Date of Conviction: 02/02/1818

Age at Conviction: 27

Crime Convicted of: Theft

Court Convicted at: Lancaster Quarter Sessions (held at the Town Hall, Liverpool)

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: Ann was the wife of mariner Henry Parker of Liverpool. Along with another man, she had stolen from an Edward Lloyd. She was put on board 18th March and whilst at sea was recorded by the ship’s surgeon that she suffered a heavy cold/flu onboard. She was part of a group of 35 women who left Lancaster over several days in March (Ann was in group 2, leaving on the 16th March and was put on board ship two days later).

Almost immediately after arrival, Maria was sent to Port Dalrymple at Van Diemen’s Land on the Elizabeth Henrietta where she was recorded as a housekeeper. Ann’s convict record in Tasmania is a blank one, suggesting no further crimes. In 1820 and 21, Ann was a servant to a Mrs Reddall, now listed as a widower, she married fellow widower and blacksmith Edward Rudge (ship- Atlas) who was double her age at Georgetown. Despite his age, in 1823, for having counterfeit money in his possession he was put in an iron gang for 12 months leaving Ann to manage alone. Ann got her certificate of freedom in 1825 and it appears she successfully farmed in the Georgetown area in her own name, supplying milk and vegetables to government establishments. Edward was listed as 80 in 1839 and both still appear living at Ann Street in Georgetown on the censuses until 1851 and Edward’s impressive death at age 99 (probably more likely 93).