Ann Unwin

341

Maureen Withey on 16th February 2024

The following report of a possible earlier conviction, may also concern this Ann Unwin: On Thursday last, Ann Brown, alias Ann Unwin, a most notorious and abandoned character, was convicted by the Magistrates at Gosport, of having uttered a forged pawnbroker's, with intent to defraud Ann Taylor, and was sentenced to three months imprisonment. Hampshire Chronicle, 16 Feb 1824.

341

Maureen Withey on 16th February 2024

Ann, the wife of Thomas Unwin, for stealing five pound Bank note and ,10 sovereigns, Portsea, the property of John Hobbs...- seven years transportation. Hampshire Advertiser, 11 April 1825. The following Prisoners stood indicted:- Ann Unwin (aged 37 for stealing a five-pound bank note, thirty sovereigns, &c. the property of John Hobbs. It appeared that the prisoner went to lodge at the Cocks public-house. at Portsea, kept by the prosecutor (who was ill In bed), that she occasionally attended upon him, and took an opportunity when he was asleep of stealing the property,- seven years transportation. Hampshire Telegraph, 11 April 1825. Ann Unwin, for stealing a £5 note, 30 sovereigns, and other gold coin, the property of John Hobbs, of Portsea— seven years transportation. Hampshire Chronicle, 11 Apr 1825.

45

Margaret Weston on 10th May 2021

Ann Unwin was apprehended by a constable on Sunday 28th October 1827, in the house of one Davis, a Tailor. She was assigned from the Female Factory, to one Ambrose Bryant, who, however, as the woman was at large, would not admit it, urging that she was assigned to his wife, who is also a Prisoner of the Crown, but with whom Bryant had not cohabited for some months back. This was a case involving a double breach of Colonial Law, and the Bench deemed it therefore expedient to send for Mrs Bryant. She stated that her husband had left her, incumbered with four small children, whom she supported by her labour at the wash-tub. That subsequently to the separation, the prisoner, Ann Unwin, was assigned to the service of A. Bryant. That for her own part, the unfortunate circumstances under which Mrs Bryant was placed, precluded even the probability that the prisoner had been assigned to her service. With immediate reference to her own peculiar circumstances, Mrs Bryant made a moving appeal to their worships on behalf of her little ones, to whom she hoped to be suffered still to act the part of a mother, as she had ever done. The Chief Constable gave her an excellent character. The Bench viewing Mrs Bryant's case in a favourable light, promised to interfere in her behalf with the Governor, but consigned the prisoner, Ann Unwin, to the 3rd Class in the Factory.

341

Maureen Withey on 14th September 2020

Ann was again convicted in Sydney, and sent to Moreton Bay. -------------------------------------------------- Ann Unwin, a free woman of the middle age, was charged by her mistress, Mrs. Jane Barker of Hunter- street, with robbing her of the sum of £13. It appeared that Mrs. B. was possessed of a private purse of £63 unknown to her husband, and that the prisoner was aware of the circumstance. Mrs. B, counted over the money at a late hour on Saturday night and it was then safe, and locked up in her drawers. On the following morning, having occasion for her key, she missed it from her pocket, and upon questioning the prisoner whether she had seen it, the latter appeared much confused, and after some hesitation told her mistress to look on her dressing table and that she would find it, which she accordingly did, but on going to her drawers she immediately discovered, from the manner in which her clothes were tossed about that some one had been to them in her absence, and upon going to her purse, she found a £10, a £2, and a £1, in Bank notes missing. The prisoner was the only person who had access to the room where this money was kept except herself and husband, and there was between £30 and £40 lying loose in the same room, winch the prisoner was aware her husband had brought there out of the shop, but that was untouched. Upon mentioning her loss to her husband, Mr. Barker, he sent for a constable and had the prisoner apprehended. The prisoner protested her innocence, and after she had replied to a few questions from the Bench, she was remanded for further examination. Sydney Gazette, 4 Sept 1834. ----------------------------------------------------- Ann Unwin was indicted for stealing, on the 31st August last, in the dwelling house of Mr. Jonah Barker, situate at Sydney, certain monies above the value of £5, the property of the said Jonah Barker. The prisoner was pronounced guilty on the clearest testimony, and the Court immediately sentenced her to be transported to a penal settlement for the term of her natural life. Sydney Gazette, 4 Nov 1834. --------------------------------------------------- Moreton Bay Convict Record Ann Unwin, Midas 1, tried at Southampton Qq.S. 7 Apr 1825, 7 years, Tailoress. Colonial conviction: Supreme Court Sydney, 3 Nov 1834, Stealing in a dwelling house, sentence – Life. -------------------------------------------------- Col Sec Letters re Moreton Bay. List, dated 19/6/1838, of Female prisoners eligible for conditional remission of sentences of convicts transported to Moreton Bay with remarks showing the characters of the prisoners. Assigned servants. Ann Unwin - Midas.