Jane Mushens

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Penny-Lyn Beale on 31st December 2020

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Ship: Louisa - 1827 No; 23 Name; Jane Mushens. Age; 15. [1814] Reads, Single, Native County; Sunderland Trade; House girl Offence; Stealing money Trial; Durham - 2 March - 7 years - 2 previous Height; 4 ft. 8 in Complexion; Fair freckled Hair; Red Eyes; Dk. Brown Remarks; Well looking Date of Certificate; Assigned; John Wigley, Parramatta Additional Remarks; SISTER; her as Sarah Mushens per "Grenada" [1827] 1831 - Government Labour Exemption Register, 30 June 1831 on recommendation of the Sydney Benach

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Maureen Withey on 27th July 2019

Jane Mushens was the daughter of Richard and Ann Mushens. Both the mother and older sister Sarah were sentenced to be transported in 1826. Sarah Mushens, Monkwearmouth, singlewoman, capitally indicted for stealing from the dwellinghouse of Mr Fairley Downs of the same place, a quantity of wearing apparel, of the value 40s. Evidence clearly proved the robbery had been committed by prisoner; but it appearing that part of the stolen property was described in the indictment as leghorn hats, whereat they were leghorn bonnets, his Lordship directed the Jury to acquit her of capital part of the charge, and she was convicted of stealing articles in a dwelling-house under the value of 40s. To be transported 7 years. Jane Mushens, sister of the last prisoner, aged 15, was indicted for a burglary in the house of Isabella Christie, of Monkwearmouth Shore, on the night of the 25th December last. The father and mother of the prisoner were included in the indictment when it was preferred to the Grand Jury, but the bill was ignored with respect to them. Mr Ingham stated the case to the jury, but it appearing from his statement what the evidence would not specifically fix the offence upon the prisoner, Mr Justice said it would be wasting the time of the Court to proceed with the case, and his Lordship therefore directed acquittal. Ann Mushens, wife of Richard Mushens, of Monkwearmouth, and mother of the last two prisoners, aged 45, was indicted for stealing a shirt and a sheet, the property of Mrs Ann Davison. The evidence fully established the prisoner’s guilt, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. The prisoner was sentenced to be transported for 7 years. Hearing her sentence pronounced, she dropped down in a fit, and in that state, was removed from the bar. Durham Chronicle, 4 Mar 1826 Jane Mushens (16) and Ellen Carr (20), of Bishopwearmouth, were charged with stealing 12s from John Booth, the 30th of November. From the evidence it appeared that the prosecutor Booth, lived at the poor house Bishopwearmouth, kept his money in a box the bed head. The box was locked, and the key placed under a dish. He missed the key, and suspicion falling on the prisoners, a constable was sent for, who saw Carr in the cell of the workhouse. She denied any knowledge of the theft. He found Mushens at her father’s lodgings and on some remonstrance of her father, she consented to show where 4s of the money was deposited. It was found in a straw bed in the workhouse, wrapped up in an old cap. The evidence against Carr having failed, his Lordship directed her acquittal. Verdict Guilty, against Mushens. Sentenced to 7 years transportation. The prisoner Mushens was tried at the last Spring assizes, and again in May, of last year, when she was sentenced to 3 months’ imprisonment. Durham Chronicle, 3 March 1827 There is a baptism for Jane Mushin, 15 Nov 1812 at St Peters, Monkwearmouth, Durham, father Richard Mushin, mother Ann Lough. I have not found her mother Ann Mushin. In the 1828 NSW census at the Government Factory, Parramatta, is Sarah Mushens, 25, transported on the Grenada for 7 years, protestant.

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Maureen Withey on 27th July 2019

Jane Mushins is listed in the 1828 NSW Census at Parramatta, as the 15 year old servant to John Wigley, shoemaker, and his family. 1828 NSW Census at Parramatta John Wigley, age 52, shoemaker, protestant(Indian, 1810, 14 yrs)and his family, wife Elizabeth, age 38, ( Mary Ann, 1816, 7 yrs), children, all born in the colony, Timothy, 9, John, 6, and Susannah, 4, and 2 convict servants, Jane Mushins, 15 (Louisa 1827, 7 yrs) and Joseph Burnett, 28, (Malabar, 1819 life).