Mary CLARK (McCREADY/DWYER)
| Town/City | Marayong 2148 |
|---|---|
| First name | Mary |
| Last name | CLARK (McCREADY/DWYER) |
| Country of Origin | Ireland |
| Date of Birth | c1796 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1823 |
| Submitted by | Leslie de Belin |
Story
Mary CLARK was a native of County Armagh, Ireland, having been born about 1796. In 1822, she was employed as a milk maid (butter and cheese), and was described as being 5ft 4 1/2ins, with fresh complexion, blonde hair, and hazel eyes. She was Protestant by religion. It appears that she was supporting five daughters, though it is unknown whether she was widowed, divorced, or the daughters were illegitimate. It was while working in the Banbridge Markets selling muslin (fabric) that she was arrested for passing some forged banknotes. During the 1822 Summer Assizes (Court Sittings) at County Armagh, she was convicted of the offence , and sentenced to fourteen years Transportation. On 10/8/1822 she petitioned the Governor of Ireland for leniency, as she had to support her 5 fatherless daughters who were “in a most wretched situation”, and at the time of the offence she did not know the notes were forgeries, as she had originally received them in change. Her petition was not accepted, and it is not known what ever happened to her children.
On 25/1/1823 Mary sailed from Cork, Ireland, aboard the convict ship “Woodman”, which was mastered by Henry FORD, and the surgeon being Peter CUNNINGHAM. The ship had 97 females prisoners, but arrived with 94. It reached Sydney on 25/6/1823, after a 151 day voyage.
Mary soon met up with another convict, William McCREADY, and with a common interest (they were both involved in butter and cheese making in Ireland), they married at Castlereagh on 4/2/1824. During the 1825 Convict Muster, both she and William were listed in the employment of John McHENRY and Robert CRAWFORD. On 20/10/1825, they were both listed on the Government Return as servants employed and maintained by John McHENRY. In 1827, she was in Sydney, to give birth to their daughter, Marriane. Apparently Mary was a bit of a “bad one” as she was noted for being drunk and disorderly.
In 1830 Mary was given her Ticket of Leave to remain in the District of Sydney. On 20/8/1833 both Mary and William received Tickets of Leave to remain in the Penrith area. In 1836 she obtained her Certificate of Freedom.
On 1/12/1856, William McCREADY died. Within 3 months of his death, Mary married William DWYER at Castlereagh on 23/2/1857. She was described as a laundress at this time. It is unknown whether there was “anything” between these two prior to William’s death, though William DWYER had lost his spouse too. Mary was a laundress at the time of her second marriage.
Apart from her five daughters in Ireland, there was only one other child of her two Australian marriages;
1: Marrianne McCREADY, b1827 Sydney. She had 7 children to convict Stephen WILLIAMS. Her death cannot be found but between 1874 and 1914.
Mary CLARK/McCREADY/DWYER death details cannot be confirmed, however, she is mostly likely to be identical with Mary DWYER, a pauper, aged 69 (b.1802?), born in Ireland, who died on 6/8/1871 at the Hyde Park Asylum for Destitute Women, Sydney. There are no other details recorded on this Death Certificate, with the informant being Lucy HICKS, matron of the asylum.