Date of Conviction: 29/03/1823

Age at Conviction: 17

Crime Convicted of: Receiving Stolen Goods

Court Convicted at: Lancaster Assizes (held at Lancaster Castle)

Sentence Length: 14 Years

Ship Transported on: Brothers

Where Arrived: Hobart, Van Diemen’s Land

Departure Date: 20/11/1823

Arrival Date: 15/04/1824

Biography: Jane, was involved with Mary Partridge senior, Mary Partridge junior, Ellen Partridge and Ellen Meadows who had broken into and burgled Richard Donovan’s house at Liverpool, stealing ten sovereigns, large amounts of clothing and shoes, bedding and other articles and Jane had received the goods. Jane, who was single, was born in Liverpool and was described as having a fresh complexion, large hazel eyes, long brown hair, a small scar on her left cheek and thumb end and was very broad and short. She had been in both Preston House of Correction and Liverpool Gaol.

Reformer, Elizabeth Fry recorded that ‘Eleven women from Lancaster (including Jane) were sent to the ship ‘iron-hooped round their legs and arms, and chained to each other. The complaints of these women were very mournful, they were not allowed to get up or down from the coach without the whole being dragged together; some of them had children to carry, they received no help, or alleviation to their suffering.’

Onboard ship, Jane suffered from fevers, aches and headaches which the surgeon attributed to typhus and she was treated with purges and blood letting but recovered.

From arrival in Van Diemen’s Land Jane had no interest in playing the system and continually absconded from whoever she was assigned to, with increasing punishments being sent to the female factory, put on bread and water and even having to wear an iron collar. Whilst in the female factory she assaulted another woman earning her extra time. She was reassigned to the country where the same patterns continued; she was found in a pub with her master’s children, used obscenities to her mistress and got into more fights whilst back in the factory. Jane was shipped back and forth between town, country and female factories whilst she continued fighting, absconding and now drinking.

Jane died, aged 21 at Norfolk Plains, Launceston in March 1828 whilst in the service of convict ship surgeon James Patton. She was buried at the Cypress Street Anglican Cemetery, Newstead, Launceston.