Ann Parsons

53

Beth Taylor on 8th September 2019

PARSONS, Ann (c1774-1831) Tried - 16 March 1812 Devon Lent Assize Ann was born somewhere between 1774 and 1786 (the records vary) and was committed for trial at the Lent Assize at Devon in 1812. She was a servant and was given a sentence of 7 years transportation for larceny and banished to New South Wales. Parsons was first sent to the Colony in 1812 on the Emu and finally reached Sydney in 1814 on the ship Broxbornebury. BC: 1774 (Indent) or 1786 (1828 Census) or 1781 (death) Sentenced: 16/03/1812 at Devon Lent Assize to transportation for 7 years Crime: Larceny (Source: England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892, Class: HO 27; Piece: 8; Page: 52) ALSO ON SHIP EMU IN 1812 Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent: 40 Certificate of Freedom 4103 (indent) 1814 Muster: Ann PARSONS, con, Broxbornebury, off stores, single, Parramatta (3393) 1822 Muster: No record found 1823-1825 Muster: Ann PARSONS, FS, Broxbornebury 1814, 7 years, employed by Mr Balcombe, Sydney (35873) 1825, 29 July – Ann Parsons per Broxbornebury. received a replacement COF # 145/4103 on 29/07/1825. Ann was described as a servant, native of Devonshire, aged 42, 5'1" tall, florid complexion, brown hair & hazel eyes. (Source: SRNSW Convict Certificates of Freedom, 4/4424, Reel 602) 1827, May – “Police Report. SYDNEY. Ann Parsons, a lady who had been in the stocks for 4 hours, on Saturday last, for drunkenness, was apprehended the same evening, between 9 and 10 o'clock, when she was, as the constable said, “speechless drunk, bawling out murder! Sentenced 6 hours in the stocks.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 30/05/1827, p3) 1828 Census: Ann PARSONS, aged 42, FS, Broxbornebury, prot, laundress at C Dowlings in Cumberland St, Sydney (P0241) [Note: Her employer was Christopher Dowling, a stonemason who had arr free per ship Jupiter in 1823, living in Cumberland St. with his wife Martha (ex-convict midwife) & 3 children.] 1829, 13 March – Ann Parsons, free, was recorded as being admitted to Sydney Gaol in March 1829, a “drunken common prostitute 3rd class 84 days Parramatta” (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6431; Roll: 851.) [Note: Third class women were restricted to menial tasks and hard labour such as stone breaking and oakum picking. Source: http://www.parragirls.org.au/female-factory.php ] 1829, 19 Sept. – Ann Parsons, free per ship Broxbornebury., was recorded as being admitted to Sydney Gaol in March 1831, accused of “notorious prostitute 3rd class 6 months” & sent to Parramatta [Female Factory] on 22 Sept. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818- 1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6431; Roll: 851.) 1831, 19 March – Ann Parsons, free, was recorded as being admitted to Sydney Gaol in March 1831 for “stealing in a dwelling house” & sent to “Trial – Died in General Hospital 19th May.” (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6432; Roll: 851.) [Note: This date must be incorrect as burial record states funeral held in June] NSW BDM: Ann Parsons, aged 50, died at the Sydney Hospital in 1831. The service was held at St James on 23 June 1831 by Rev Hill. (V1831-9634-2C or 1569-15 & also listed under Convict Death Index 1828-1879, Indexed by Lesley Uebel, CD-Rom) 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

221

D Wong on 22nd April 2019

On 11th November 1812 the Emu, commanded by Lieutenant Alexander Bissett R.N., with 49 female convicts on board sailed from England for Hobart. The Emu was captured by the American privateer Holkar. On 17th January 1813 Bissett and the female convicts were landed on the island of St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands where they remained for twelve months before being returned to England. There were forty nine female prisoners on the Broxbornebury who had been tried in 1812 or earlier and most of these were probably those who had previously been sent on the Emu. After 12 months Isabella picked up Emu's captain, crew, and convicts and returned them to England. The convicts were placed on a hulk in Portsmouth harbour and subsequently sent aboard the transport Broxbornebury to Port Jackson. Ann Parsons is listed on both the Emu 1812 and the Broxbornebury 1814. Ancestry Convict Indents: Ann Parsons was listed as 40 years old on arrival - no crime listed. 29/7/1825: COF 23/6/1831: Convict Death Register - Ann Parsons died in the District of Sydney, aged 50 (big discrepancy in age).