Date of Conviction: 21/10/1817

Age at Conviction: 24

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: Maria was a single woman of Manchester. She stole bank notes belonging to James Newton. After five months at Lancaster Castle, she was put on board ship on the 20th March. She suffered a cold onboard and later seriously scalded her foot and was given linseed oil and opium by the surgeon. Almost immediately after arrival, Maria was sent to Van Diemen’s Land onboard the Elizabeth Henrietta

Maria was assigned as a servant at arrival and is recorded as the wife of William Martin in 1820 (ship- HMS Calcutta) at Launceston. There is some confusion over her (she is sometimes listed as Sarah Marshall who married John Jeffs (born free) in 1819 at St Johns, Launceston but this was a brief marriage as John died. Then she married William Martin as Sarah Jeffs). These records may refer to a different person and our Maria was in a common law relationship with a different William Martin. Maria received her certificate of freedom in 1825.

Not much is known of Maria after this time- she was discharged for ‘using obscene language’ in 1842.