Bridget Smith

342

Maureen Withey on 19th March 2020

CERTIFICATES Of FREEDOM. THE undermentioned persons have obtained Certificates of Freedom during the last week, viz. :- Brothers 2. Bridget Smith, Sydney Herald, 24 Dec 1832.

71

Robin Sharkey on 23rd January 2014

* On the indent of the convict ship “Brothers”, arrived 1827, Bridget SMITH was aged 40, tried in Dublin, a native of Roscommon; given 7 year sentence for a house robbery. She was a a country servant, a widow with one child; Catholic and could read. She was sent to the Factory. This is probably where James Dorr found her three years later when, freshly widowered, he went looking for a wife. * 28 April 1831: Permission to Marry —- Bridget Smith aged 44 per Brothers (2), 7 years, had permission to marry James Dorr aged 57 yrs per “Surrey” 1814, through Rev Fulton at Castlereagh. *James had been married from1817 until June 1830 when his wife died - her name was Mary Lyons and she was a convict from Limerick only 4 years younger than him; they had no children. * James Dorr, widower, was the lessee of a 50 acre farm at Castlereagh on which he grew tobacco and then manufactured his own product. In 1828 he’d had 14 head of cattle and 3 horses and a coupe of servants to help. * Bridget and James married in 1831 * Bridget’s Ticket of Leave was dated 9th July 1831 - presumably after her marriage. She was allowed to remain in the District of Melville, previously recommended by the Parramatta Bench on 31 December 1830. * Their life together was not smooth, in fact it was quite turbulent. She left him at least once, appeared one night to be flaunting a relationship with another man under James’ nose, and criminal charges against her must have split their relationship wide apart. * “Sydney Monitor” 30 December 1835 and 2 January 1836: THIS is to give Notice that my wife Bridgett Dorr of the District of Evan, having absconded from me without any provocation, I will not be answerable for any debt or debts she may contract from the 25th instant. JAMES DORR December 28th 1835 * July 1837 Bridget was in Sydney Gaol awaiting trial for aiding and abetting Edward Kelly in assaulting her husband with intent to kill. She was described as stout at 5’ 1” tall with ruddy complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. * 7th August 1838 Trial in Supreme Crt of Sydney held on Monday 7th August 1837. From the Sydney Monitr of 9 August 1837: On the evening of 16th May 1837, James retired to bed in the evening leaving Bridget and one Edward Kelly sitting together by the fire. After observing the conduct of Kelly to his wife, he got out of bed to interfere but found the door between the two rooms fastened. So then he attempted to get into the next room through the window, when Kelly struck him on the head with a chisel and then knocked him down and kicked him. Bridget was standing by at the time but James couldn’t say whether she was assisting Kelly. Kelly was found not guilty in the Sydney Supreme Court on 7th August 1837 of assault with intent to kill, and Bridget was not guilty of aiding and abetting. Defence witnesses reported that the occurrence originated in a drunken quarrel, and the surgeon’s evidence was that James’ injuries were trivial. It’s hard to imagine that Bridget and James Dorr would ever get back together again after this. * While James’ death record has not been found, there is a marriage of a Bridget "Door" in 1850 to a Stephen Wheeler, at Bowenfels, Vale of Clwydd (i.e. Blue Mountains of NSW)