Charlotte Tomlinson

48

Naomi Parsons on 10th March 2026

Charlotte had taken in 15 stolen pairs of shoes at Bolton belonging to a John Makinson. The shoes had been stolen by two older men. She was described as being unable to read or write, a protestant, single, a native of Manchester and a housemaid. She did not have any previous convictions. She was 5’2” tall, with a ruddy & freckled complexion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, a scar on the right side of her forehead, a red mark on her upper arm and a scar on the inside forefinger of her left hand. Charlotte's older brother, John, had been transported 12 years before (presumed on ship- Mary). Charlotte who lived at Bathurst, applied to marry a 41 year old Thomas Dean (ship- Countess of Harcourt) when she was 18 in 1833 but the marriage did not go ahead. Charlotte had a son, Benjamin, in May 1835 with convict Benjamin Holloway (ship- Asia). She again applied to marry when she was 21 to Henry Jordan (ship- Mary) in 1836 (though this also did not go ahead). In 1837, Charlotte was recorded as being in the Bathurst Female Factory. Charlotte and Henry had a son, John in 1839 who died at one year old. She gained a certificate of freedom in March 1842 but was briefly imprisoned for three days for drunkenness in early 1843. She had a child, John with Matthew Wild (ship- Mangles) in 1844. In 1849, Charlotte's brother John died in Sydney. This same year, now at Maitland, under the name Charlotte Jordan, she was given a month's jail sentence for being a drunk, idle and disorderly person- it being her fourth offence; interestingly she was charged alongside a Thomas Dean- possibly the first person she had applied to marry? The following year in February 1850, Charlotte (described as a loose woman) was travelling in a covered dray from Morpeth, whilst drunk and falling, her leg entangled in the wheel, severely crushing it. She was taken to the Maitland hospital where they aimed to amputate but in a deep state of shock she died on the 13th February. She had told the staff before she died that she was pregnant but had long been separated from her husband. She was recorded as aged 32, though was probably about 34/35. An inquest was held which ruled that the dray driver was guily of manslaughter. Charlotte was buried at the Glebe Cemetery, Maitland.

53

Beth Taylor on 21st August 2019

1834 - Convict per ship Juna arr Sydney . Charlotte TOMLINSON, aged 18, can't read or write, protestant, single, native of Manchester, housemaid, tried Lancaster Assize 12/08/1833 for stolen goods, transported for 7 years, no previous convictions, 5'2" tall, rddy & freckled complection, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, scar right side of forehead, red mark upper arm, scar inside forefinger of left hand. Brother John Tomlinson 12 years ago. (Source: SRNSW Convict Indents, 1788-1842, Series: NRS 12189; Item: [X636]; Microfiche: 711) ===================================== 1835, 16 March - Charlotte TOMLINSON, aged 18, per ship Numa 1834, 7 years, convict at Bathurst & Dean THOMAS, aged 41, per ship Countess of Harcourt, life term, applied to the Governor for permission to marry. Permission was granted, however, no wedding went ahead. (Source: SRNSW New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-1851, Series: 12212; Item: 4/4509; Page: 41) ===================================== 1837, 3 October - Charlotte TOMLINSON, aged 21, per ship Numa 1834, 7 years, "bond" convict at Bathurst & Henry JORDAN, aged 26, per ship Mary (4), 7 years, TOL, applied to the Governor for permission to marry. Permission was granted, however, no wedding went ahead. (Source: SRNSW New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-1851, Series: 12212; Item: 4/4513; Page: 1) ===================================== 1837 - Charlotte TOMLINSON, aged 21, per ship Numa 1834, convict (Source: 1837 Convict Muster) ===================================== 1842 - TOMLINSON Charlotte per ship Numa 1834, Certificate of Freedom # 42/0363, dated 9 Mar 1842 (Source: SRNSW Certificate of Freedom, # 42/0363, 4/4372; Reel 1010) ===================================== 1843, 21 January - Charlotte TOMLINSON, free person, drunkeness, 3 days cells, Bathurst Gaol, discharged 24 Jan. (Source: SRNSW New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Roll: 251) ===================================== 1844 - Charlotte had a liaison with Matthew Wild & had a son, John, born 19/12/1844 at Native Dog Creek. (Source: NSW Church Parish Register, V1844-1178-65) =====================================