Mary Smith

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Maureen Withey on 18th December 2024

SATURDAY. Matthew Kirkman , whom most of our readers will recollect having been tried at the last sessions for the robbery in the shop of the late Mr. Twist, tobacconist of Deansgate. Mary Kirkman, a woman who described herself Kirkman's wife, but who, in fact, merely cohabits with him, and Mary Eccle,  a young woman who has lived with them as servant, were put into the dock on charge of breaking into the house Kirkman's brother who a very decent, hard working man, living in Old’ held Road, and stealing  considerable quantity of wearing apparel and other articles. Kirkman’s brother did not appear, but his wife did; and from her statement it appeared, that on New Year's day their house was left locked up. and  on their return they found that the house had been entered apparently by false key, there were no appearances whatever  of violence, and nearly all their clothing, with other articles, stolen. She gave information  to the Salford police, who knowing the prisoner Kirkman’s character, conceived him to more likely to have commuted the robbery than any one else, and went to his on Saturday evening, where they found the two  females, and as they had surmised  that they should a , considerable portion of the missing property, and pawn tickets accounting for the remainder. The women were of course, taken into custody; and. subsequently, Kirkman , was met with and brought to the New Bailey. Evidence was adduced to show that both Kirkman and his woman had been dealing with the stolen property; and on the person of the latter, was found skeleton key newly filed  up, which fitted the lock of the brother’s door! There being nothing that could criminate the girl at all in the matter, the bench ordered her to be discharged, but committed the other two to the sessions.   Kirkman appears to have greater desire for the property of his relatives than for that of others. Mr. Twist, it will be recollected, was a relation; and singularly enough, amongst the stolen properly, was some clothing that  belonged to Mr. Twist, which had, since his death, got into into the possession of the brother, at whose house Kirkman had called a few days before the robbery, and had, no doubt, taken such an examination of the lock, as to enable him make a key for it. He had expected, moreover, find sum of money in the house, as his brother had, during his visit, mentioned the circumstance of having to pay some on the Saturday. Fortunately, however, Kirkman’s brotherly intention of appropriating it to himself the Friday, was frustrated, it having been paid previously. Manchester Mercury, 5 Jan 1830.

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Douglas Blake on 18th December 2024

Son John Born: 3 January 1830. Father is Mathew John Kirkman who arrived onboard convict ship Exmouth. Mary was assigned to Robert Henderson of Brisbane Water where she married James Freeman. John was christened John Freeman on 24 September 1845 aged 15. He later adopted Kirkman as his surname after finding his father lived in the colony.

Mary Anne Smith was pregnant out of wedlock when she was transported on the Kains. She had a son called John on the 3/1/1830. On arrival she was assigned to Rober Henderson where she met and married James Freeman(per Lord Eldon 1817) They lived at Cabbage Tree and later near Lake Macquarie. Mary died 5/7/1891 in Swansea at the age of 86 of senile decay and breast cancer. She is buried at the Belmont Cemetery, Lake Macquarie.