Mira Everson

Level 23

Mary Felgate on 23rd April 2019

Margaret Everson (Nee Smith) was born in 1801 at Ilketshall St. Andrew, Suffolk, the daughter of Benjamin Smith and Elizabeth (Nee Pearce). She gave birth to a son George Smith in 1818 whom she baptised at Ilketshall St. Andrew's Church. Margaret married David Everson in 1823 at Redisham.They went on to have eight children. Margaret's husband David Everson was convicted of stealing corn and meal on the 31st December 1832. He was transported to New South Wales for 7 years leaving Margaret with seven children and pregnant with the eighth child, Joseph, who died in 1836. Following her husband's transportation Margaret gave birth to two illegitimate children. Jonathan in 1836, who died as an infant, and Rose Ann in 1843. Neither of the fathers of these children are recorded. Whether she was in a relationship with the father, or fathers, of these children or whether they were the result of casual relationships is not known. 1841 CENSUS - HALESWORTH, SUFFOLK. All born in Suffolk. Everson, Maria (sic) 40 Wash woman Everson, Mary 18 Everson, Hepzibah 16 Everson, David 13 Everson, Louisa 11 Everson, Matilda 10 Everson, Eli 9 THE IPSWICH JOURNAL of 6th July 1844 reports as follows: Margaret Everson, 42, pleaded guilty to a charge of having stolen one coloured cotton handkerchief, of the value of 7d. the property of John Marshall of Halesworth. The prisoner, who had an infant in her arms, appeared to be ill. The Chairman, in passing sentence, said, Margaret Everson, you have pleaded guilty to the present charge, and also to being the same person who was previously convicted, and I am sorry to know that you have been leading a life of systematic pilfering, and that you are training up your family in similar habits, and we therefore think that we shall be acting mercifully towards you, your family, and the neighbourhood in which you have been living, by removing you from this country, and we trust that the sentence we are about to pass upon you will have a better effect than the previous punishments toy have received on summary convictions, and that, should you like to return to this country, you will be found a better character. The sentence of the Court is that you be transported for seven years. The prisoner applied that her baby might "go over the water" with her. The Chairman said he had no power to make such an order, but an application to the proper authorities would have proper attention. On the 11th & 12th March, 1845, eight months following her conviction, Margaret and her fellow convicts were embarked on the convict ship "Tory" at Woolwich. Eventually sailing on the 22nd March bound for Van Dieman's Land. The ship had a complement of 170 female prisoners and 24 children. Despite Margaret's plea to take her baby with her, Rose Ann remained in England. The ship's Surgeon's Journal records the events and conditions of the voyage until they arrived in Hobart on the 4th July following a voyage of three and a half months. As convict voyages go, the journey of the "Tory" was better than many. Margaret assumed the name of Mira on her arrrival in Hobart. It is from a Muster of Convicts document recorded in Hobart we learn of Margaret/Mira's previous offences. She had previously stolen a packet of handkerchieves from a window for which she had served 12 months imprisonment. On another occasion she had served 13 weeks for a riot. It stated she was married with eight children. The surgeon's report stated she has been quiet and industrious. She was stated to be a professed cook, baker, mangler and laundress. A physical description is recorded. She was 5 ft. 3 and a quarter inches tall, aged 42. She had a sallow complexion and long head. Her hair was light brown and she had a long visage. Her forehead was high. Eyebrows brown. Eyes grey. She had a long nose. Her mouth was wide and chin round. She spoke through her nose. Her native place was recorded as St. Andrews, Suffolk. It is also recorded Margaret/Mira's husband David Everson had been transported to N. S. Wales 13 years previously. Her children all full grown at native place. She had brothers Benjamin, William Robert, Samuel and a sister Lucy all at St. Andrews. Mira had recorded a Period of Labour of 6 months Class 2 from the 13th January 1846 to 3rd May 1846. No record has been found which tells us to whom, or where, she was placed as an assigned convict. She applied for a Ticket of Leave on the 6th January 1849. This was granted on the 6th March, 1849. She received her Certificate of Freedom on the 8th July 1851 and the Expiration of her Sentence was advertised in the The Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston, Tas. : 1835 - 1880) Sat 19 Jul 1851 Page 456. Also in the Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899) Sat 19 Jul 1851 Page 8. Both accessed through https://trove.nla.gov.au Mira disappears from the records at that point. Checks of Marriage and Death records revealed no results. Although many remote country life events in Australian States were never registered due to the distances involved. The Tasmanian Genealogy Society have found no trace of her in other convict records or in Passenger Lists of ships leaving Tasmania. It is more than likely Mira did what many others had done and changed her name and started her life with a clean sheet. Myra's infant daughter was taken in by her eldest half brother George Smith and his wife at Halesworth, Suffolk. Myra's husband David Everson died on the 27th January 1860 at Lime Kilns, Roxborough, in the Bathurst region of N.S.W.. He died of injuries accidentally received by a fall from his horse. The informant on the Death Certificate was Thomas Hamond, a neighbour. He was buried at Lime Kilns on the 30th January, 1860.