A Cargo of Women: Susannah Watson and the convicts of the Princess RoyalIntrigued to discover a convict ancestor in her family tree, Babette Smith decided to investigate her life and the lives of the 99 women who were transported with her on the ship Princess Royal in 1829. Piece by piece she reveals the story of her ancestor the indomitable Susannah Watson who, trapped in the crowded filthy slums of Nottingham, stole because she could not bear to see her children starving'. Separated forever from her husband and four children, she was transported to Australia for 14 years. She endured the convict system at its worst, yet emerged triumphant to die in her bed aged 83 singing Rock of Ages'. Babette Smith reconstructs the lives of the women from the Princess Royal from fragments of information in shipping lists, official records, newspapers and court transcripts. Her research overturns stereotypes of women convicts as drunken whores and criminals. Caught in an England convulsed by change, they become the unwitting and unwilling pioneers of a new land. Many proved to be resourceful and resilient, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by a new society. First published two decades ago, A Cargo of Women became a bestseller and remains one of the most valuable accounts of convict life in Australia. This new edition includes further information about the women from the Princess Royal and new illustrations. 'Smith comes as close as any historian has come to reconstructing the complex experience of a convict woman an absorbing story.' - Kay Daniels, Australian Historical Studies |
Contents
Transported Beyond the Seas | |
A Very Pleasant Town | |
On Assignment | |
The Female FactoryThey Must Be Kept Under | |
Different Journeys | |
Some Evidence of Affection | |
Caught in the System | |
Survivors and Victims | |
An Affectionate Mother | |
A Second Chance | |
The Convicts of the Princess Royal | |
Picture Credits | |
With His Excellencys Consent | |
Female Married | |
Beating the System | |
A Dubious Refuge | |
Notes | |
Bibliography | |
Index | |
Other editions - View all
A Cargo of Women: Susannah Watson and the Convicts of the Princess Royal Babette Smith No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
AO NSW Application to Publish arrived assigned August Bathurst Bench Brown hair Certificate of freedom Chapter charged Charles child Colonial Secretary complexion CSIL dated daughter death December described died Educ Edward Elizabeth employer England evidence eyes Factory February Female Female Factory Gaol Gaol Entrance Book George governor husband Ibid James January John July June Land later leave letter living London magistrate Maitland March Margaret marriage married Mary Ann months Muster Native Newcastle noted November NSW BDM obtained October Offence ofthe Parramatta person Petition Police previous convictions Height Princess Royal Princess Royal Muster prisoners Publish Banns received records Reel returned revealed Ruddy Sarah sent sentence September servant ship Single South Wales stealing Street Susannah Sydney Sydney Gaol Thomas ticket-of-leave took Trade transportation Trial Watson wife woman women