Ann Rumsby

341

Maureen Withey on 7th May 2023

Colonial Secretary Index. RUMSBY, Ann. Per "Mary Anne", 1822 1822 Aug 17 Re inquiry proposed by James Hall into the conduct of Dr Douglass (Reel 6009; 4/3506 pp.192-193) 1822 Sep 13 Her sentence to Port Macquarie remitted; to be returned to the Factory (Reel 6009; 4/3506 p.261) 1822 Nov 29 Prisoner in the Parramatta Factory. Frederick Garling requesting her attendance in the Supreme Court in Douglass v Hall (Reel 6055; 4/1762 p.119) 1823 Jan 7 Re permission to marry William Bragg at Parramatta (Reel 6010; 4/3507 p.175) BRAGG, Ann. Per "Mary Anne", 1822 as Ann Rumsby (which see also); wife of William Bragg 1823 Oct 14 To be victualled from the Store so long as her husband continued as overseer of the Hospital at Parramatta (Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.418) BRAGG, William. Per "Baring", 1819 1823 Jan 7 Re permission to marry Ann Rumsby at Parramatta (Reel 6010; 4/3507 p.175) 1825 Dec 8 Recommended for appointment as constable in the town of Parramatta by John Harris (Reel 6062; 4/1783 p.21) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Permission to Marry. William Bragge, convict per Baring and Ann Rumsby, convict per Mary Anne. Permission requested dated 7 Jan 1823, at Parramatta, by Revd. Saml. Marsden, Asst. Chaplain.

341

Maureen Withey on 13th April 2022

In 1821 a Norfolk convict made a confession while on the huslk at Sheerness, which includes mention of Ann Rumsby and Edwards: At Sheerness, preparatory to being transported for life, was James Bully, who before his departure made the following confession: I was born at North Walsham, in the year 179?; I came at a very early age to live in Norwich, in the parish of St. Augustine's. About thirteen years of age I went to live servant with Mr. Page, at the Rose Inn: I lived there about seven years, and in the course of that time I got acquainted with bad companions, which caused me to spend all the money I could get. The first crime I committed was, I went into the maids' room, opened a box, and took two pounds out. I went on committing petty crimes till I was turned away; then I went to live at Mr. Geldart's, liquor merchant; I did not live there more than half a year, for I kept going on in the same kind of way as I did at the other place; they found me out, and turned me away. I did not go to service any more; I went about to get what I could. One night I and a boy by the name of Peirce went to Mr. Browne's stables, Magdalen-gates, and broke in, and stole thereout a greatcoat; the same night we stole eight loaves and a cheese and cheese-knife, from a shop at New Catton ; for Mr. Browne's concern we were taken up and tried, and sentenced to four months' imprisonment in Bridewell. When I was released, I got acquainted with some well-known characters in the city, and then I began to be a housebreaker. I and William Meek, and William Golding, went to North Kepps, and broke into a stable; we stole a black mare and brown horse; we were taken up for it, and tried at Thetford ; I and Meek were cleared, Golding was transported for life. We kept going to fairs, pocket-picking, I and Meek, and one not in custody, broke open the house of Mr. Utting, in the parish of St. John's Tiniberhill; we got sixteen pounds and a watch. The week after I and Meek, and three more not in custody, went to Shotesham and broke into a farmhouse, but could get nothing only a sack full of meat. A little while after, I and Meek and Dye, and two more not in custody, went to Long Stratton, and broke into a farm-house, and got a great deal of plate; the same night we went about a mile through the town, and heard of another house, but some one gave the alarm, and we were forced to make the best of our way from thence; about a week after, in Norwich, we broke open a man’s barge, but got very little there but knives and forks. The next we did was a butcher's shop in the shambles; we got seven stone of beef; then, in the day-time, we spent our time in passing forged notes and base coin. One night I and two more not committed, met Mr. Leeds on the Ditches, knocked him and took from him more than two pounds; the next we went to Sparshall's Gardens, in Pockthorpe and opened the bar ; we took from thence two stone bottles of liquor; the next we did was Mr. Gidney's warehouse; we took from thence two sacks of nuts. I and one not committed went to Wroxham, and broke open a gentleman's house there; we got some plate, and two pounds in copper; then we came to Norwich, and one night I and two more not committed met a shrimp-man at the top of Davey-place ; we knocked him down, and took from him his watch, and eleven shillings in money; after that, I and James Tuck and Watts and one more not in custody, met a young man on the Ditches; we knocked him down, and took from him 1/s. and his hat; Tuck and Watts were taken up for it, and committed for trial. The next I did was with John Poll, and two others not committed; we met Mr. Barker on the ditches, we stopped him and took his watch. Poll was taken up and committed for trial; the next, I and two more not committed, broke open Mr. Watling's house, and got many things; we broke 13 locks. I was taken up and condemned at the last Assizes, 1821, to die, but got reprieved for transportation for life. (Signed) JAMES BULLY. P. S. Out of all my companions, Meek, Poll, Tuck, Watts, and Dye, were condemned at the same Assizes with me, but the rest are still at liberty. I forgot to mention, J. Meek, and two not in custody, picked the lock of Mr. Fouldham's house, and took several articles out; Edwards and the young woman, Ann Rumsby, who lived with him, were taken up and but the things being found on her, Edwards got clear, and she was transported at the Quarter Sessions. I and two more not in custody met Mr. Gardiner against the common pump ; I threw him down; we got nothing from him but his hat, for he wound his watch-chain round the button-hole, so that we could not get it, because some person saw us about him, and we were forced to flee him. One morning I and Meek, and three more not in custody, broke into a watchmaker's shop in Bet-street, but got very little, for the watches were taken away. We broke through a door into a grocer's shop; we got one loaf of sugar and some candles; we were prevented from getting more by a little dog's barking, so we went off. Bury and Norwich Post, 31 Oct 1821.

54

Phil Hands on 24th July 2017

Ann was tried and convicted at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions in Norwich on 16th May 1821 for theft, sentenced to transportation for 7 years. Left England on 25th December 1821. Ship:- the 'Mary Anne I' sailed with 108 female convicts on board of which 1 died during the voyage.. Arrived Van Diemans Land on 2nd May 1822, unloaded 45 females. Arrived Sydney on 20th May 1822 with Ann & 61 remaining convicts. Married convict William Bragg ('Baring' 1819) on 3rd February 1823 at Parramatta, they had 8 children between 1823-1842. Norfolk Chronicle Saturday 19th May 1821 p. 2 Ann Rumsby and Charles Edwards were severally charged with stealing from out of the dwelling house of Thos. Foulsham, of St. Augustine's, confectioner, copper coin to the amount of 5l six silver tea spoons and dessert spoons, and some wearing apparel, his property. Edwards was acquitted. Rumsby was convicted and sentenced to seven years transportation. Convict Ann Rumsby was a humble servant girl when she became a pawn in a violent political game between some of the most powerful men in NSW. By defending the honour of the master wrongly accused of seducing her, she found herself in Parramatta Court in 1822, facing retribution. She braved this to tell the truth about a man who had only been kind to her. At the heart of this intriguing story was a Dublin-born Doctor, Henry Grattan Douglass, age 30 years, who had arrived in Sydney with his family in May 1821. He received a warm welcome from Governor Macquarie, was made a Magistrate and rose speedily to prominence. A year later, he was appointed Superintendent of the Female Factory for Convict Women in Parramatta. The Factory was long regarded by the conniving missionary Samuel Marsden as his own domain. With the help of a fellow Magistrate, Hannibal Macarthur, nephew of powerful John Macarthur, Samuel Marsden, the "flogging parson", had meted savage punishments on many convict women under his protection. As a result, Henry G Douglass, a believer in reform, became an enemy of the rigid social elite from the start. Convict Ann Rumsby must have blessed her lucky day when she was plucked from the cruel conditions of the Factory to be a temporary servant in Superintendent Henry G Douglass's home. There are no pictures of her but Governor Brisbane called her "a handsome young girl". Meanwhile conflict had been growing between the humane Governor Macquarie, lenient towards the convicts, and the "exclusives" - the families who wielded most of the colony's wealth and power. They hated the Governor's "emancipists" convicts granted their freedom before their prison sentences expired - reaching high positions. Even more annoying to them was that the Governor entertained such ex-convicts - men like architect Francis Greenway and surgeon William Redfern. Instead, the likes of Hannibal Macarthur and Samuel Marsden believed in the rule of "lash and chains". When the exclusives' conniving led to Governor Macquaries' removal, the elite also prevailed on the House of Commons to investigate colonial rule. Its report demanded that "salutory terror" be restored to the penal settlements. There were to be no more appointments of pardoned convicts as Magistrates or high officials. Upon the arrival of Governor Brisbane (1821 - 1825), the emancipists' mchampion, Dr Henry G Douglass, found an ally and friend, But Henry G Douglass was unaware of how savage his enemies were. The Rumsby plot, designed to bring about his downfall, began on 31 July 1822. Two gentlemen called at the Douglass residence in Parramatta where Ann Rumsby was working. They were John Jamison and James Hall, the latter a surgeon of the convict ship "Mary Anne", on which Ann Rumsby had sailed to Australia. James Hall had seemed agitated. Ann Rumsby was called to accompany the two men to the gate but, strangely, no conversation occurred. Minutes later, the men asked a convict called "Scrummy Jack" Farley to take an urgent message asking Ann Rumsby to come out and meet James Hall. The turnpike keeper later confirmed that "Scrummy Jack" Farley took a message and he saw the girl talking to James Hall. They then disappeared into a thicket. Questioned later by a fellow servant, Ann Rumsby said she had only told James Hall that Henry G Douglass would "be the ruin of her" because he wanted her to marry a convict named William Bragg (or Bragge), who, she said, was hateful. Two days later, Ann Rumsby received an extraordinary letter from James Hall completely misrepresenting her words. In part it read: "Your conduct my dear girl, in having successfully resisted all the attempts that have been made to seduce you, continue to excite my admiration. But should you be in danger, act like a really virtuos girl and scream for help". He (James Hall) said he had made her situation known to the pious Minister Samuel Marsden, to whom she should "tell all". This was followed by a second letter. Samuel Marsden, meeting with Henry G Douglass by chance, suggested - without giving reasons - that he should send the girl (Ann Rumsby) back to the Factory. Meanwhile, Samuel Marsden published the banns for Ann Rumsby's marriage to William Bragge. Next day at breakfast Ann Rumsby, worried lest it be thought she had accused her master of trying to seduce her, told Henry G Douglass of the letters. Shocked, he called in his wife and asked Ann Rumsby to repeat the allegations. James Hall had meanwhile sworn a signed affidavit to Judge Advocate John Wylde. James Hall now alleged Ann Rumsby had ran after him to appeal for help, saying: "That Dr Douglass had taken her out of the factory a few weeks before; that if she continued at Dr Douglass' it would be her ruin; that he would not let her go; that after a week at his house he commenced familiarities with her and progressively to take liberties with her person on every occasion he could without being seen by other servants or his wife". "That several times he had been rude, entering her bedroom and taking indecent liberties with her person whilst she was dressing herself. He had also on some occasions forced her down on a bed and then attempted to raise her clothes and force her to comply with his wishes; his object was to ruin her". Both were ordered to appear before the Parramatta magistrates, where Samuel Marsden said he had been called upon to investigate complaints by Ann Rumsby against her master. Henry G Douglass, meanwhile, arranged to take Ann Rumsby to the Governor to tell him her version of the true events. But before the matter could be resolved, Ann Rumsby was forced to appear before the Bench. Alone, Ann Rumsby faced under oath a panel of five justices for five hours, during which she never once contradicted her testimony in proclaiming her master's total innocence. But the magistrates were determined to disbelieve her. Finally, Samuel Marsden announced their verdict saying: "The Bench have the fullest conviction that Ann Rumsby has been guilty of willful and corrupt perjury". The girl (Ann Rumsby) was to be "taken to HM gaol in Parramatta and then banished to Port Macquarie to serve the remainder of her sentence" - about five years. The colony's first Chief Justice Forbes reviewed the case in 1824 and decreed she "had been illegally tried and sentenced". Thankfully, Governor Brisbane stepped in, saved Ann Rumsby from Port Macquarie and granted her a free pardon. The following year, she was married - incredibly, to William Bragg, by now the overseer of Parramatta's hospital. In an enquiry ordered by the Governor, Henry G Douglass was exonerated from any immorality. He died in 1865, having weathered all political storms. Ann died on 18th March 1850 at Ryde, NSW The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Friday 22nd March 1850 p 2 "Village of Ryde.- An inquest was held at Mr. Dowdell's, Steam Boat Inn, on view of the body of Ann Bragg, wife of William Bragg, district constable of Kissing Point. The husband of the deceased being sworn, stated my late wife was forty-seven years of age, she has been ill six years , Doctors Hill, Gwynne, Robertson, and Rutter, have seen her, Dr Cartwright examined her, and told me to listen at the chest and I would be convinced of her having water on the chest; Dr. Douglass has lately seen her; deceased was in Sydney last week, and came home on Saturday night, and was not worse than usual, she attended divine service on Sunday, and a prayer meeting on Monday ; was as well as usual at family prayer on Monday night ; she retired to read at nine o'clock ; I went to bed at ten o'clock, we conversed about family matters, and upon the sacred scriptures, till two o'clock, I awoke at six o'clock, and saw her out of bed with our grandchild in her arms ; she came into bed again ; I said, " it rains ," she replied "yes, it has thundered and lightened very much," I said, " I will set the tubs to catch the water;" she replied " yes ;" I was in the act of putting on my socks, when I heard her make a noise of hoarseness in the throat ; I said " what is the matter? '" she did not answer; I put my hand on her foot, but she did not move it, as the place was not very light, I lit a candle, and saw she was dead ; I was formerly employed as Dispenser in the Parramatta Hospital, and have seen many sudden deaths from similar causes ; I was of opinion she would die suddenly, and have therefore put written directions in my children's pockets when they have gone to Sydney with her, lest she should die and not be known. Dr. Rutter deposed: I have known the deceased many years, and attended her professionally some years ago; she was labouring under disease of the heart; I have since been in company with five or six other medical practitioners who have attended deceased, and who perfectly concurred with me in reference to the disease ; the water on the chest is merely a symptom of disease of the heart ; sudden death is the usual termination of this disease, and what might have been expected in this instance. The Jury returned a verdict accordingly. "