Mary Steel

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Brett Beattie on 16th October 2020

The above from Phil hands is correct except: Mary did not marry convict John Hockey Mary Steel that married John Hockey was a free settler that arrived on the Parland in 1838

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Maureen Withey on 9th September 2020

NSW Permissions to Marry. 1825-1851. Permission dated 3 Dec 1830. Thomas Stapleton, per Three Bees, (1814), age 33, 7 years, free and, Mary Steel, ship Lucy Davidson, age 29, Life, bond. Rev. J.J. Therry.

54

Phil Hands on 27th September 2017

Old Bailey Trial Transcription. Reference Number: t18290409-235 914. ELEANOR FOX and MARY STEEL were indicted for feloniously assaulting Edward McQuillen , on the King's highway, on the 31st of March , at St. Giles in the Fields , putting him in fear, and taking from his person, and against his will, 1 tooth-pick, value 2d.; 1 button value 1/4d.; 1 penny-piece, and 1 half-penny, his property . EDWARD McQUILLEN . I live at No. 20, Buckeridge-street, St. Giles'. On the 31st of March I was in a public-house at the corner of Plumtree-street, and saw the prisoner Fox there; I came out of the house between eight and ten o'clock - I had been drinking, and cannot state the time I came out; two women followed me - Fox was one; Fox asked me to go home with her; I told her I would not - that I lodged convenient: and when I turned round the corner into the street I lived in, the woman who was with her put her hand into my pocket; I sang out for the watchman - I do not know what she took from my pocket; Fagan the officer came up immediately: I had been drinking for two days together - I was nearly drunk when this happened. FRANCIS FAGAN . I am a patrol of Bow-street. On the 31st of March I was on duty in Buckeridge-street, St. Giles', I heard a cry of Watch! between ten and eleven o'clock at night, and saw Fox with her arms round the prosecutor's body; she stood behind him, with her arms clasped round his body, holding him behind - Steel was in front of him, rifling his pockets: I did not think him drunk - there was not much difference in him than there is now; I took hold of Fox, while my partner took Steel; I searched Fox, but found nothing on her: when I took hold of her a button dropped from her - I searched Steel, and observed she had something in her month: she denied that she had - I insisted on her opening her mouth, and shewing me what she had; she refused to do so, and I used force; after struggling with her for a quarter of an hour, I succeeded in getting from her mouth a tooth-pick and three halfpence farthing: I secured, and took them to the watch-house - the tooth-pick is here; Wheatley found a duplicate in her hand. WILLIAM WHEATLEY . I was with Fagan, and saw the prisoners together, round the prosecutor, at the corner of George-street; I took Fox, and found a duplicate in Steel's right hand, and a piece of tobacco; the prosecutor said they were his, in the prisoner's presence. DANIEL RIERDAN . I was with Fagan and Wheatley. I picked up a button which laid on the ground, between Steel and Fox; I had seen Steel throw something away, but cannot say whether it was a button; I thought it was money - it sounded like a shilling; she threw it away directly we came up - we found no money, as the crowd collected and the street was muddy; the button was one of a Chelsea pensioner's; I have had it ever since. EDWARD NEYLON . I am a copper-plate printer. As I was going home I saw the prisoners going along with this man; I stopped and looked after them - I saw Steel following the prosecutor; I saw Steel with her left hand round the prosecutor's body, and her right hand in his trousers pocket; Fox followed behind at a distance - I afterwards saw them in Fagan's custody. EDWARD MCQUILLEN . This tooth-pick belongs to me; I have had it two months - I know it by a crack on one side of it, and two marks on each end; I had it in my pocket all day, and had it in my hand several times: this duplicate is mine - it is for two silk handkerchiefs, pawned that day for 2s.; I had a button similar to this in my pocket: it came off this coat: I bought this coat of a Chelsea pensioner - I do not know what money I lost; I had the change of shilling out of three or four quarterns of gin. Prisoner STEEL. Q. Did you not want to go home with me that night, and I said you should not? A. I do not recollect speaking to her at all. FOX's Defence. The man knows I never touched him; this woman asked me to go and have a drop of drink - he followed us out of the house, insisted on going home with her, and he gave her a shove. STEEL's Defence. I am totally innocent. FOX - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 20. STEEL - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 29. Before Mr. Justice Gazelee.

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Phil Hands on 27th September 2017

Tried and convicted at the Old Bailey on 9th April 1829 of Highway Robbery on the 31st of March, at St. Giles in the Fields, sentenced to death, this was commuted to transportation for life. Left England on 20th July 1829. Ship:- the 'Lucy Davidson' sailed with 101 female convicts on board of whic 2 died during the voyage. Arrived on 29th November 1829. Mary married convict John Hockey ('Burrell' 1830) on 10th August 1839 at Dapto, Wollongong, they had 5 children between 1840-1848. John's first wife Mary and his son Charles, had died in England not long after his arrival in the colony Mary died in 1847 age 46 John died on 13th October 1878 in Cambewarra, Nowra District of New South Wales, age 75.