Date of Conviction: 17/04/1820

Age at Conviction: 44

Crime Convicted of: Theft

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

Sentence Length: 7 Years

Ship Transported on: Providence (1)

Where Arrived: Hobart, Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania)

Departure Date: 06/06/1821

Arrival Date: 18/12/1821

Biography: Mary was from Manchester and a very recent widow; her husband John Mort had been executed at Lancaster Castle the previous year, they had had three children together who were left behind. They had previously been in Lancaster Castle in 1815/16 together with their child. Mary had been born at Bolton On The Moors (now just Bolton). She was described whilst at Lancaster Castle as 5ft with grey eyes and brown hair.

Mary was landed at Hobart, Van Diemen’s Land before the ship carried on to Sydney with the other women. On arrival she was described as 46, 5ft 1, grey eyes and brown hair. Mary was given one month in jail for neglect of duty and insolence to her mistress, a Mrs Emmett in January 1822- only a month after arrival. In 1823 and 24, now as Mary Winstanley, she was three times sent to the Georgetown Female Factory for abusing a woman and disorderly behaviour as well as being reprimanded for assaulting an Edward French- the same Edward French who she had given information to the police about being a handkerchief thief! She received her certificate of freedom in 1830. In 1832, Mary was fined for being drunk. After this time I have not found further records for her.