Priscilla Woodford

Level 174

Iris Dunne on 15th January 2022

Annotated Printed Indentures: aged 17 can read Protestant Single Trade: all work Tried: 3 March 1832 for Inpendiarism

Level 5

Lyn Greacen on 10th January 2022

Priscilla was born on 7 February 1814 and was baptised on 13 February 1815 at Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England. 1832 - At the age of 16 years, Priscilla was tried at the Lincoln Clerks of Assize, Midland Circuit, on the 3rd March 1832 with having on the 8th December 1831 `wilfully, maliciously and feloniously did set fire to a stack of hay belonging to Isaac Teesdale', landholder of Hacconby, in the county of Lincoln. The jury found her to be guilty and she was sentenced to be hanged. The jury recommended her to mercy on account of her youth and the ill-treatment she had received from her master. A petition was numerously signed on Priscilla's behalf requesting leniency due to her young age and a humane reprieve was granted. Priscilla's sentence was commuted to `transportation for life bond'. Priscilla was transported to Australia onboard the convict ship Fanny which sailed from the River Thames on 14 July 1832 and, after a passage of 188 days, arrived at Sydney Cove on the 1st February 1833. Upon her arrival in the colony Priscilla was assigned as a servant to Mrs. Ann Tom the wife of [Parson] William Tom who owned a property called Springfield, situated west of the Macquarie River, in the Bathurst district of N.S.W.. It was here that Priscilla met her future husband James Winstanley, who had his ticket-of-leave and was working for William Tom at Springfield. Priscilla and James applied to the Government on the 8th June 1833 for permission to marry. At the age of 17 years, Priscilla married James Winstanley on the 29th day of July 1833. The marriage was solemnized in the Parish of Bathurst, in 'this place of worship', by Banns according to the rites of the Church of England by Rev. John Espy Keane in the presence of Thomas Jones and Henry H. Fleming both of Bathurst. After their marriage Priscilla and James left the Bathurst district and made their home in Sydney. Their issue: 1834 - Elizabeth Ann born Pitt Street, Sydney 1838 - William James born Phillip Street, Sydney 1840 - Caroline Louisa born Surrey Hills, Sydney 1843 - Henry born Woolloomooloo, Sydney 1847 - John Thomas born Surrey Hills, Sydney 1849 - Susan Emma born Surrey Hills, Sydney 1852 - Henrietta born Dundee, NSW 1857 - Mary Woodford born Rocky River, Uralla, NSW James and Priscilla eventually settled in Glen Innes and, through hard work and diligence, become well respected citizens in the district. Priscilla died on 5th May 1899, at her home in Macquarie Street [formerly Guy Street], Glen Innes, N.S.W. and was buried on 7 May 1899 in the Church of England portion, section D, Grave No.309, of the Glen Innes cemetery. N.S.W. Death Registration No.5529 Entry No.26 Her parents were Anne [nee Ellis] & John Woodford Cause of death: English Cholera The Glen Innes Examiner [NSW]-Tuesday,9 May 1899 DEATHS WINSTANLEY.- At her residence, Macquarie St, Glen Innes, on May 5th, 1899. PRISCILLA, the beloved wife of the late J. B. WINSTANLEY, aged 85 years and 3 months, leaving six children, 43 grand children, 61 great grand children, and two great great grand children. OBITUARY,- Another old resident of our district has passed quietly over the Great Divide, which tells us again the old told theme that "Leaves have their time to fall, and flowers to wither at the north winds breath, and stars to set; - but all Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death", and so it is our sad duty to record this morning the death of Mrs. J. B. Winstanley at the ripe old age of 85 years. The deceased up to the time of her death had been a resident of these colonies for 68 years and had lived amongst our New England hills for 49 years of that period. She leaves a large number of relatives behind, and at the present time there is no less than 112 of her branches in existence, comprising 6 sons and daughters, 43 grand-children, 61 great grand children and 2 great great grand-children.