Sarah Darke
| Town/City | Nicholls |
|---|---|
| First name | Sarah |
| Last name | Darke |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 1778 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1796 |
| Submitted by | Derek Barnes |
Story
Sarah Darke was born in 1778 and possibly christened at Gloucester St Michael on 23 March 1778, daughter of Henry Darke and Mary (nee Hannes).
On 11 March 1795 Sarah was delivered to Gloucester City Gaol. She and Sarah Mann, both of St Mary de Crypt Parish in the City of Gloucester, were both charged that on the 11 February 1795 they stole 4 pairs of stays of the value of 6 pounds from John Hoskins’ (their employer’s) stay making shop. Two pairs had been found on them, one was found in possession of a friend of theirs, and one was thought to have been pawned by Sarah Darke. The two Sarah’s were found guilty and sentenced to be transported to New South Wales for 7 years each.
Sarah Darke was transported to New South Wales on the ship “Indispensible” which sailed in October 1795 and landed in Port Jackson on 30 April 1796. The ship carried 133 female convicts and only landed at Rio. Two female convicts died on the voyage.
After they landed, Sarah was probably one of 60 women who were sent up to Parramatta “to be employed in such labour as was suited to their sex and strength”. Sarah would have found Parramatta to be very different to Gloucester. It was extremely hot in summer, dry, dusty, and wild. The colony was still suffering from food shortages at times and discipline was still very harsh.
Sarah was employed by Andrew Snowden in his pub from early in the 1800s. They had 3 children before they were married on 2 March 1812 at St John’s Parramatta. In total they had 8 children.