Date of Conviction: 16/07/1821

Age at Conviction: 14

Crime Convicted of: Theft

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

Sentence Length: 7 Years

Ship Transported on: Lord Sidmouth

Where Arrived: Sydney Harbour, New South Wales

Departure Date: 11/09/1822

Arrival Date: 28/02/1823

Biography: Mary was convicted for the theft of a pair of stays (a corset) and a tea caddie belonging to William Kelly and Alexander Lee at Manchester along with Mary Ann Hatton (also on Lord Sidmouth). When her description was recorded in Lancaster Castle she ”Says her name is Margaret not Mary and she is 16 (not 14!). Pale complexion, small heavy brown eyes, red hair, a large scar between her eyebrows, a large scar on the right arm near elbow. Has two past convictions”.

Ship’s surgeon Robert Espie recorded that the seven Lancaster women (including Mary) arrived with four Preston women on August 30th for boarding.

Upon arrival, Mary was put in the female factory at Parramatta. She was still there during the 1825 muster. However in April 1826, she married free man William Fair(es) (ship- Agamemnon). Their witnesses were Elizabeth Griffiths and James Buckley (possibly the husband of Mary Buckley) who were all in Parramatta at this time. A month after her wedding she had already absconded from her husband and according to him she was ‘addicted to lewd and licentious courses’ and was sent to the factory. She absconded again in 1827 and was given two months.

Only a month before her sentence was up, Mary was sent to the female factory for two weeks for being riotous and disorderly before being returned to her husband. Mary received her certificate of freedom in July 1828, her description is updated slightly- she is 5ft 4, fair-ruddy complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes and a housemaid. In July 1830, she was jailed with hard labour for a month for being an idle disorderly person. In 1839 she went on trial and was released to the general hospital. At this time she was 5ft 1, slight, sallow skin and brown hair, grey eyes.

No further records of Mary to date have been found.