Mary Wade
Mary was born in 1777 in London. She spent her days sweeping the streets as a way of begging for money for her poor family. In 1788, at the age of 11, Mary with another young girl stole clothes. This included one cotton frock (fancy hat), one linen tippet (a scarf) and one linen cap. The girls then sold both the frock and cap.
In the same year, another child reported Mary to an Officer of the Law who then found the tippet in her room. Mary was arrested and placed in prison where she was found guilty and sentenced to death. Luckily for Mary, her sentence had been changed to transportation to Australia for an 11-month voyage across the ocean, arriving June 1790 on the Second Fleet. Soon after, Mary was sent to Norfolk Island where she later had two children.
Once returning to Sydney, Mary married Jonathon Brooker in 1809. They lived near Hawkesbury River and it was here that Mary raised her family of 21 children. Mary received her Certificate of Freedom September 1st 1812.
At the time of her death, Mary had over 300 descendants. Today, she is considered one of the founding mothers of the early settlers to Australia. Her descendants number in the tens of thousands, including Kevin Rudd, the former Prime Minister of Australia.
In the same year, another child reported Mary to an Officer of the Law who then found the tippet in her room. Mary was arrested and placed in prison where she was found guilty and sentenced to death. Luckily for Mary, her sentence had been changed to transportation to Australia for an 11-month voyage across the ocean, arriving June 1790 on the Second Fleet. Soon after, Mary was sent to Norfolk Island where she later had two children.
Once returning to Sydney, Mary married Jonathon Brooker in 1809. They lived near Hawkesbury River and it was here that Mary raised her family of 21 children. Mary received her Certificate of Freedom September 1st 1812.
At the time of her death, Mary had over 300 descendants. Today, she is considered one of the founding mothers of the early settlers to Australia. Her descendants number in the tens of thousands, including Kevin Rudd, the former Prime Minister of Australia.
For more information please visit the following website:
http://womenofhistory.blogspot.com.au/2010/09/mary-wade-1778-1859.html
http://www.convictrecords.com.au/convicts/wade/mary/66503
http://womenofhistory.blogspot.com.au/2010/09/mary-wade-1778-1859.html
http://www.convictrecords.com.au/convicts/wade/mary/66503