Date of Conviction: 16/07/1821

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: Mary Anne (3)

Where Arrived: Port Jackson, New South Wales

Departure Date: 25/12/1821

Arrival Date: 20/05/1822

Biography: Matilda was a single woman and servant of Manchester who had stolen nine shillings. She was described whilst in jail at Lancaster Castle as being 5ft 2 with grey eyes, brown hair and pock marked skin.

Prison reformer and close associate of Elizabeth Fry, Mrs Pryor, who witnessed the arrival of the Lancaster women at the ship complained that ‘the prisoners from Lancaster Castle arrived, not merely handcuffed, but with heavy irons on their legs, which had occasioned considerable swelling, and in one instance, serious inflammation.

The musters show Matilda had been a servant to banker and businessman Prosper De Mestre. Matilda married James Riley (ship- Hindostan) shortly after arrival in October 1822 at St Philips, Sydney. In August/September 1823, Matilda and James were found guilty of receiving stolen goods. He was sent to Emu Plains and she was sent to the female factory for one year. Matilda died on the 9th July 1825, aged 29 and was buried two days later, within the parish of St James.