Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Mary Steele was transported on the Lord Wellington, departing 30th Apr 1819 and arriving 20th Jan 1820 with 125 passengers.
Lord Wellington (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/3, Page Number 161 (82) |
| 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 |
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Convict Notes
Mary (nee Ashton) had uttered two forged £1 notes to a William Hindley at Manchester. Also convicted at the same time as Mary was her husband George Steele (also written as Steer) who had been found a few months before Mary with a large number of forged notes in his possession. He arrived several months ahead of her in Van Diemen's Land on (ship- General Stewart). The couple had originally been married in Manchester Cathedral in September 1814. Mary too, was sent on to Hobart, soon after arrival on the Castle Forbes. Mary initially lived with her husband but by October of 1820, George placed an advert stating that Mary had absconded from him along with £50's worth of his property and he would not be held responsible for any debts she incurred and furthermore would seek to prosecute anyone harbouring her. The next month a John Purnell (ship- Coromandel) was acquitted of fraudulently acquiring a box belonging to George Steele. This box potentially contained the property that Mary had taken with her. In October 1823, Mary was charged with living adulterously with John in Hobart resulting in her being sent to the female factory. John went down to the police yard to give them his thoughts, resulting in him receiving 25 lashes. The case between Mary, George and John still rumbled on in 1827 with the magistrates admitting the case had been terribly handled- George and Mary had previously signed a formal separation agreement in 1822. The police had attempted to stake out John's house at Tea Tree Brush (north of Hobart) and could see nothing improper and incredibly it turned out that George had 'sold' his wife for 80 bushels of wheat- an unofficial form of divorce at that time! The value being very roughly about £22 or about £2000 modern equivalent, going off wheat prices of the time. Furthermore, it is the only instance recorded amongst the Lancastrian convict women of the custom of 'wife-selling'. They also discovered that the adultery had been 'overlooked' by Alfred Thrupp, poundkeeper and constable, who Mary was assigned to and on whose land John farmed. Mary received a ticket of leave in 1828. The charges against her regarding her relationship with John were finally dropped in 1830 but not before also refusing John a huge grant of land because of their past history. By this stage they had moved back to Hobart town and following this decision, decided to leave the colony. John made a brief trip to Sydney in May 1831 before the house on Macquarie Street was sold and he left in January 1832 as crew (he was a seaman by profession) on board the brig 'David Owen'. Mary left three days later as a servant to Mr & Mrs William H Hamilton Esq onboard the Eliza. John arrived back at Gravesend on the 1st June and Mary on the 25th. There is possible evidence that John was robbed of £20 by two prostitutes whilst he awaited Mary's arrival on the infamous Ratcliffe Highway in London's East End involving a court case at the Old Bailey.
Lancaster Assizes. The following prisoners have been tried: Jas. Walker (20), Jas. Telley (29) Wm. Conolly (34), Jas. Schofield (50), Mary Steel ?? Edward Walton (19) and W. Taylor (26) pleaded guilty of having forged notes in their possession. Lancaster Gazette, 28 March 1818.
Tasmanian Convict Conduct Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON40-1-9$init=CON40-1-9p16 Mary Steel or Steer, Tried Lancaster, 22 March 1818. Per Lord Wellington and Castle Forbes. See record for details. Free Pardon, 12 Jan 1832.
Mary Steele - Lord Wellington 1820 - Australia, Convict Index, 1788-1868 Name: Mary Steele. Age: 25. Birth Year: abt 1795 Arrival year: 1820. Arrival State: New South Wales Trial Place: Lancaster. 21 Mar 1818 Ship: Lord Wellington Trade or calling; Servant 1820 - Hobart Town Population Muster, 1820. No; 190. Off Stores. Married at Home. 1823 - 21 Oct. Living in adultery with Jno Purnell - Factory 1830. 28 Jul. T. L. Charged with ? Purnell - Charge dismissed 1832 - Free Pardon; 12th January 1832. Col Ses. Memo 12.810.4