My first ancestor to arrive in Australia

Was:

Mary Turner

1762-1808

On March 5th 1785 Mary turner ( alias of Wilkes) was given seven years transportation at Worcestor for theft of several small items being the goods of nancy Collins in the dwelling house of Thomas Collins. She was taken by wagon to Gravesend to board Lady Penrhyn on 31 January 1787.

At Port Jackson in 1788, as Wilkes, she was sharing a hut with Mary Phillips. On 5 March 1789 she was charged with Tasmin Allen, with stealing six cabbages from the garden of William Parr. Both were ordered 50 lashes, 25 then and there the rest on the next provision day. On 25 March she gave evidence at the trial of the seven Marines whom six were hanged on 27th for stealing from the stores.

Captain Campbell suspected that Mary turner had perjured herself at the trial and as a result the Judge Advocate "Collins" has ordered her to be taken into custody by the Provost Marshal.

After a lot of arguement between Capt Campbell and others Mary Turner was not charged with any crime and as a result Mary was sent to Norfolk Island on 4th March 1790 where she remained on the island unrecorded in surviving documents, though the Norfolk Island Victualling Book Gives Mary turner arriving from Port Jackson by Surprize in August 1790 and leaving in march 1793 on board Kitty. She lived with David Batty (Albermarle 1791) with two sons and one daughter said to be illegitmate children by Batty.

Mary turner died as Mary Wilkes in Sydney and her burial registered at St Phillip's on 21st January 1808.

Convict ships to Australia

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