Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Martha Shaw was transported on the Brothers, departing 20th Nov 1823 and arriving 5th Apr 1824 with 91 passengers.
Brothers (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/5, Page Number 110 - Census - permissions to marry |
| Source Description | This 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 Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
Claims
"3xG Grandmother"
Photos
No photos have been added for Martha Shaw.
Convict Notes
Martha did NOT die in Bathurst 1862 NSW, this was a different Martha Wells (nee Coates) married 3 times and only in Australia 4 years prior to her death.
In 1845 Martha had a child named James to an ex-convict called James Crawley. Conveniently a story was circulated in the local paper at the time that Martha Wells was taken by aboriginals while collecting wood from the family woodpile and killed – that was the story given, probably to hide the shameful tale of her deserting her family. There exists a record of an infant names James Crawley that died in 1849 – maybe her son?
Martha Shaw was born in East London in 1808 On 22nd May, 1823 Martha was indicted for stealing a child’s hat, from a child, at the Stepney Fair in East London to the value of 10 shillings. she was housed in Newgate Prison and was put on trial at the “Old Bailey” on 25th June, 1823. Martha was found guilty by Mr Justice Burrough and sentenced to Transportation to Botany Bay for 14 years. Martha was only 15 years old at this time. She sailed in the ship called “Brothers” who had Captain Charles Motley at the helm. It left the port of the Downs on 6th December, 1823 and arrived at Botany Bay on 7th May, 1823 taking 153 days to voyage, it being the 207th ship to arrive in Sydney. Martha was assigned to William Nichols from Wilberforce from which she absconded in March 1826 and was subsequently assigned to the infamous “Female Factory” at Parramatta under the control of Elizabeth Fulloon. Thomas Wells approached Elizabeth Fulloon and asked her to suggest a wife for him. Thomas was issued with his “Ticket-of-Leave” on 6th July, 1826.
1826 Thomas Wells Age; 29 Arr Baring Trial Sentence: Life Current Status Bond; Proposed wife: Martha Shaw; Age 25 years
1825 Sep Martha Shaw, Trial Sentence: 7 years; Arrived per ship Brothers 1823; Current Status: Convict; Employment: Female Factory; Residence: Parramatta
New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Brothers - 1824 Indent No; 23 Name; Martha Shaw. Trade or calling; Housemaid Trial where & Date; Newgate - June 1823. Sentence; 14 years Age; Year of birth; 1806 Native Place; London Height; 4 ft. 8 1/2 Eyes; Hazel Hair; Dk Brown Completion; Fresh freckled Remarks [Behavior on board ship] Indifferent Additional remarks noted against name; Protestant ----------------
New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, Main Series of Letters Received. Offence; Stealing from the person Age; 15
Old Bailey Trial Transcription. Reference Number: t18230625-41 895. MARTHA SHAW and ANN POWELL were indicted for stealing, on the 22d of May , a hat, value 10 shillings, the goods of George Davis , from the person of Elizabeth Davis . ELIZABETH DAVIS. I am seven years old, (the witness being questioned, appeared perfectly to understand the nature of an oath) and live with my parents, in Tarling-street. One day in May, between eleven and twelve o'clock, in the morning, I had leave to go to Stepney-fair with my brother and sister, who are five and six years old - these two girls followed me and asked me to go into a swing; I said I had no money, they said they would treat me. I would not go, they followed me round the fair. I was coming home - but walked about thinking to miss them, but they followed me, and at last, Shaw took hold of the top of my hat, took it off, and both ran away with it together. Shaw said a wicked word to Powell, and told her to run - they had bonnets on. I saw their faces, and am sure of them. I saw Shaw at the watch-house two or three hours after, and am sure of her. I should have known her if I had met her. It was an old seal skin hat. MARY ANN DAVIS . I am this child's mother - she went to the fair the day after it was over, and about twelve o'clock, two boys brought her home without her hat - she described the girls to me and the officer, and said one was lusty, and had a black bonnet, and the other had a black bonnet, very much torn, with blue or red ribbons; I do not know which. The officers took her to the watch-house, where Shaw was, about three o'clock that day - she said directly, that that was the girl who took her hat, and that the other was a thin girl. Powell was taken on the Monday following - she knew them both the moment she saw them. ROBERT CHRISTIAN . I am an officer, and found Shaw at the watch-house, the girl described her correctly before she saw her, and from her description we took Powell. I asked Shaw how she could rob a child like that - she said she did it, and gave the hat to Powell. JAMES LEE . I am an officer. I took Powell in Cow-cross, and asked if she knew Shaw, she said "I know what you want me for, it is about the hat; I did not take it, but Shaw did, and threw it down in a passage," that Shaw asked her to take it off the child's head, but she would have nothing to do with it. I afterwards found the hat on Saffron-hill. (Property produced and sworn to.) ELIZA FISHER . I bought this hat of a girl in the week of the fair, but cannot say who she was. SHAW - GUILTY . Aged 15. POWELL - GUILTY . Aged 15. Transported for Fourteen Years . Before Mr. Justice Burrough.
Martha was tried and convicted along with Ann Powell at the Old Bailey on 25th June 1823 for stealing a hat, they were both sentenced to transportation for 14 years, both were 15 years old, they both spent over 5 months in the 'notorious' Newgate Gaol. Left England on 6th December 1823. Ship:- the 'Brothers' sailed with 89 female convicts on board, there were no reported deaths during the voyage. Arrived on 7th May 1824, 39 females being disembarked NSW and the remaining 50 including Ann Powell went on to Hobart. On the Shipping Indent Martha was described as Height, 4'8-1/2" - Complexion, Fresh/Freckled - Hair, Dark Brown - Eyes, Grey - Calling, Housemaid. Upon arrival, Martha was assigned as a servant to William Nicholls. She absconded from his employ in September 1824 and was recaptured and sent to the Female Factory. She was recorded as being at the Female Factory in 1825. Convict Thomas Wells ('Baring' 1815) addressed a letter on 10th July 1826 to the Superintendent of the Female Factory at Parramatta as follows: 'I reside at Lower Portland Head, and hold 20 acres of land, which I cultivate for my own support, I am a bachelor, I enjoy the indulgence of a Ticket of Leave and I am in for a wife and pray the indulgence to be allowed to select one from the Factory at Parramatta. I will adieu. Your most obedient, very humble servant, Thomas (his X mark) Wells' The letter was accompanied by two supporting letters written by Archibald Bell who was a military officer and magistrate and the other was from John Grono who was a mariner and ship owner who also had substantial land holdings in the Hawkesbury region. Martha was chosen, and Thomas was given permission to marry on 15th July 1826 at Parramatta. Rev. Samuel Marsden officiated with witnesses - James Buckley & Margaret Kelley who were both of Parramatta, they had 7 children between 1828-1842. Martha later separated from her family at Wollombi and took up with a James Crawley. They had a son James, born 1845, died 1849, at Wollombi. This is offered as the reason why she is almost never mentioned in later family records. On all her children's Death Certificates, except for Hannah, the mother's name is not stated. No record has been found of Martha's death. Family oral history relates a story that Martha was killed by aborigines in 1850. "Martha left the house to get more wood for the fire, when she was captured at the wood heap and taken away and killed".