Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Mary Williams was transported on the Nile, Canada And Minorca, departing 31st May 1801 and arriving 14th Dec 1801 with 305 passengers.
Nile, Canada And Minorca (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 298 |
| 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 |
Claims
"Mary is my 4th Great Grandmother"
"My third great grandmother"
"She is my 5th great grandmother"
Photos
No photos have been added for Mary Williams.
Convict Notes
Family connections for Mary (Williams) are: WILLIAMS Mary (Williams) was born about 1778/82. She was tried for theft at Well Assizes Somerset, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 14 12 1801 after a voyage of 7.5months on Fleet ship NILE; she was Catholic. She had a relationship with Richard (Norris), whom she perhaps married in 1801 or 1803 (although note her first child was born in 1803 & she is described as housekeeper in 1805) or 1806 by visiting Minister at Windsor-no marriage is shown in Smees records, where all births of their children show the parents as defacto. She is consistently shown as Maria in Smees records. She is recorded in 1805 at 'Barrington' farm near Green Hills with her family. She was Free by Servitude by 1811. She is recorded in 1822 on farm near Windsor with her family. She was recorded in 1828 with her family at Cornwallis. She died on 26 1 1863 age65 at Cornwallis & was buried at St Matthews Catholic church Windsor. [Some details taken from this Website] Richard (Norris) was born about 1781/8 & became a general labourer. He was tried for robbery at Dublin Ireland in December 1797, sentenced to Life (as an Irish Rebel?) & arrived in NSW as a convict on 11 1 1800 after a voyage of 4.5months on MINERVA; he was 5'6" fresh complexion hazel eyes mermaid tattoo on lower left arm; he was Catholic. He was issued his Ticket of Leave in 1801 to become a farmer. He is recorded in 1805 as renting the 80acre 'Barrington' farm near Green Hills with his wife & 2sons & producing wheat & maize. He purchased 50acres at Cornwallis in 1809/1810. He was Free by Servitude by 1811 according to Smees records. He was issued his Conditional Pardon 29 2 1812. He is recorded in 1814 with 6children. He is recorded in 1822 as landholder farming grain & cattle on 50acres near Windsor with his spouse & 11children. He owned 2x30acre farms & town allotment at Brabyn St Windsor. He was recorded in 1828 with Conditional Pardon with his family on 50acres Cornwallis-crops cattle sheep. On 3 5 1838 he was charged with stealing a pig, convicted at Sydney Supreme Court-Military Court for bestiality, sentenced to death commuted to Life at Norfolk Island, where he was sent on PHOENIX or GOVERNOR PHILLIP on 8 6 1838. He died on 19 2 1843 at Norfolk Island General Hospital age62 & buried at Kingston. [Some details taken from this Website] Reference: 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.
Mary Lillian William Norris ( 1778-1863) Has a beautiful old headstone in St., Matthews Catholic Cemetery, Windsor, NSW. Several of her family also have headstone nearby.
Richard Norris was not transported to Norfolk Island aboard the "Phoenix". On 9 June 1838, the Commercial Journal and Advertiser reported that Richard and another death sentenced convict, Patrick Quigley, had had their sentences commuted. The paper also reported that they, and 47 other convicts, had been transported the previous day to Norfolk Island aboard the "Governor Phillip". This is confirmed in a report in the Sydney Herald on 11 June 1838.
Even given the times, being sentenced to death for the theft of a pig seemed to me to be an extreem sentence. However, both the Sydney Gazette (5 May 1838) and the Sydney Herald (7 May 1838) reported that, on 3 May 1838, Richard Norris had appeared before Mr Justice Norton and a Military Jury,and had been sentenced to death for the "horrible crime of bestiality". The alleged animal is not mentioned. Perhaps it was the pig.
Married Richard Norris (Convict per Minerva) at windsor in 1802.
On 3 May 1838, Richard was tried for stealing his neighbour's pig. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted and sentenced to death. This was commuted to life on Norfolk Island. He was transported on the "Phoenix". He died on Norfolk Island in 1843. Mary lived on the Cornwallis property and died there in 1863.
Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: [Ref N0458] Norris, Mary, 39, free by servitude, Nile, 1802, 7 years, Catholic [Ref N0457] Norris, Richard, 52, conditional pardon, Minerva, 1800, life, Catholic, farmer, Cornwallis Norris, James, 18, born in the colony Norris, Christopher, 16, born in the colony Norris, William, 14, born in the colony Norris, Harriet, 12, born in the colony Norris, Maria, 10, born in the colony Norris, Michael, 8, born in the colony Norris, Francis, 6, born in the colony Norris, Ann, 6, born in the colony Norris, Patrick, 4, born in the colony
In the colony, Mary married? Richard Norris (Convict, Minerva, 1801). They commenced a relationship about 1802-1803. It is believed that they were married by Samuel Marsden in 1806. The couple had 14 children (11 boys and 3 girls) between 1803 and 1835.