Date of Conviction: 19/07/1792

Age at Conviction: Unknown

Crime Convicted of: Theft

Court Convicted at: Lancaster Quarter Sessions (held at the New Bailey, Salford)

Sentence Length: 7 Years

Ship Transported on: Remained in England

Where Arrived: N/A

Departure Date: N/A

Arrival Date: N/A

Biography: Maria was from Prestwich. She had stolen two pieces of ribbon from the shop of John Satterfield at Manchester. She suffered very bad scrofula (infected lymph glands in the neck often caused by infection with tuberculosis) since her arrival at Lancaster castle which heavily limited her ability to perform labour in jail (and therefore probably not suitable to transport). In jail petitions from the governor, Mr Higgin in 1795, she was stated to be a ‘very tolerable needlewoman and might yet procure an honest subsistence’ and that she had family at Chester. Maria promised to live an honest life if freed though the jailer noted ‘she makes great promises’ with regards to her future conduct though he had his doubts due to the company she had kept with other women in the jail during her three years stay. Though there is no confirmation of her release a Maria Blewer died in Cheshire in 1803 which may be the same Maria.