Date of Conviction: 21/10/1817

Age at Conviction: 25

Crime Convicted of: Theft

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

Sentence Length: 7 Years

Ship Transported on: Maria

Where Arrived: Port Jackson, New South Wales

Departure Date: 15/05/1818

Arrival Date: 17/09/1818

Biography: Mary was a married woman of Crompton, near Rochdale, born at Huddersfield. Her husband was John Howarth who was also transported earlier that year on the Tottenham. Like Mary Buckley, her friend and neighbour, who she was convicted alongside and transported with, she either decided to turn to crime to survive or to reunite with her husband which she did; she left Lancaster on the 17th March and was put on board ship three days later, travelling with her two children. Mary caught scabies from the Newgate prisoners onboard.

Mary and her two children were initially sent to the Paramatta female factory Mary and John went on to have a further child in the colony. By 1825, Mary was free by servitude, receiving her certificate of freedom in the April of that year. Her certificate describes her as 5ft 2 with a pale complexion and dark ‘flaxen’ (blonde) hair and hazel eyes. She died in 1858 at the age of 61 and is buried with her husband at Campbelltown.