Jess Hill through her research created biographies in point form of nearly 4700 convict women. Part of the project has been the development of narratives of the lives of these women, using the research as a basis. Here are a selection of some of the biographies written.
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Margaret Humphreys per Maria, 1818
Margaret Humphries was a 32-year-old woman who arrived in New South Wales in 1818 aboard the convict ship Maria. She had been sentenced to transportation for 14 years for stealing a handkerchief. Margaret had grown up in poverty and had turned to petty theft to survive. During the journey to Australia, Margaret suffered from seasickness…
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Susan Tilley per Francis & Eliza, 1802
Susan Tilley was a 26-year-old woman who arrived in New South Wales in 1802 aboard the convict ship Francis and Eliza. She had been sentenced to transportation for seven years for stealing a dress. Susan had grown up in poverty and had turned to theft to survive. During the journey to Australia, Susan was confined…
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Mary Smith per Lady Nelson, 1801
Mary Smith, a 29-year-old woman, arrived in New South Wales on the convict ship “Lady Nelson” in 1801. She had been sentenced to transportation for seven years for stealing a loaf of bread. Mary had grown up in poverty and had resorted to stealing to feed herself and her younger siblings. During the journey to…