Catherine Watson

343

Maureen Withey on 28th June 2022

Colonial Secretary Index. WATSON, Catherine or WISE. Per "Wanstead", 1814 1814 Jan 13 On list of women prisoners from the "Wanstead" sent to Parramatta (Reel 6004; 4/3493 p.12) 1822 Wishing to marry Henry Williams, tailor of Sydney (Reel 6056; 4/1763 p.277) 1822 Isaac Wise endeavouring to remove cattle he made over to her children (Reel 6056; 4/1763 pp.279-80) 1822 Sep 22 Re her delivery to the Factory, Parramatta (Reel 6009; 4/3506 pp.305-6) 1822 Nov 4 At the Government Factory, Parramatta. Reported as having a very ill child in Sydney; request that her case be looked into (Reel 6054; 4/1757 p.178) 1822 Nov 9 The father of her five children to be ordered to pay for their maintenance until such time as they could maintain themselves (Reel 6009; 4/3506 p.423) 1823 Jan 28, Aug 19 Former de facto spouse of Isaac Wise; servant to Robert Lowe of Bringelly. Petitions for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3236; 4/1870 pp.92-93a) 1823 Nov 11 Re permission to marry at Sydney (Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.546) -------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary’s Office, 25 Sept 1822. To Mr Thos. Dunne, Chief Constable, Sydney. Sir, Immediately upon receipt hereof you will forward to ----- Pit Street Sydney, and thus take into your charge Catherine Watson, convict per Wanstead, and cause her to be removed forthwith to the Factory at Parramatta, and delivered into the charge of the Superintendent, together with the letter for the Bench of Magistrates at Parramatta now put into your hands. I am Sir, Your Obedient Servant, F, Goulburn, Col. Secy, Colonial secretary’s Office, 25 Sept 1822. To the Bench of Magistrates, Parramatta. Gentlemen, I have in command from his Excellency the Governor to inform you that he has ordered Catherine Watson, convict per Wanstead, to be sent to Parramatta herewith for the purpose of being placed in the Factory. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your Obedient & humble servant, F. Goulburn, Col. Secy. -------------------------------------------------- New Govt. Factory, Parramatta. 4 Nov 1822. Sir, I beg leave to inform you that Catherine Watson otherwise Catherine Wise, now in the Factory has stated to Doctor Douglas that one of her young children is now very ill under the Hands of Doctor Bland at Sydney and Doctor Douglass have directed me to write to you requesting Sir you will have the goodness to call your attention to her case; this is the woman who has the five children whom you sent to the Factory till a situation could be provided for her. I am sir, Your most humble servant, Signed W. Tuckwell, Supt. Factory. To Frederick Goulburn, Esq. Col. Secretary. -------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary’s Office, 9 Nov 1822. Sir, I am directed by the Governor to call your earliest attention to the destitute condition of the five unprotected children of Catherine Watson otherwise Wise, who is now in the Parramatta Factory and to request that until they can severally maintain themselves their reputed father may be ordered from the present date to pay a weekly sum for their maintenance. I have the honor, sir, Your humble? Servant, F. Goulburn, Col. Secretary. To D. Wentworth, Supt. of Police, Sydney. -------------------------------------------------- 1822 (but no specific date on document) Honoured Sir, Pardon my boldness in laying before you my unfortunate case in being confined for the space of seven months without committing any offence. Sir, I beg to lay before you, your Honor, that with your permission can marry a good tradesman which will procure a living for me and my children. I understand it have been named to your Honor, I am already a married woman. Sir I beg leave to state to you before God I never was married. In respect to Isaac Wise, he is lawfully married to Mary Ann Yeoman in Liverpool church since my confinement in this place. Sir, I humbly entreat and beg that your Honor will take my unfortunate case into your kind consideration and grant my above request as it is a misfortune and not a crime. I promise my future conduct will make every amends. And in Duty bound will ever pray, Signed, Catherine Watson. Honored Sir, I beg leave to state the Bearer is the man I wish to marry, Henry Williams Taylor, Sydney. True copy. -------------------------------------------------- List of persons praying His Excellency the Governor’s permission to have their names published in church in order to being married. Sydney. Henry William, convict, Recovery, and Catherine Watson, convict, Wanstead. Revd. Wm. Cowper, Chaplain, Sydney. The usual letter, dated 11 Nov 1823. -------------------------------------------------- NSW Convict Index. Catherine Watson, per Wanstead, 1814, Certificate of Freedom, 2 Nov 1826. No 019/5807. Renewed CF 39/30. Catherine Watson, per Wanstead, 1814, Certificate of Freedom, 5 Jan 1839. No 39/0030. In lieu of CF No 5807 (1826) Wife of Henry Williams (as stated on her CF). --------------------------------------------------

15

Wise, Judith on 19th November 2019

Having born 7 cildren to her de facto Isaac WISE he then legally married another woman in Sydney, and Catherine was put into the Female Factory at Parramatta & her surviving children into the Parramatta Male Orphanage. In 1823 she married Henry WILLIAMS (Tailor) but in 1829 and again in 1832 she mothered two daughters with Isaac Wise shown as the father on both girls Death Certificates. In 1841 she went to the Albury/Beechworth area and lived with her daughter Emma FISHER where she died in 1874.