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 |
From inside the book
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Page 10
... William Bidy , had his place in the lower order of society as a maker of blacking for polishing the boots of the upper classes and he and his young wife , Agnes , lived in the district of Westminster.3 There is no way to be certain ...
... William Bidy , had his place in the lower order of society as a maker of blacking for polishing the boots of the upper classes and he and his young wife , Agnes , lived in the district of Westminster.3 There is no way to be certain ...
Page 11
... William Bidy's . In a letter written to her daughter in 1875 , Susannah refers affection- ately to ' your Aunt Mary ' but it is not clear whether ' Mary ' was a relative of Susannah herself or her husband.4 During her childhood ...
... William Bidy's . In a letter written to her daughter in 1875 , Susannah refers affection- ately to ' your Aunt Mary ' but it is not clear whether ' Mary ' was a relative of Susannah herself or her husband.4 During her childhood ...
Page 18
... William, was born on 5 November 1825. By the time their last son, Thomas, was born on 2 January 1828 they had moved into the city of Nottingham.17 The christian names of both William and Thomas probably reflect Susannah's affection for ...
... William, was born on 5 November 1825. By the time their last son, Thomas, was born on 2 January 1828 they had moved into the city of Nottingham.17 The christian names of both William and Thomas probably reflect Susannah's affection for ...
Page 20
... William Watson was born , his baptismal records revealing that the family was still living in Bulwell and Edward was still a framework knitter . For two years , Susannah stayed out of trouble . Then , unexpectedly , a Susannah Watson ...
... William Watson was born , his baptismal records revealing that the family was still living in Bulwell and Edward was still a framework knitter . For two years , Susannah stayed out of trouble . Then , unexpectedly , a Susannah Watson ...
Page 25
... William was dead ; he was buried at Bulwell on 18 May at the church where he was christened.39 Perhaps prompted by his death , Susannah was impelled to record the details of her family so they would not be forgotten . A note in her ...
... William was dead ; he was buried at Bulwell on 18 May at the church where he was christened.39 Perhaps prompted by his death , Susannah was impelled to record the details of her family so they would not be forgotten . A note in her ...
Contents
1 | |
9 | |
15 | |
28 | |
Transported Beyond the Seas | 46 |
A Very Pleasant Town | 57 |
On Assignment | 69 |
The Female FactoryThey Must Be Kept Under | 80 |
Different Journeys | 153 |
Some Evidence of Affection | 166 |
Caught in the System | 186 |
Survivors and Victims | 198 |
An Affectionate Mother | 212 |
A Second Chance | 233 |
The Convicts of the Princess Royal | 245 |
Picture Credits | 273 |
With His Excellencys Consent | 91 |
Female Married | 103 |
Beating the System | 114 |
A Dubious Refuge | 133 |
Notes | 274 |
Bibliography | 310 |
Index | 316 |
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
1828 Offence Picking Ann Simpson AO NSW Application to Publish applied to marry arrived assigned August Bathurst Brown hair Hazel Bulwell Campbelltown Catherine Certificate of freedom Charles cl FF Colonial Secretary complexion Brown hair CSIL died Educ R&W Native employer England ex-convict Female Factory Gaol Entrance Book Goulburn governor hair Hazel eyes Hannah husband Ibid James James Haynes Jane July 1828 Offence letter Liverpool living Maitland Margaret marriage Mary Ann months Newcastle Gaol Nottingham November NSW BDM NSW GG October Offence Picking pockets Parramatta Petition Petitioner Picking pockets Sentence Police Magistrate Port Macquarie previous convictions Height Princess Royal Muster Publish Banns Quarter Sessions records Reel Returned to government Ruddy freckled complexion Sarah sent September servant ship Single Prot South Wales Superintendent of Convicts Susannah Watson Sydney Gaol Entrance Sydney Gazette Thomas ticket-of-leave Trade transportation Van Diemen's Land wife William