Mary Wade

75

iain Frazier on 3rd November 2025

Family connections for Mary (Wade) are: WADE Mary (Wade) daughter of, perhaps, Lawrence (Wade) & Mary (Smith) was born on 17 12 1855 or 5 10 1777 at Southwark London & christened on 21 12 1777 at St Olaves London. She was tried at age11 w/1other child of highway robbery assault & theft, on 5 10 1788, of clothes of Mary (Phillips) at Old Bailey on 14 1 1789, sentenced to death by hanging reprieved to Life, held at Bridewell & Newgate prisons & arrived in NSW as a convict (the youngest convict to arrive) on 3 6 1790 after a voyage of 12months on Fleet ship LADY JULIANA-a ship with 228females who easily entertained the whole crew & also sailors at Teneriffe stopover; she was Protestant; she was sent further on LADY JULIANA to Norfolk Island arriving on 7 8 1790. She had a first relationship with Edward Teague (Harrigan his first relationship) & produced perhaps 3children. She is recorded in 1802 with Ticket of Leave no.529 living with T (Harrigan).>>> [Some details taken from this Website] Edward Teague (Harrigan) was born in 1771 perhaps in Cork Ireland. He was tried for stealing clothing at Bristol Gloucestershire, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship SALAMANDER; which took him on to Norfolk Island arriving on 4 9 1791. He is recorded in 1802 with Ticket of Leave no.056 & sentence expired with Mary (Wade). He was Free by Servitude by 1803. He is recorded in 1806 as selfemployed labourer, after which he joined the Brigantine FOX on whaling venture & is said to have not returned. >>>an Edward (Harrington) emancipist from SALAMANDER is recorded as marrying Martha (Daniels her second marriage) emancipist on 3 6 1810 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He enrolled with NSW Corps & is recorded in 1811 with Absolute Pardon. He is recorded in 1814 as selfemployed labourer. He died in 1825 age24 father of perhaps 3children. [Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Mary (Wade) had a second relationship with Jonathan (Brooker), produced 4children & later married him. She returned to Sydney. She was Free by Servitude by 1803. She lived with Edward Teague (Harrigan) again & produced another child in 1803. She is recorded in 1806 living with J (Brooker). She lived near Hawkesbury River from 1809. She is recorded in 1811 living with T (Harrigan) in Sydney. She married Jonathan (Brooker) on 10 2 1817. She was issued her Certificate of Freedom on 1 9 1812. She is recorded in 1814 as 'wife of' J (Brooker). She married Jonathan (Brooker) on 10/12 2 1817 at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. She is recorded in 1828 with her family at Illawarra. She died on 17 12 1859 age82 mother of perhaps 10children shown here, but clearly identified on this Website as having 21children, at Fairy Meadow Wollongong/Illawarra & buried at St Pauls CofE there as founding member of Australia. She was lauded as founder of 1of the largest families in Australia. [Jonathan (Brooker) was born about 1761. He was tried for stealing glue at Kingston Surrey Quarter Sessions on 5 10 1790, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship ATLANTIC; he was Protestant. He was sent on to Norfolk Island on QUEEN arriving on 11/17 11 1791. He is recorded in Victualling Books for 1792, 1793, 1794 and 1795. It appears he dealt in swines flesh in 1798. He was Free by Servitude by 1803 & was issued his Absolute Pardon/Certificate of Freedom on 2 2 1811; & granted 60acres at Tarrawanna. He worked in trade of chair-making. He settled with his family on 30acres at Airds Campbelltown in 1816; which was destroyed by fire in 1823-destroying his chair-making tools also. He recovered & had 62acres at Illawarra in 1828 & is recorded in that year as carpenter with his family on 50acres cleared at Illawarra. He died on 14 3 1833 age72 father of perhaps 7children.] [Some details taken from this Website] Noted a son of Mary (Wade) donated land for building St Pauls CofE Fairy Meadows. REFERENCES Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land'

40

Sandie McKoy on 17th January 2025

Important information about Mary's birth and parents There are two current theories for her birth parents. Researchers from The Mary Wade History Association released a book in 1986 called Mary Wade to Us, 1778 - 1986, A Family History. In it, they surmised from records available at the time that Mary was born to George Wade (a tailor) and Mary English on 5 October 1777 at Southwark, London. There were no specific sources listed, but the researchers used the IGI, records from the Greater London Records Office, and baptism records. They acknowledged that they weren't 100% sure of Mary's parentage, writing "George and Mary were common names and there were several Wade families in the area. We cannot say for certain but available evidence points to our Mary Wade as a daughter of George Wade and Mary English." In 2001, London based Magistrate Sheila Evans spent considerable time researching Mary's life in London through accessing files at The London Archives office. She connected with Jenny Hodges, who is married to a descendant of Mary, and shared her research. She hypothesised that Mary was born to Lawrence Wade (a drover) and Mary Smith at St Margaret's, Westminster on 17 December 1775. Jenny then worked with descendants Stephen Wilson and Sandie McKoy, to further Sheila's research. They were able to access digitised records that supported the hypothesis that Mary was born to Lawrence Wade and Mary Smith over George Wade and Mary English for the following reasons: According to Mary's trial: She was born in December. This fits with Lawrence and Mary. Her father was a drover. This fits with Lawrence's occupation - he was a drover and George was a tailor. She lived at Pump Court, Perkin's Rents. Lawrence died at Pump Court, Perkins Rents in 1794. Her father was alive at the time of her trial in 1789. George Wade was possibly deceased by then and Lawrence was alive at the time. Her mother was from a family of butchers. This possibly fits better with marrying a drover than marrying a tailor. Lawrence and Mary lived at Westminster. George and Mary lived at St Olave's, Southwark. According to Mary's death certificate, she was born at Westminster. This fits with her birth to Lawrence and Mary. She committed at least one crime - Lawrence was alleged to have committed sheep theft. If the new research is accurate, Mary was on 17 December 1775 in the St Margaret's Parish, Westminster, and was baptised on 7 January 1776 at the St Margaret's Church, Westminster. She grew up with at least three siblings, all born at St Margaret's, Westminster: Elizabeth Ann Wade (born 5 February 1778 and baptised 1 March 1778), Henrietta (born 17 November 1780 and baptised 10 December 1780), and Henry (born 1 August 1786, baptised 20 August 1786, died April 1793 and buried 24 April 1793). Sources: The Mary Wade History Association, Mary Wade to Us, 1778 - 1986, A Family History, Macaurthur Press, Parramatta, NSW, 1986, p 6. Baptism of Mary Wade, baptised 7 January 1776, St Margaret, Westminster, Westminster Baptisms, City of Westminster Archives Centre, © brightsolid online publishing. Discovered through research undertaken by Stephen Wilson. Lawrence was charged with sheep stealing in 1781. Old Bailey Proceedings, London Lives, 1690-1800, t17540424-60 (www.londonlives.org, version 1.1, 17 June 2012), January 1781, trial of Lawrence Wade, LL LMOBPS450240385, image 385. Burial of Lawrence Wade, buried 13 August 1794, St John the Evangelist, Smith Square, Westminster Burials, City of Westminster Archives Centre, © brightsolid online publishing. Death certificate of Mary Wade, died 17 December 1859, obtained from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, New South Wales, by Jenny Hodges. Old Bailey Proceedings, London Lives, 1690-1800, t17540424-60 (www.londonlives.org, version 1.1, 17 June 2012), January 1781, trial of Lawrence Wade, LL LMOBPS450240385, image 385.

2

Guest on 24th October 2022

The youngest ever convict to be transported to Australia at the age of 11. Her hideous crime was that she stole another girls clothes and for that she was sentenced to death by hanging. Luckily for her, an issue relating to George III and his mental health meant that all the women on death row had their death sentence changed to living in Australia. Mary spent her life in Australia reproducing and made it to 21 offspring. Mary Wade is considered to be one of Australias founding mothers who at the time of her death had 300 descendants. One of her most famous descendants is former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd! You can learn more about Mary Wade in Canberra at The National Library of Australia.

342

Maureen Withey on 1st May 2020

ONE OF THE LARGEST FAMILIES IN THE WORLD.-We this day record the death, at the ripe age of 87, of one of the founders of one of the largest families, without doubt, in this colony, if not in the world- Mrs. Mary Brooker, mother of Messrs. James and John Brooker, and of Mr. Edward Harrigan, of this district. The deceased lady arrived in this colony shortly after its foundation, was subsequently married twice, and gave birth to no less than 21 children, the majority of whom grew up and were married and of these seven are now alive, one of them being upwards of 60 years of ago. Without taking account of the number of immediate relatives who have died, or of the numbers collaterally connected by marriage, and only reckoning the children born of some of the immediate relatives up "to five years back, the number of descendants now living number 148! These are distributed as follows :-Children, 7 ; grandchildren, 43: great-grandchildren, 84 ; great-great-grandchildren, 14 : Total, 148. It is roughly calculated that, counting those of her immediate relatives who are dead, and those alive collaterally connected, this family would number upwards of 300. Illawarra Mercury (Thursday). The Argus, (Melbourne) Fri 30 Dec 1859.

30

Wayne on 9th April 2019

Sentenced to death, but commuted to life.

4

Keelie on 10th June 2018

She was only 13 when she was departed, making her the youngest child on the Lady Juliana.

105

Denis Pember on 8th December 2015

1828 Census: [Ref B2446] Brooker, Jonathan, 68, free by servitude, Atlantic, 7 years, Protestant, carpenter at Illawarra, 50 acres, 50 cleared, 12 cultivated [Ref B2447] Brooker, Edward 25 [Ref B2448] Brooker, John 22 [Ref B2449] Brooker, Mary 16 [Ref B2450] Brooker, James 14 [Ref B2451] Brooker, Mary 50, free by servitude, Lady Juliana, protestant.

60

Eric Harry Daly on 21st December 2012

Mary Wade born 5 Oct 1777 in southwark London, Christened 21 Dec at St Olaves london and died 17 Dec 1859 at Fairy Meadow, Wollongong, New South Wales. She was 11 years old when tried and convicted of violent theft and highway robbery at the old bailey on the 14 Jan 1789. http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17890114-58-off300&div=t17890114-58#highlight On 5 October 1788, Mary with another child, Jane Whiting, 14 years old, stole the clothes (one cotton frock, one linen tippet, one linen cap) from Mary Phillips, an 8 year old, who at the time was collecting water in a bottle at a privy. They then sold the frock to a pawnbroker. Mary was reported by another child to an Officer of the Law who later found the tippet in Mary's room whereupon she was arrested and placed in Bridewell Prison. Her trial was held on 14 January 1789 at the Old Bailey, where she was found guilty and was sentenced to death by hanging. On 11 March 1789, King George III was proclaimed cured of an unnamed madness; it is assumed that he suffered from porphyria, a degenerative mental disease. Five days later, in the spirit of celebration, all the women on death row, including Mary Wade, had their sentences commuted to penal transportation to Australia. She spent 93 days in the Newgate Prison before being transported on the Lady Juliana to Australia, which was the first convict ship to hold a cargo made up entirely of women and children. After an 11-month voyage across the ocean, the ship arrived at Sydney on 3 June 1790 and Wade was sent on to Norfolk Island aboard the Surprise, arriving on 7 August 1790. She had two children on Norfolk Island, Sarah to Teague (Edward) Harrigan, an emancipated Irish transportee in 1793 and William in 1795, who is believed to be Jonathan Brooker's son. When they arrived back in Sydney, Mary lived with Teague Harrigan, with whom she had another son, Edward, in their tent on the banks of the Tank Stream in Sydney in 1803. Teague left to go on a whaling expedition in 1806 and never returned. Mary lived with Jonathan Brooker near the Hawkesbury River from 1809. It was here that Mary raised her family which numbered 21 children, seven of whom lived to have their own children. Jonathan was given his Certificate of Freedom in February 1811 and then given a grant of 60 acres (240,000 m2) at Tarrawanna, New South Wales by Governor Macquarie. Mary finally received her Certificate of Freedom on the first of September 1812. In 1816 they settled on the property of Airds (made up of the modern suburbs of Airds, Bradbury, St Helens Park, Rosemeadow, among others) in Campbelltown, New South Wales with their family. Mary married Jonathan Brooker on 10 February 1817 at St Lukes, Liverpool, New South Wales and her husband owned 30 acres (1822) until bushfires destroyed their property (1823) whilst Jon's livelihood as a Chair-maker by trade ended as his tools were all destroyed. The family became destitute and pleaded to the Governor of the time, Governor Thomas Brisbane, for aid. They recovered with Mary and Jon going on to own 62 acres (250,000 m2) in Illawarra (1828). Here Mary lived till Jon's death on 14 March 1833, when he was buried in the graveyard of St. Peter’s Church, Campbelltown, NSW. Mary died on 17 December 1859 at the age of 82, in Wollongong, New South Wales and her funeral service was the very first to be held in St Paul's Church of England, Fairy Meadow, New South Wales with her son donating the land on which the church was built. At the time of her death, Mary had over 300 living descendants and is considered as one of the founding mothers of the early settlers to Australia. Today her descendants number in the tens of thousands, including Kevin Rudd, the former Prime Minister of Australia.[5] Mary's story is told in the book "Mary Wade to Us" published as a family tree, noted in the further reading below. This, and the stories of Mr Rudd's other convict ancestors has now been collated into two leather-bound volumes by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is kept in the National Library of Australia in Canberra.