commissioner of his Majesty, for the West Indies ; he has an office No. 10, Spring-gardens. I lost these things on the 9th of October, at half after nine o'clock in the morning, from No. 16, Devonshire-street, Portland-place ; I lost them out of the pantry; I left the pantry locked, at that time the key was outside in the door. I went into the kitchen to take some bread up stairs for breakfast. The area gate is left open until a certain time in the day, in order to prevent dirt from coming in at the front door. It is a regular rule to lock it up at two o'clock in the day. The key is given to my master every night; he puts the key out in the morning; it is unlocked at eight o'clock, or near nine sometimes. I went up stairs to take some bread, I returned in five minutes, not more than six, to the outside; I found the door open, I missed the dish and cover, which I had left facing the pantry-door; I immediately went into the street, supposing somebody had been there, and saw the prisoner running with a parcel before him; the parcel was supported with his two hands before him; I pursued him, and overtook him in Norton-street; we saw about six hundred yards altogether, before I overtook him; when I got within twenty yards of him, I called stop thief; he then let the dish and cover fall, continuing to run as fast as he could; there were two men approaching at that time in Buckingham-street, they attempted to stop him, he crossed over; I laid hold of him, I collared him; he said, he hoped I would let him go at liberty as it was his first offence. I took him back to my master's house; another man carried the dish and cover, and tablecloth. They are here. ELIZABETH ANDERSON. I was up stairs, about half past nine o'clock, I saw the prisoner go down the area, and come up again; my fellow servant came up the area steps. I asked him if he wanted that man that came up the area, I could not hear whether he made any answer or not. I said he was gone up Portland-place; he pursued him. When the prisoner came up the area, he had a parcel before him covered with a white cloth. JOHN FOY. The dish, tablecloth, and cover, I received it into my custody. I produce them. Anderson. The tablecloth is my master's, it has the initials of his name and the dish and cover; is my master's. Prisoner's Defence. I had been out of work some time; coming along Devonshire-street a gentleman asked me to carry this parcel; as I was out of work I carried it for him. Q. to Boley. This is your master's dwelling-house, is it - A. Yes; it is in the parish of Mary-le-bone. GUILTY - DEATH, aged 19. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org) George received his first TOL in 1826. The TOL 35/114 was received on 25/03/1835. George Wright was described as year of birth 1792, native of London, 5’5¼” tall, fair ruddy complexion, flaxen hair & hazel eyes. It was cancelled for “disorderly conduct” in 1838 & restored in 1842 (#42/0876). Surname Firstname Vessel Year No Date RecordType Citation Remarks WRIGHT George Somersetshire 1814 42/0876 19 Sep 1842 Ticket of Leave Passport [4/4247; Reel 970] By Mr Ryans order WRIGHT George Somersetshire 1814 42/2282 1842 Ticket of Leave [4/4167; Reel 945] District: Port Macquarie. Born: London; Trade: Plasterer; Tried: MGD WRIGHT George Somersetshire 1814 26/213 1826 Ticket of Leave [4/4060; Reel 890] District: Sydney; Born: London 1792; Trade: Plasterer; Tried: MGD 1813 WRIGHT George Somersetshire 1814 29/430 1829 Ticket of Leave [4/4071; Reel 912] District: Sydney WRIGHT George Somersetshire 1814 28/400 1828 Ticket of Leave [4/4068; Reel 911] District: Sydney; Born: London 1792; Trade: Plasterer; Tried: MGD 1813 WRIGHT George Somersetshire 1814 35/114 1835 Ticket of Leave [4/4097; Reel 922] District: Camden; Born: London; Trade: Plaisterer; Tried: MGD (Source: SRNSW Index to Tickets of Leave) 1845 - George Wright received an Conditional Pardon #45/610 on 13/08/1845, by Gov. Gipps & was described as year of birth 1792, native of London, a “plaisterer”, 5’5¼” tall, fair ruddy complexion, light brown hair & hazel eyes. He had been recommended by: W Bland; E Hood JP; John Macarthur JP; William Gray PM. (Source: SRNSW Conditional Pardon, 4/4447, Reel 782; Recommended Conditional Pardon, 4/4479; Reel 797 Page 092) 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

48

jennifer burgess on 14th August 2022

Mary Jones appears on 1822 muster F/S wife of G Wright Sydney and on 1823-25 muster with same information.