Mary Phillips

75

iain Frazier on 11th February 2024

MORE REFERENCES Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land'

75

iain Frazier on 11th February 2024

Family connections for Mary (Phillips) are: Some amendments added Nov 2025. PHILLIPS Mary (Phillips) was born about 1761. She was tried for housebreaking & stealing from Nathaniel (Thorney) at Taunton Assizes Somersetshire in April 1786, sentenced to 7years, embarked on First Fleet ship CHARLOTTE, transferred to FRIENDSHIP at Rio de Janeiro as one of the disruptive women on board, & transferred again to PRINCE OF WALES at Cape of Good Hope & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a journey of 8months. She associated firstly with 2jealous marines then Alexander (McDonald), her third? (3of8) relationship, another marine. During this time she received 25lashes for behaviour.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] Alexander (McDonald) was born in 1755 possibly in Scotland. He arrived in NSW as a marine on 21 1 1788 after a voyage of 6months on First Fleet ship FRIENDSHIP. He joined the NSW Corps. He married secondly Mary (Oliver) on 18 3 1792 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was quartermaster sergeant when he died on 21 12 1821 age abou66 father of 2known children, drowned in boating accident Cockle Bay Parramatta River w/wife & son in law Thomas (Styles); he had 130acres at the Flats Field of Mars Epping which he bequeathed to Sergeant John (Woodhouse) an ex quartermaster sergeant. [Mary (Oliver) was born in 1770. She was tried at Kent Assizes Maidstone on 19 3 1787, sentenced to 14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship MARY ANN/E. She died on 21 12 1821 age abou51 drowned in boating accident Cockle Bay Parramatta River w/husband & son in law Thomas (Styles).] [Some details taken from this Website .. Mary (Phillips) & Alexander (McDonald) produced 1child: 1.James (McDonald) was born in 1789 & baptised on 5 9 1789 at St Phillips CofE Sydney Cove. He went to Norfolk Island with his mother on HMS SIRIUS on 4 3 1790 arriving on 13th-the date of its sinking on reef near Kingston Pier Slaughter Bay. He was recorded as off stores in February 1805 on Norfolk Island: [or maybe this was James (McDonald/Woods) son of John (Woods/Mary (McDonald)]. He moved with his mother & her family as part of the second evacuation on 18 2 1813 on MINSTREL to Port Dalrymple Tasmania & lived at Norfolk Plains (now Pateena). A James (McDonald) is recorded as having a relationship with Catherine (Ridge) whom he, as a labourer, married on 9 4 1821 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. ..Catherine (Ridge) is recorded as born in 180x's-no parents given. ..Details of Catherine (Ridge)s family are given in entry for Richard (Ridge ATLANTIC 1791) on this Website. ..This James (McDonald) & Catherine (Ridge) produced 1child: ..1.Daniel (McDonald) was born in 1818. .. >>>Mary (Phillips) was sent to Norfolk Island with a son on HMS SIRIUS or LADY PENRHYN on 4 3 1790 arriving on 13/17th (the date of the sinking of HMS SIRIUS on reef near Kingston Pier Slaughter Bay. She married fourthly (4of8) Thomas (Spencer his first (1of3?)) on 27 11 1791 (apparantly not in the group ceremony earlier that month) on Norfolk Island.>>> Thomas (Spencer) became a gardener. He arrived in NSW as a marine on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 12months on First Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH. He is recorded as being sent to Norfolk Island, arriving on 17 3 1790-although he is also recorded as discharged as a marine in Sydney in October 1791 & sailed to Norfolk Island on 26 10 1791. He is recorded in 1794 as previously being a gardener.>>> Mary (Phillips) & Thomas (Spencer) produced 1child: between the 2children fathered by James (Riley 1.Sarah (Spencer) was born on 27 11 1791 on Norfolk Island. She was recorded as child off stores in February 1805 on Norfolk Island. She moved with her mother & her family as part of the second evacuation on 18 2 1813 on MINSTREL to Port Dalrymple Tasmania & lived at Norfolk Plains (now Pateena); then apparantly lived with her father. She married firstly Charles (Hadley his second marriage) on 13 4 1812 at St Matthews CofE Windsor & produced 10children.>>> ..Charles (Hadley) was born about 1777. He was tried for shop lifting at Warwick Assizes in July 1790, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of perhaps 6months on Fleet ship MATILDA; he was Protestant (CofE). He had a first relationship with Catherine (Keenan her second relationship). He was Free by Servitude by 1809. He established Coach & Inn business connections. He was recorded in 1826 as an innkeeper,in 1827 as a farme & at Castlereagh in 1828. He died on 29 9 1828 age51 father of 11children & was buried at Christ Church Castlereagh. [Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Sarah (Spencer) had a second relationship with John (Griffiths) & produced 1child. She died on 9 5 1888 [Smee records the death on Norfolk Island] age93 mother of at least 11children.] ..John (Griffiths) was born on 23 8 1801. He may have been involved in the business activities of his father in Richmond/Van Diemens Land. He was recorded in 1830 as a farmer. He died on 2 1 1881 age79. ..Details of John (Griffiths)s family are given in entry for Jonathan (Griffiths SCARBOROUGH 1790) on this Website. .. >>>Thomas (Spencer) left Norfolk Island on 8 4 1796. He later lived at Richmond & married secondly (2of3?) Susannah (-/Ready maybe her second relationship) on 12 11 1810 at St Peters CofE Richmond.>>> [a Susannah (Reddy) was servant of James (Ives) at Tasburgh when tried for stealing coats of James (Hardy) at Norfolk Quarter Sessions in late 1808 or on 11 1 1809, , sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 18 8 1809 after a voyage of 6months on INDISPENSABLE. She may have had an earlier relationship/marriage.] [These details taken from this Website] .. >>>Thomas (Spencer) may have had a third marriage with Esther (???). He died on 5 2 1821 age61 at Richmond father of maybe 2children & was buried, as former marine, at St Peters CofE Richmond. [Noted that a Thomas (Spencer) & Esther (???) are recorded as producing 1child:] [1.Henry (Spencer) was born on 22 8 1819 & baptised on 24 8 1853 age34+ at St Davids Port Arthur Van Diemens Land (Tasmania.] .. .. >>>Mary (Phillips) was sent to Norfolk Island with a son on HMS SIRIUS on 4 3 1790 arriving on 14 3 1790 (the date of its sinking on reef near Kingston Pier Slaughter Bay). She had a fifth (5of8) relationship with James (Riley).>>> James (Riley) arrived in NSW as a marine in 1788 on First fleet ship HMS SIRIUS. He was discharged as a marine at Sydney in October 1791 & sailed for Norfolk Island in January 1792 on CHARLOTTE. He is recorded as James (Reilly) farmer on Norfolk Island in 1794 & as on 16acres (plot23 on south side of island between Queensborough & Kingston) of Richard (Slaney) in 1796. He died on 15/21 10 1801 on Norfolk Island. Mary (Phillips) & James (Riley) produced 2children: 1.John (Riley) was born on 19 12 1793 on Norfolk Island. He moved with his mother as part of the second evacuation on 18 2 1813 on MINSTREL to Port Dalrymple Tasmania & lived at Norfolk Plains (now Pateena). He died on 20 3 1883 age89. It is possible he is the same person as John (Stevens) recorded just below. 2.Elizabeth (Riley) was born in 1796 on Norfolk Island. She used also her stepfathers name (Stevens). She moved with her mother as part of the second evacuation on 18 2 1813 on MINSTREL to Port Dalrymple Tasmania & lived at Norfolk Plains (now Pateena). She married William (Saltmarsh) on 18 11 1819 at St Johns CofE Launceston Tasmania. She died on 5 9 1840 age about44. ..William (Saltmarsh) was born on 13/18 8 1792 [another source says 17 12 1793] on Norfolk Island & recorded at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He moved with his stepfather as part of the second evacuation of Norfolk Island to Tasmania on 18 2 1813 on MINSTREL. He became a farmer at Launceston Tasmania. He died on 21 11 1863 age71 at Norfolk Plains Tasmania. ..Details of William (Saltmarsh)s family are given in entry for William (Saltmarsh ALEXANDER 1788. .. [Information just above favours that shown in Smees records. Information in Ref:'People...' differs as follows:] [Mary (Phillips) & James (Riley) produced 3children:] [1.John (Riley) was born in March 1790 on Norfolk Island.] [2.Sarah (Riley) was born on 2 7 1791 on Norfolk Island. [She was apparantly the daughter of Thomas (Spencer)] [3.Elizabeth (Riley) was born on 19 12 1793 on Norfolk Island.] .. >>>Mary (Phillips) was Free by Servitude by 1795 & had a sixth (6of8) relationship with William (Saltmarsh Free by Servitude his third relationship.>>> William (Saltmarsh) was born about 1770 at Kingston upon Thames & became a cooper. He was tried w/1other for stealing with force of arms handkerchiefs of shop Putney at Kingston upon Thames Surrey Assizes in 1795, sentenced to 7years, held on hulks & arrived in NSW as a convict in January 1788 after a long voyage on First Fleet ship ALEXANDER/SCARBOROUGH. He had a first (1of3) relationship with Elizabeth (Holligan) & produced 1child. He was sent to Norfolk Island on ALEXANDER arrivng on 7 8 1790. He had a second (2of3) relationship with Mary (Butler). He left Norfolk Island on 1 5 1792 on PITT. He was Free by Servitude by 1795. He produced 3children in his lifetime. [Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Mary (Phillips) had a seventh (7of8) relationship with Thomas (Stevens) & produced perhaps 3children. She is recorded as sentence expired on stores in February 1805. She moved with her extended family as part of the second evacuation on 10/18 2 1813 on MINSTREL to Port Dalrymple Tasmania, arriving on 4 3 1813; & lived at Norfolk Plains (now Pateena).>>> Thomas (Stevens) was born about 1763 in Derbyshire. He was tried for stealing copper, on 23 3 1788, at Old Bailey on 21 2 1789, sentenced to 7years, held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 21 8 1791 after a voyage of 5months on Fleet ship SALAMANDER; then to Norfolk Island arriving on 23 4 1791; although he is stated to have been a stowaway on PITT on 23 4 1792 bound for Norfolk Island. He bacame a labourer & boatowner. [A Thomas (Stephens) was witness at wedding Joseph (Hall)/Mary (Johnson) on Norfolk Island on 22 7 1801 (this marriage recorded as in November 1791 in group ceremony) & was recorded in February 1805 as a labourer on the island.] He is recorded as a labourer sentence expired & Free by Servitude off stores in February 1805 & Free by Servitude by 1809. He moved with his family as part of the second evacuation [Ref:'Forgotten...' showes his name as John] on 18 2 1813 on MINSTREL to Port Dalrymple Tasmania, arriving on 4 3 1813; & lived at Norfolk Plains (now Pateena). He received several land grants exceeding 85acres. In 1815 he was appointed District Constable. He is recorded in 1819 at Port Dalrymple muster. He died on 18 8 1831 age68 & was buried at Christ Church Longford. [Some details taken from this Website. Smee records a Thomas (Stephens) from same Fleet who died on 25 11 1791 & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta-not recorded on this Website.] .. >>>Mary (Phillips) produced 1more child. She is recorded in 1819 at Port Dalrymple muster. She died on 22 1 1850 mother of maybe 5children & was buried at Christ Church Longford; a memorial plaque is fixed to her headstone now at Memorial Enclosure Christ Church. [However she is recorded in Ref:'People...' as dying on 15 10 1801 on Norfolk Island.] 1.Mary (???/Phillips) was born in 1814 & baptised on 14 3 1814 at St Johns CofE Launceston. REFERENCES Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Clem Sargent 'Colonial Garrison 1817-1824-48th foot Northamptonshire Regiment in the colony of New South Wales'

221

D Wong on 6th March 2018

Mary Phillips was transported aboard the ship 'Charlotte". Mary was one of 6 women transferred to the ship 'Friendship' at Rio on 11 Aug 1787. On 28 Oct at the Cape of Good Hope she was again transferred to the ship 'Prince of Wales' in which she arrived in NSW.

Mary Phillips was committed for trial in April 1786 at Taunton, Somerset. She was found guilty of breaking into the home of Nathaniel Shorney and stealing goods to the value of 18 shillings. She was sentenced to be hanged but was reprieved and sentenced to transportation for seven years. Mary sailed aboard 'Charlotte' for Sydney Cove with the first fleet. She was among the badly behaved women convicts who were transferred to 'Frienship' at Rio. Clarke reports in his diary that they had received "six of the worst from the Charlotte which I don't think is right". He was more than glad to see them go when they were again moved at the Cape, this time to make way for the animals. So Mary actually arrived on 'Prince of Wales'. Mary's first months in her new home were not peaceful. She was the cause of a brawl between two marines, who both felt they had a right to her favours. Mary was abused and punched and the losing marine, Thomas Bullmore was kicked to death by the victor, James Baker. She was punished with 25 lashes for using a spade as a baking dish and was witness to the theft of another cooking utensil. As a result of her association with another marine, Alexander McDonald, she had a son James born on 5 September 1789 at Sydney Cove. Mary and her son went to Norfolk Island on 'Sirius' on 4 March 1790. She had a new protector, another marine named Thomas Spencer by whom she had a daughter, Sarah, born 27 November 1791. Years later, Sarah and her father lived at Richmond NSW where Sarah married and Thomas buried at St Peter's Church of England, Richmond. Thomas's grave bears a Fellowship plaque and Sarah's descendants still occupy Hadley House on the banks of the Nepean River. Mary finally settled down with Thomas Stevens, a convict who had been tried at the Old Bailey in 1789 for stealing 90 pounds weight of copper, value 40 shillings and sentenced to seven years transportation. They remained together on Norfolk Island untill 1813 and had three children. The family was embarked on 'Minstrel' for Port Dalrymple Tasmania along with other Norkolk Islanders. They established the first settlement at Norfolk Plains East (now Pateena). Here the Stevens family prospered. They received several land grants including on of 85 acres and some government stock. Thomas was appointed District Constable. Their children also prospered. John Stevens and his wife Mary Trimby lived all their lives at Norfolk Plains. Elizabeth Stevens married William Saltmarsh son of First Fleeter William saltmarsh and had a family of six sons and five daughters. Mary Stevens married Richard Puffin and had a family of four children at Norfolk Plains before settling at Perth Tasmania. Thomas Stevens lived to the age of a68 and died at his residence in 1831. Mary (Phillips) Stevens survived her husband by 19 years and died in 1850 aged 81 years. Both are buried in the cemetery at Christ Church, Longford. In 1998 the Fellowship dedicated a memorial plaque to Mary, fixed to her relocated headston in a Memorial Enclosure at Christ Church.