Isabella Manson

48

jennifer burgess on 28th July 2022

Isabella Manson is on the 1828 census, as Isabella Kew age 73, housekeeper to Joseph Foulkes at Lower Portland Head. Jospeh Foulkes had been working on John and Isabella's property before John died. Isabella remained with Joseph until her death. Isabella's female line descendants have a DNA Haplogroup V25.

54

Phil Hands on 6th April 2017

Isabella Manson and John Smith claimed to be married when they rented a furnished room from a watchmaker in Dean Street, near Shadwell Church, for five weeks prior to 12th January 1788. They left without giving notice and were arrested when pawn tickets for some of the missing items were found on Isabella. At a committal hearing at Shadwell Public Office, Isabella, who was able to sign her name, said John Smith was innocent of the whole. She claimed that the landlord's daughter had given her the items to pawn to obtain cash while her mother was away. Asked why she had not mentioned that on her arrest, she replied "I was flurried", she was tried and convicted at the Old Bailey on 27th February 1788 for stealing four cloth coats, a cloth waistcoat, a pair of cloth breeches, a woollen night-gown, a linen petticoat, and a linen pillow-case, the property of Daniel Earle; and a linen apron, the property of Elizabeth Earle, sentenced to transportation for 7 years. Left Englnad on 27th July 1789. Ship:- the 'Lady Juliana' sailed with 226 female convicts of which 5 died during the voyage. Arrived on 3rd June 1790. 9 days after landing in the colony, Isabella married convict John Rowe ('Scarborough' 1788), on 12th June 1790, both were literate, signing their names to the register, they had 5 children between 1793-1801; John 1793, Joseph 1795, Mary 1796, Sarah 1799 & William 1801. July 1791 - Isabella was resident in Sydney when she gave evidence at the trial of William Watkins for burglary. April 1792 - Isabella and her husband were settled on a 30 acre farm (by grant to her husband) at the Northern Boundary Farms. 1797 - Her husband received an additioInal grant of 60 acres at Prospect. 1800 - They were mustered as having only 5 acres of their Prospect farm planted. 1806 - Mustered in the Hawkesbury River district where they leased a 22 acre farm. December 1808 - Isabella's husband John Rowe received a grant of 100 acres at Prospect from the anti-Bligh regime. January 1810 - Isabella petitioned Governor Macquarie for confirmation of the grant. She stated that her husband was confined to bed and further asked that her family and their assigned convict, Michael Higgins ('Boyd' 1809), be placed back on Public rations. John Rowe died at Sydney a few weeks after Isabella had signed the petition. Isabella died on 15th June 1847 at Popran Creek, NSW. Old Bailey Trial Transcription. Reference Number: t17880227-89 229. ISABELLA MANSON was indicted for stealing, on the 5th of January , four cloth coats, value 10 s. a cloth waistcoat, value 3 s. a pair of cloth breeches, value 3 s. a woollen night-gown, value 6 s. a linen petticoat, value 2 s. and a linen pillow-case, value 4 d. the property of Daniel Earle ; and a linen apron, value 2 s. the property of Elizabeth Earle , spinster . (The witnesses were examined apart at the request of the prisoner.) DANIEL EARLE sworn. The prisoner came to lodge with me about a fortnight before Christmas; she was with me about five weeks; she went away on Saturday, the 12th of January; she left the door locked; my daughter found the key in a corner by the room door; we had some suspicion she was gone, and we opened the door, and missed the things mentioned in the indictment (repeating them); she was searched before the Justice, and several duplicates were found upon her, by which some of the things were found again. ELIZABETH EARLE sworn. When the prisoner left our house, I missed the things mentioned in the indictment. William Burlen , a pawnbroker, produced an apron and petticoat, which he had in pledge of the prisoner, and which were deposed to by Elizabeth Earle . - COLE sworn. I searched the prisoner, and found three duplicates upon her. (Producing them.) PRISONER's DEFENCE. Soon after I came to lodge at this house, that young woman's mother went out of town; the young woman desired me to pawn these things for her, which I did; she desired me to keep the duplicates, for she might lose them; some time afterwards, I asked her if I should fetch the things out; she said, no; she had been guilty of pawning three pounds and a half worth of property of her parents to put in the lottery; since I have been taken up, her father and mother said, if I would give them two guineas they would make it up; if not, they would hang me if they could. Court to Elizabeth Earle . Is there any truth in this? - I deny it all, on't please you my honor. You never desired her to pawn the things? - No. GUILTY . Transported for seven years . Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.

105

Denis Pember on 19th April 2016

The family is located in the 1806 muster records: [Ref B0123] John Rowe, Scarborough, 5 wheat, 1 barley, 6 pasture, 10 fallow - 22 acres total. Self and wife Not Victualed, 4 children Not Victualed. [Ref A3837] Isabella Rowe, Lady Juliana, FBS, wife to John Rowe. [Ref C1066] Isabella Rowe, Lady Juliana, 2 male and 2 female (legitimate) children. ### Interesting to note that Isabella is herein recorded with her married name in this muster. There were 4 children to this union, John (1793), Joseph (1795), Mary (1796) and Sarah (1799). Some sources suggest also another son William. John Rowe died in 1810, age given as 60. His wife Isabella (Manson) is described in the 1814 Muster as a widow with 4 children and living at Windsor, all off stores. [Ref 1518] Isabella has not been located in the 1828 Census records. She died in 1847.

60

Eric Harry Daly on 7th January 2013

Isabella Manson was sentenced to seven years transportation at the February 1788 Old Bailey Sessions for the theft of four coats, one waistcoat, a pair of breeches, a woolen nightgown, a petticoat, an apron and a pillow case. Manson and a man with the suspiciously common name of John smith claimed to be married when they rented a furnished room from a watchmaker in Dean Street, near Shadwell Church, for five weeks prior to 12 January 1788. They left without giving notice and were arrested when pawn tickets for some of the missing items were found on Manson. At a committal hearing at Shadwell Public Office, Manson, who was able to sign her name, said John Smith was innocent of the whole. She claimed that the landlord’s daughter had given her the items to pawn to obtain cash for lottery tickets while her mother was away. Asked why she had not mentioned that on her arrest, she replied I was flurried. At Sydney on 12 July 1790, less than six weeks after landing in the colony, Mason married the First Fleet convict John Rowe (b1757, tried Cornwall), both were literate, signing their names to the register.