On the 200th anniversary of the arrival in Van Diemen's Land of the female convict transport ship Mary Anne, a memorial 'The voyage of the Mary Anne 1(2) 1822' has been written by Rhonda Arthur. Forty-five female convicts were disembarked at Hobart Town before the ship continued to Port Jackson, New South Wales, with the remaining sixty-two convicts and passengers.

‘a set of more abandoned characters never were sent out of the country’

Statesman (London) 11 December 1821, p3

            The Mary Anne under the command of Captain Warington slipped her moorings near Woolwich on 25 December 1821. One hundred and nine female convicts embarked (one was relanded and one died at sea), also on board were passengers Mr and Mrs Phillips and Dr Moran, 11 free women at the expense of the government to join male relatives and upwards of 70 children.

The ship touched at Rio de Janeiro and reached Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land on 2 May 1822. Forty-five female convicts were landed and the ship continued to Port Jackson New South Wales with the remaining 62 female convicts and passengers arriving on 20 May 1822.^[i]

‘On Tuesday morning (4 December 1821), at half-past six, forty-four female convicts were removed from Newgate, under a proper escort, in hackney coaches, conveyed to the Dundee Arms, Wapping, and forwarded in a Gravesend boat to the receiving ship, lying at the Nore, preparatory to their being sent to New South Wales... many of them are banished for life; among them the notorious Bill Soames’ wife, together with Amey Steel, the young woman who was ordered for execution on Tuesday se’nnight. The ship takes out 200, and will sail in a few days.’^[ii]

We are proud to announce that – finally – all four of Rowan Gillespie’s From the Shadows statues have been installed and unveiled.

Our first female convict statue was installed in Degraves Street outside the Cascades Female Factory in February 2021. The second was recently installed inside the Cascades Female Factory near the new History and Interpretation Centre, and the two Orphan School Children at 85 Creek Road, New Town.

On 27 February 2022, Her Excellency Barbara Baker AC, Governor of Tasmania, unveiled all three statues with the assistance of Irish sculptor Rowan Gillespie and the statue models. We were honoured to have His Excellency, Ambassador Tim Mawe, Irish Ambassador to Australia, and Ms Patricia McCarthy, present at the events. Ambassador Mawe conveyed a message to both gatherings from the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.

From the Shadows wishes to thank all sponsors, donors and supporters for their overwhelming generosity in helping bring our project to fruition.

Dr Dianne Snowden AM,

Secretary,

From the Shadows

From The Shadows Committee and Rowan Gillespie at the Launch February 27, 2020.

            The Providence departed Woolwich on 13 June 1821 with 103 female convicts, 17 free women and children at the expense of the government to join male relatives and a number of free settlers emigrating with their families. The ship touched at Port Praya (Cape Verde Islands) and Rio de Janeiro, and the voyage took 187 days to reach Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land on 18 December 1821. Fifty-four women were landed and the ship continued with the remaining female convicts to Port Jackson, New South Wales, arriving on 7 January 1822.^[i]

The fascinating story of Norah Cobbett marks a great achievement for our prolific story writer Don Bradmore. This latest contribution is the 50th story Don has written for FCRC. In each of the stories on the lives of our female convicts Don has woven a background of historical context which gives the reader a glimpse into 19th century life in Van Diemen’s Land.   Norah Cobbett, a convict described as both notorious and charismatic, is immortalized, with her husband Jorgen Jorgenson (self-proclaimed King of Iceland), in the carvings on the famous convict-built Ross bridge.  Norah's life story, like that of many other convict women, has previously been overshadowed by the tales of her adventurous husband, who was very much involved in VDL’s ‘Black Wars’.  Now Don’s work has shone a spotlight on her short and troubled life.

Don’s stories for the FCRC have featured meticulous research on diverse topics such as opiate use on babies. The women he portrays cover the spectrum of convict experience, from those who became successful businesswomen, to those who married and settled down to raise a family and those whose troubled circumstances prompted a descent into intoxication and dereliction.  One of Don's stories features a memorable convict woman who gained her freedom by saving her husband from being killed by a bushranger  - and also captured the bushranger!  Many thanks to Don and our wonderful team of transcribers and volunteers, who contribute the threads that get woven into these great stories.  We look forward to many more stories from Don.   You can read Norah's story and many more here.

Norah Cobbett immortalised on the convict-built Ross Bridge, Macquarie River, Ross, Tasmania.

Source:  Debra Cadogan-Cowper

Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority are glad to announce that the publication Transcribing Tasmanian Convict Records by Susan Hood is now available for purchasing on Kindle/Amazon.

The book has been updated and the new electronic version of this helpful resource will make transcribing Tasmanian convict records a more efficient experience and reach to more audiences in need.

The link to purchase and download the e-book is http://amzn.to/2M61tX7.

Tasmania has the most thorough and complete set of records of transported convicts in the world, in the custodianship of the Tasmanian Archives. Now digitized and indexed, these records are a data source for intense academic research and family historians.  This excellent guide by Susan Hood will assist anyone who has attempted to decipher and interpret Tasmanian convict records.