Date of Conviction: 22/01/1800

Age at Conviction: 34

Crime Convicted of: Theft

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

Sentence Length: 7 Years

Ship Transported on: Earl Cornwallis

Where Arrived: Port Jackson, New South Wales

Departure Date: 18/11/1800

Arrival Date: 12/06/1801

Biography: Mary was the wife of Jacob Biddle. She was also known as Mary Cross. She was convicted of stealing cotton print at Manchester along with Esther Reynolds and Mary Shepley. In October 1800, an order came to Lancaster Castle for 13 female prisoners (including Mary, Esther and Mary Shepley) to be clothed and conveyed to Gravesend.

Mary was assaulted by Elizabeth Wills (also on Cornwallis) in 1803 in Sydney. At some stage between this date and prior to 1818, it is possible that Mary goes to Van Diemens Land and is on the musters as Mary Beadle in 1818 and 1819, the latter of which records her ‘on charity’. In 1822 Mary (as Biddle again) was shown in Hobart, Van Diemens Land. In 1823, Mary was the victim of an assault from another woman. She passed away in January 1825 at Hobart, recorded as aged 59 and was buried in St Davids Cemetery, now a public park.