Mary Read

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Summary

Born
Jan 1774
Conviction
Unknown
Departure
May 1789
Arrival
Jun 1790
Death
Unknown
Step 0 of 0

Personal Information

Name: Mary Read
Gender: Female
Born: 1st Jan 1774
Death: Unknown
Age at death: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Aliases: Mary Reed

Crime

Crime: Unknown
Convicted at: Middlesex Gaol Delivery
Sentence term: 7 years

Voyage

Departed: 31st May 1789
Arrival: 3rd Jun 1790
Place of Arrival: New South Wales

Transportation

Mary Read was transported on the Lady Juliana, departing 31st May 1789 and arriving 3rd Jun 1790 with 247 passengers.

Launched 1777, 401 ton barque, built at Whitby, England. Departed Portsmouth, England on 29 July 1789, via Cape of Good Hope for Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia on 3 June 1790. 1790 voyage carried 226 female passengers (convicts)- 5 of whom died on the trip. 6 children also on board. Significant because it was the first ship to bring all female women to the Colony.

Lady JulianaLady Juliana

References

Primary SourceAustralian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 21 (12)
Source DescriptionThis record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro
Original SourceGreat Britain. Home Office
Compiled ByState Library of Queensland
Database SourceBritish convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database

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Convict Notes

Heather Stevens avatar
46
on 3rd May 2023

On 25 February 1789, at the Old Bailey in London, MARY REED was indicted for stealing, on 20 of February , two shirts, value 4 s. two shifts, value 3 s. four pair of stockings, value 4 s. one bed-gown, value 2 s. two table-cloths, value 5 s. a pocket handkerchief, value 6 d. and a night cap, value 3 d. the property of Mary Segary, a washerwoman, at No. 1 Howland-street. She was found guilty and sentenced to seven years transportation. . https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17890225-73-defend659&div=t17890225-73#highlight She was kept at Newgate Gaol until 14 March when she was embarked on the Lady Juliana, listed as "Mary Read", age 14, in the List of Female Convicts on board the Lady Juliana.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-913390705 In the colony, she cohabited with Alexander Wilson (Neptune 1790). They had children baptised at St John's Church of England, Parramatta: 1) James Willson born 12 June 1792, baptised 8 July 1792. James died later that year. He was buried at Parramatta on 19 December 1792 (recorded as James Reed infant son of Mary Reed). 2) Mary Willson born 23 April 1794, baptised 1 June 1794. daughter of Alexander Willson and Mary Reed. In 1794 they were living on a farm in the Hawkesbury District and a 30 acre grant to Wilson was registered in November. In October 1794 Alexander Wilson gave evidence in the inquest into the death of a native boy on the Hawkesbury. If Alexander Wilson had reported the killing he may have been unpopular with his neighbours. He sold his land prior to 1800 and no further records pertaining to  Alexander and Mary have been found.  They may have left the colony. Their daughter Mary was probably the "Jane Willson" who married Patrick Silk in Parramatta on 3 March 1813. She was referred to as "Mary" in later records. (Note that John Cobley, in The Crimes of the Lady Juliana convicts - 1790 (1989) incorrectly describes Mary as a servant of Mary Segary.)