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Female convict labour and absconding rates in colonial Australia

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 00:25 authored by Hamish Maxwell-StewartHamish Maxwell-Stewart, Quinlan, M
In early 1837 Mr Jones residing in Erskine Street, Sydney, discovered that two of his female convicts were missing. As he later related in court, Jones suspected that Mary Ann Mansfield and Mary Smith had gone, or intended to go, to the nearby settlement of Parramatta—a short trip away by water. Anxious to intercept his absconding servants Jones hastened down to the quay where he boarded the Experiment steamer—a vessel that made regular trips to Parramatta as well as occasional pleasure cruises on Middle Harbour. There he discovered the two women ‘comfortably seated’ and ‘fashionably attired’ in the cabin. Having clapped eyes on his absconding felon servants, Jones placed them in the custody of a constable. They were subsequently charged and each sentenced to two-months hard labour in the female House of Correction (an institution that was, ironically, located in Parramatta).

Funding

Australian Research Council

Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office

History

Publication title

Tasmanian Historical Studies

Volume

22

Pagination

19-36

ISSN

1324-048X

Department/School

School of Humanities

Publisher

University of Tasmania

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

Copyright 2017 Tasmanian Historical Studies

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in history, heritage and archaeology

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