Betty (Agnew) Anderson (1806)

Born 1806 in County Antrim, Ireland

Wife of James Anderson — married about May 1839 in Sydney, New South Wales

Biography

Betty (Agnew) Anderson was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

Betty Agnew was convicted in Antrim on 5 April 1837 of larceny (stealing clothes^[1]) and was sentenced to seven years transportation ^[2]. Betty came from County Antrim, was single, a Catholic and working as a kitchen maid at the time of her conviction^[3].

Betty travelled to Australia in 1837 on board the Sir Charles Forbes. She should not be confused with Ann Agnew, another convict by the same surname who was also travelling on the ship. She was said to be five feet tall, ruddy and a little freckled, dark brown hair mixed with grey (at time of her certificate of freedom being granted), grey eyes and "a nose inclining a little to the right side. Scar on each eyebrow, large innoculation mark on the back of the upper part of right arm. Scar on the forefinger of right hand. Lost the nail on the third finger of left hand"^[1].

In April 1839, James Anderson and Betty Agnew applied to get married but this was initially refused as James Anderson stated "on arrival that he was married and had four children". However, circumstances clearly changed, or perhaps a blind eye was turned, since in May 1839 Betty Agnew (aged 32) was then given permission to marry James Anderson (aged 58). James had achieved his freedom by this time ^[4]. Approval was granted by Reverend McIntyre of Sydney. The marriage is also recorded in the NSW marriage registers as well as in the papers relating to Betty's certificate of freedom^[5][1]..

At some point between 1842 and 1845 Betty received a pardon^[6]. Betty received her ticket of leave on 28 January 1843^[7] so long as she remained in the district of Sydney and in the service of "Mr Marshall by the [Governor] minute on a letter from Mr Marshall". The form also noted that the "location was altered to Parramatta on 23 April 1844 by Mr Byans order per the Gov minute on an application by Agnew".

Betty obtained her certificate of freedom on 27 November 1844^[1].

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} New South Wales Government. Butts of Certificates of Freedom. NRS 1165, 1166, 1167, 12208, 12210, reels 601, 602, 604, 982-1027. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales. Entry for Betty Agnew
2. ↑ National Archives of Ireland, Irish Transportation Database, PDF compilation database of records contained in the National Archive of Ireland; entry for Betty Agnew, page 14, Record reference code: TR 2, P 1(F)
3. ↑ Irish Convicts to NSW, entry for Betty Agnew
4. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-185, State Archives NSW; Series: 12212; Item: 4/4513; Page: 95
5. ↑ Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950, entry for marriage of James Anderson and Betty Agnew in 1839
6. ↑ New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859, Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 31, 52-64); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Class: HO 10; Piece: 53
7. ↑ Ticket of Leave butts, 31 Mar 1827-20 Aug 1867. Series 12202. State Records Reels 909-965, 2688A. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. Register of Tickets of Leave, 29 Jul 1824-8 Mar 1827. Series 12200. State Records Fiche 753-754. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.

See also:

• New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842, State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12189; Item: [X640]; Microfiche: 730; State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 1156; Item: [4/7078]. Convict indent records for Betty Agnew.