Mary Mccarthy

53

Beth Taylor on 9th February 2026

TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1790 Sentenced: 01/12/1813 Middlesex [see trial record below] to transportation for 7 years 1813 - MARY MACARTHY (sic), Theft > pocketpicking, 1st December 1813. 45. MARY MACARTHY was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 28th of November, five 1 l. bank notes, the property of Thomas Cole, from his person . THOMAS COLE. I am bailiff to Mr. Crowley. On the 28th of November, I was passing along Oxford-street, about ten o'clock at night; at the end of Portman-street the prisoner came up to me, she asked me to go with her; I told her I would not go with her. I was going home to Paddington; she followed me to Paddington. I turned down Edgeware-road ; she wanted me to treat her; I pushed her from me two or three times. She put her hand about my body; I had my hand out of my pocket. When I pushed her from me, I did not observe her hand in my pocket. It struck me that she had taken something from me when I saw her run from me, and within two or three minutes afterwards I missed my purse from out of my right hand breeches pocket; my purse contained a five-pound bank note, two two-pound bank notes, and thirteen ones. When I missed my purse the prisoner was entirely out of my sight; I then went to the watchhouse, and gave information to the officers of the night. Q. When did you afterwards see the prisoner - A. The next morning, about twelve o'clock, I saw her in the street near where she lodged. Q. Now, look at the prisoner - A. I am sure she is the woman. I saw some of my notes found in the prisoner's box, in her room; the prisoner owned the box. JOHN LANGLEY. I am a constable. On Sunday night, between ten and eleven, the prosecutor came to me at the watchhouse; he described the prisoner to me. I found her in Puckeridge-street. Newitt, the prosecutor, Cole, and I, were together standing in Puckeridge-street; the prisoner came along, the prosecutor pointed towards the prisoner, and said that is the woman; we took hold of her, and brought her to Marlborough-street, and locked her up. We obtained a search warrant; we went to Church-lane with the warrant. I learned by the officer of the night that she lived there and it proved to be correct. We found in her box five one-pound notes. Newitt, and the prosecutor were with me. WILLIAM NEWITT. I produce the notes; I took them out of the box. Q. You went to a room which you supposed to be occupied by the prisoner - A. We did, where her box was found. I opened the box with a pocket, in the presence of the last witness, and the prosecutor. I found five one-pound notes; I have had them ever since. Q. Did you know the prisoner before - A. Yes. She came out of that house directly we went there. Q. to Prosecutor. You say there were thirteen one-pound bank notes - A. Yes. Q. Can you describe the numbers upon any one of the bank notes - A. I can describe the marks upon five of these notes were P. Green, 1127, and the notes produced by the officer have P. Green, 1127, upon three of them. JOSEPH ORIENSHEW. I am agent to Crowley and Co. Canal-carriers. The three notes marked P. Green and Co. I paid them to the prosecutor; I wrote P. Green and Co. 1127, on Saturday, the 27th of November. Prisoner's Defence. The prosecutor gave me three one-pound notes; after we had been drinking at the public-house together, he asked me how many notes he had given me; I said, three. He said, one was enough, if I did not give him two of them back again he would have me in Newgate. I am a stranger in the country. GUILTY, aged 23. Transported for Seven Years. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Watson. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org ) Crime: Feloniously stealing Previous Occupation: Housekeeper Age on Convict Indent: 25 Certificate of Freedom 2832 (indent) 1814 Muster: Mary McCARTY, con, Brox, off stores, servant to T Prosser, Windsor (1855) 1814, 5 Feb. – James Cobb & 2 others had been bushrangers & captured by 2 Constables. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Reel 6038; SZ758 p456) 1814, 17 March – James COBB, Isaac Walker & Guiseppe La Rosa were charged with using “force & arms on the King’s Highway” on 17 Jan & they appeared before Judge Bent. (SRNSW Court of Criminal Jurisdiction, Reel 2391; 5/1144 p335) 1814, 22 March – The 3 men above were charged with assaulting Samuel Larkin, “putting him in fear and feloniously and violently stealing from his person against his will, one promissory note given value 5 pounds…” To this charged they pleaded not guilty. They were also charged with stealing from Henry Taylor on 17 Jan. They were sentenced to be “hanged by the necks until they are severally dead”. (SRNSW Court of Criminal Jurisdiction, Reel 2390; 5/1119-1121 pp223-8) 1814, 29 April – James & 3 others were sentenced to be hanged but had this commuted to a life sentence, to be employed at hard labour. They were described as “dangerous and desperate ruffians”. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6004; 4/3493 p158) 1814, 31 Oct. James Cobb, per ship Anne, and Elizabeth Pierce per ship Minstrel, were listed as runaway convicts from Newcastle. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent, Reel 6004, 4/3493, p388) 1814, 5 Nov. – “James Cobb and Elizabeth Pierce that have absconded on the 31st October have been apprehended”. (From Newcastle). (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Received Reel 6066; 4/1805 p169) 1814, 27 Dec. – Mary McCarty was on a list of prisoners sent to Newcastle on the ship Lady Nelson from Sydney. She had been sentenced to a 3 year term by Rev Robert Cartwright. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6004; 4/3493 p404) 1817, 17 Nov. – Mary, at Newcastle, a prisoner, was given a pass to go to Sydney for 2 weeks, as she was “industrious and well-behaved”. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Received Reel 6066; 4/1806 p71) 1822 Muster: No record found for Mary – she died in July 1822. James COBB, con, Anne, life, govt employ, Newcastle 1823, 12 Jan. – James, overseer of Newcastle, petitioned Gov Brisbane for a TOL. He stated he had been tried in 1813 in Sydney & was given a life sentence. He had served 9 years, 6 of them as an overseer of the bullock drivers & had been on good behaviour. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Petitions Fiche 3230; 4/1869 p29) 1825 Muster: James COBB, con, Anne, life, govt employ, Port Macquarie [Home Office copy, 1825 Muster only] 1824 , 22 Jan.– “POLICE OFFICE 29th JUNE 1824. WHEREAS JAMES COBB, a Prisoner of the Crown, per Anne (I), stands charged with having Stolen from or near the Settlement, of Newcastle, or Hunter's River, a Black Mare, 14 hands and an half high, with a white star on her forehead, and white on her fore legs, between 7 and 8 years old;-All Constables, and Others, are hereby commanded and required to use their utmost Endeavours to apprehend the said James Cobb, and lodge him in safe Custody, to be dealt with according to Law. The said James Cobb is about 5 feet 8 inches in height, sandy hair, fair complexion, and light grey eyes. D Wentworth, Superintendent of Police.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 22/01/1824, p1) 1828, 5 May – James Cobb, per ship Anne, was listed as having absconded from the Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney for the 2nd time. (Source: Sydney Gazette, 05/05/1828, p4) 1837 Convict Muster: James Cobb, Age: 56; Arrived per Anne 1808; Occupation/Residence &c: Govt, Sydney [Note: Possibly the list was prepared in late 1836?] NSW BDM: 1) James Cobb, Bachelor, Abode: Newcastle, Labourer & Overseer, Signed; & Mary McCarty, Spinster, Abode: Newcastle, Signed; married 06 Aug 1818 Christ Church of England Newcastle by Special Licence by William Cowper; Witness: John Bently, Signed X; Witness: Mary Buffy, Signed X. (Source: Christ Church, Church of England, Newcastle NSW: Church Register - Marriages (Clergy Returns); SRNSW Reel 5003 Vol. 9 & V1818-11-9) 2) Mary Cobb formerly Mary McCarty, Free by Servitude; Died [1822] [Newcastle district], Aged: 38; Buried 17 Jul 1822 [Newcastle] by [Reverend] G A Middleton; Registered at Christ Church of England Newcastle, Arrived per Broxbornebury. Source: Christ Church, Church of England, Newcastle: Church Register - Burials (Clergy Returns); SRNSW Reel 5002-5003 Vol. 9-15; Vol Entry# 20 & V1822-5457-2B & 20-9) 3) James COBB died aged 51 at the General Hospital Sydney on 14/12/1836. Two records found on convict deaths, one stated he was per ship Anne 2 & the other per Malabar. His ship’s indent shows he died in hospital in 1836. (Source: www.ancestry.com.au SRNSW New South Wales, Australia, Convict Death Register, 1826-1879, Series 12213, SR Reel 690 & V1836-476-20) Jess’ Girls – SAG:  Alias McArding  1814 – Muster  1818 – FF, Parra  10 Dec 1814 – sent for 3 years to Newcastle  Mutch – as McCarty, married James Cobb on 3 Aug 1818, Newcastle  Reel CY 568 – as Cobb, aged 28 (?), FS, died 1822 Newcastle “Women of Botany Bay - pages 69 & 95 – …or was Mary McCarty (Broxbornebury) a more deserving case? “I am a poor woman with 3 children, without a father.” Aged 44 [should be 23] she had shoplifted 24 yards of calico. [Her trial was for taking money & there were no children mentioned. I think Portia has mixed up her story with someone else]. Mary McCarty pleaded “I am a stranger in the country.” Convict Indent & Records for James COBB: James Cobb reached NSW on the ship Anne (2) on 26 Feb 1810. He had been tried at Surrey Assize on 22 March 1809 [see trial record – from Judith Williams] & was given a sentence of death, reprieved to a term of transportation for life. The indent also stated that James died in Sydney Gaol Hospital on 14 Dec 1836. 1810, 14 July – James Cobb was bound to appear before the next sitting of the Court, in the case of Timothy Warren. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Court of Criminal Jurisdiction, Reel 2392; 5/1152 p401) [Future spouse of Mary] 1810, 23 Oct. – James appeared before Judge Ellis Bent charged with “assault & stealing with arms” from Timothy Warren. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Court of Criminal Jurisdiction, Reel 2392; 5/1152 p201) 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