Rachael Aarons

Date of Conviction: 21/10/1822

Age at Conviction: 33

Crime Convicted of: Theft

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

Sentence Length: 7 years

Ship Transported on: Mary (1)

Where Arrived: Sydney Cove, New South Wales

Departure Date: 03/06/1823

Arrival Date: 18/10/1823

Biography: Rachel stole five sarsnet dresses and other articles and 60 silk handkerchiefs at Manchester. She said she she was born at Hamburgh. Her husband Joseph had also been transported from London (ship- Prince Regent) a year earlier after they had both been caught stealing fabric from a warehouse and Rachael, who was pregnant at the time, had stuffed the fabric under her dress admitted guilt, was initially sentenced to life transportation alongside her husband and was then pardoned before moving/escaping north towards Manchester. She had two children with her in Lancaster where she was described as having a fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair and was pitted with smallpox and could read and write. Rachael is also the only known Lancastrian female convict who was Jewish.

Onboard ship, she was joined by her eldest four children as well as her eight month old daughter Elizabeth, who was described by the surgeon as delicate from birth and had only had ‘three months suck’ and ‘greatly disturbed in the bowels’. After almost two weeks of decline, the baby passed away onboard.

In 1824, Rachael petitioned the governor to be assigned to her husband (and were threatened with being sent to Emu Plains if they did not remain together in service) and they later established a shop, by 1830 she was free by servitude. The family was increased with two more children born in the colony.

Rachael outlived her husband by six months and died at home, on Elizabeth St, in late July 1866. Elizabeth Street was the location of a new Synagogue in Australia in 1867. She was buried at the Devonshire St Cemetery and later re interred at the Raphael Burial Ground part of Rookwood Cemetery.