Mary (Greenwood) Partridge (bef. 1768 - 1837)

Born before 11 Oct 1768 in Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England

Wife of Richard Partridge — married 5 Nov 1810 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 1837 after age 68 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Mary (Greenwood) Partridge was a convict on the First Fleet.

Mary Greenwood was born in 1768, and christened on 11 October 1768, the daughter of Jonathon Greenwood at Heptonstall, York, England^[1].

Mary was tried at the "Old Bailey" 11 May 1785 for Highway Robbery and was sentenced to death commuted to transportation^[2]. Mary's Death sentence was commuted but with the requirement that she be transported for 7 years. She was originally to go to Africa^[3] but she was sent to New South Wales.

Her co-accused was a George Partridge, maybe a relation of her eventual husband Richard Partridge^[4]. George Partridge escaped transportation and served his sentence in England at the Newgate Prison^[5][6].

Mary was transported aboard the "Lady Penrhyn" as part of the First Convict Fleet to the new British Colony, New South Wales (Australia), on the Lady Penrhyn, Scarborough and Alexander, leaving England in January 1787^[7]and, after a 12 month voyage, arrived at Port Jackson on 22 January 1788. The arrival of the First Fleet and subsequent disembarkation of the convicts was chaotic to say the least and it was many months before some order began to develop^[8].

From no later than 1791 and possibly from the time of arrival in 1788, Mary was in a relationship with Richard Partridge, a Convict who had also arrived as part of the First Fleet aboard the "Scarborough".

In 1791 Richard and Mary "adopted" an Aboriginal infant whom they named Daniel and brought up in their own home. His Aboriginal name was Woo-watty but he was known as Daniel Woowattin and became very well known for his work as guide and helper with the botanical collector George Caley who collected plant specimens for Joseph Banks in the Colony of New South Wales from 1800 to 1810. In 1816, Daniel was executed afte being found guilty of raping a local teenager^[9][10].

Mary and Richard had at least two children of their own, Richard Partridge born in 1793^[11] and Mary (Partridge) Bowerman who was born in 1797^[12]before they were married on 5 November 1810^[13][14][15].

In the 1828 Census, Mary aged 66, was living with her husband Richard, aged 69 years, in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia^[16].

Mary died in 1837, possibly at Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia^[17].

Research notes

Are we certain that Mary was born in Yorkshire in 1768?

There was a Mary Greenwood that was born in Middlesex in 1761: London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [1]

The Web: Australia, Convict Records Index, 1787-1867 [2] and 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy) [3] states that she was born in 1762.

Geneanet places her origins in Middlesex: Geneanet Community Trees Index [4]

The earlier Middlesex origin sounds more plausible to me

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NRQQ-W6K : 30 December 2014, Mary Greenwood, 11 Oct 1768); citing HEPTONSTALL, YORK, ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 0262539-0262542, 0990610, 0990611. Citing: Name Mary Greenwood Gender Female Christening Date 11 Oct 1768 Christening Date (Original) 11 OCT 1768 Christening Place HEPTONSTALL, YORK, ENGLAND Father's Name Jonathan Greenwood England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Indexing Project (Batch) Number K00748-9 System Origin England-ODM GS Film number 0262539-0262542, 0990610, 0990611
2. ↑ Old Bailey Central Criminal Court of London: Mary Greenwood: GEORGE PARTRIDGE, MARY GREENWOOD, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 11th May 1785. Reference Number: 17850511-3 Offence: Violent Theft > highway robbery Verdict: Guilty Punishment: Death
3. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings supplementary material: Reference Number: s17860111-1 Punishment: No Punishment Pardon-Transportation: Mary Greenwood: "The following Prisoners, on whom Sentence of Death had been passed at former Sessions, received his Majesty's most gracious Pardon, on the respective Conditions following, viz. Old Bailey Proceedings supplementary material, Thomas Ives, Henry Jackson, George Patridge, Mary Greenwood, Samuel Chapness, 11th January 1786."
   "Thomas Ives , Henry Jackson , George Patridge , Mary Greenwood , and Samuel Chapness, to be transported for seven years to Africa."
4. ↑ Unconfirmed
5. ↑ https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17850511-3-defend75&div=t17850511-3 Old Bailey Central Criminal Court of London: George Partridge:
6. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings punishment summary, John Foster, 11th May 1785. George Partridge: Reference Number: s17850511-1 Punishment: Miscellaneous > fine; Imprisonment > newgate
7. ↑ List of Convicts on the First Fleet: Mary Greenwood
8. ↑ Stories: "February 6th, 1788 - The Women Come Ashore, Arthur Bowes Journal Entry"
9. ↑ Australian Dictionary of Biography, Daniel Moowattin:
10. ↑ The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) Sat 28 Sep 1816 Page 1 COURT OF CRIMINAL JURISDICTION: Daniel Daniel Mow-watty: "The Rev. Mr. Marsden spoke also to his know ledge of the prisoner, which had subsisted for nearly 20 years. He was reared in Parramatta from his infancy, first in the family of Richard Partridge, and afterwards with Mr. Caley, botanist, who took him to England with him; where he resided about a twelvemonth, and then re- turned to this Colony."
11. ↑ Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PARTRIDGE RICHARD Registration number 322/1793 V1793322 1A Father's Given name(s) RICHARD Mother's Given name(s) MARY (GREENWOOD)
12. ↑ Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PARTRIDGE MARY Registration number 640/1797 V1797640 1A Father's Given name(s) RICHARD Mother's Given name(s) MARY (GREEN)
13. ↑ Marriage: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Record 1: Registration number 459/1810 V1810459 147A Groom's Family Name PARTRIDGE Groom's Given Name(s) RICHARD Bride's Family Name(s) GREENWOOD Bride's Given Name(s) MARY District CB
14. ↑ Marriage: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Record 2: Registration number 1126/1810 V18101126 3A Groom's Family Name PARTRIDGE Groom's Given Name(s) RICHARD Bride's Family Name(s) GREENWOOD Bride's Given Name(s) MARY District CB
15. ↑ "Richard Partridge of the parish of Parramatta and Mary Greenwood of ditto were married in this church by banns this fifth day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and ten by me Samuel Marsden." Both Richard and Mary made their X marks in the register in the presence of Elizabeth Cork who made her X mark and John Martin who signed the register.
16. ↑ "Australia, New South Wales, 1828 Census," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKXY-5YSK : 9 October 2015), Mary Partridge, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia; citing Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia, Ship Lary Penryhn, Mitchell Library, Sydney; FHL microfilm 917,872. Citing: Name Mary Partridge Event Type Census Event Date 1828 Event Place Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia District Number 218 Age 66 Religion Protestant Arrival Date 1788 Arrival Year 1788 Ship Name Lary Penryhn
17. ↑ Death: New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: PARTRIDGE MARY Registration number 2488/1837 V18372488 21 Father's Given Name(s) AGE 69

Links

family search Mary Greenwood:

Court Transcription

Old Bailey Central Criminal Court of London: Mary Greenwood: GEORGE PARTRIDGE, MARY GREENWOOD, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 11th May 1785. Reference Number: 17850511-3 Offence: Violent Theft > highway robbery Verdict: Guilty Punishment: Death: "GEORGE PARTRIDGE and MARY GREENWOOD were indicted for feloniously assaulting Adam Mills on the King's-highway, on the 9th of April last, and putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and feloniously taking from his person and against his will, one cotton gown, value 10 s. one pair of cotton stockings, value 1 s. a linen handkerchief value 1 s. the property of the said Adam .

ADAM MILLS sworn.

On the ninth of April last, at past eleven at night, I was going towards Bishop Bonner's, at Bethnal Green where I live, and by Shoreditch church, I met two women, they asked me to give them something to drink, with persuasion, I said, I would, and I went with them to a private house in Kingsland-road , I gave them a shilling, one went out to fetch the liquor as I supposed, and returned in about ten minutes, and said, there was somebody at the door, she would see who it was, upon that she went to the door with a candle, and the candle was knocked out, and in came three or four more, I dare say by the found, there was six or seven.

Were they all women that came in, or men? - I am sure I heard three men's voices, they came round me, with their hands on my pocket, and took from me a ten pound bank note, I believe the number on the bank-note was 4,400, and seven guineas in gold, and some silver, about fifteen shillings, but I cannot be sure to the quantity of silver, and a bad sixpence.

Court. What are you? - I am a publican; I had advertised that very week a premium for any body that had interest to procure a place in the Custom-house, that day I was to lodge half of thirty guineas in Henry Gill 's, Esq; hands belonging to the long room at the Custom-house, and to deposit the other fifteen guineas, when I was appointed; they came all round me, and took this from me; I run after the people and took one woman, and was taking her to the watch-house, when this man and woman came after me, and said, I was no constable, and I should not take her to the watch-house; I received a violent blow on the side, and on that I let the woman go that I had, I had a bundle under my left arm, which contained a gown, the pattern of this which I produce, a pair of stockings and a linen handkerchief, they took the woman from me, and after about twenty yards this man and two women returned, and said, d - mn your eyes, you bloody b - gg - r! if you do not give us this bundle, we will cut your bloody melt out; I then received a hard blow on my knee, which has been very black, I then let the bundle go, and another woman run away with it, it was a star-light and moonlight night; I had never seen the prisoner Partridge before, as soon as the bundle was gone I held the prisoner Partridge by the collar of his shirt, and some people came round, and they were taken to the watch-house, and the woman came to the door, and the constable stopt her, I went with another, and in an alley in Kingsland-road, called Blunderbuss-court, we found the things.

Court. Did you recover your money? - There was a bad sixpence found on the table under the pan, and I believe it to be the same, but I cannot swear; the bank-note was never found.

Was you sober? - I had only drank three pints of porter since eight o'clock.

Was you perfectly sober? - As much as I am now.

SAMUEL HARPER sworn.

The two prisoners were brought to me by the prosecutor, who said he had been robbed of eighteen pounds and a bundle; he said, the prisoner Partridge took the bundle from under his arm, I went to the room of another person, and the bundle was in her room, they all live in one court.

What was that girl's name? - Upon my word I forget, her name was Rachel, he positively said, they pulled the bundle from under his arm, and used him very ill besides.

PRISONER PARTRIDGE's DEFENCE.

I was sitting in my room, I went out, and the prosecutor had hold of this woman, I said to the woman, if you are innocent go to the watch-house, I walked after, and in about five minutes the man gave charge of me.

ELIZABETH EAST sworn.

I live in Blunderbuss-court, Kingsland-road, I rent a room there, the prisoner Partridge lives in the same place where I live, I have known him a twelvemonth, the other prisoner lives with him, there were two young women that lodged in the room over my head, and this young man came up with them, not the prisoner at the bar, I heard a gentleman slip, and I saw a gentleman with his breeches unbuttoned before, and his shirt hanging out, which made me take the more notice of him, he had no bundle, I was mending my husband's shirt for him to go to work in, I heard the girls go down stairs, the man works with his father at times, but he has been very ill for three months.

Jury to Prosecutor. Did the woman aid and assist the man in taking the bundle from you? - Yes, and made use of worse imprecations than the man did.

BOTH GUILTY , Death .

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron PERRYN.

Old Bailey Proceedings punishment summary, John Foster, 11th May 1785. Reference Number: s17850511-1 Sentencing Mary Partridge: "The Sessions being ended, the Court proceeded to pass Sentence of Death, on the following Eleven Capital Convicts, viz.
Joseph Sturmey , John Ivemay , John Honey , Samuel Yeldham , Peter Shaw , George Partridge , Mary Greenwood , Joseph Brown , Thomas Baker Hopkins , otherwise Thomas Baker, Berwick Mayton , and Robert Jackson ; and thus particularly addressed Peter Shaw,
"The crime of which you have been convicted, is attended with another, upon which though not directly charged in the indictment, the Court cannot shut their eyes; from the evidence that has been in your case, there is to much reason to fear, that the crime you have been justly convicted of by the law, was accompanied by another of infinitely greater malignity, and that in order to possess yourself of that part of your master's property, which you had stolen, you did an act or contributed towards it, which tended to deprive him of the greater part of his property, without benefit to you, and what is of much more importance, to endanger the lives of himself and his family; that offence of the most atrocious nature, when committed by any person towards another, is greatly aggravated by the situation in which you stood, that of a servant, who had obtained the good opinion and confidence of the family, and whose duty it was to protect the lives and property of that family from others, rather than to destroy it yourself: under circumstances such as these, the justice of your sovereign forbids us to expect, that mercy can be extended to you, and therefore it doubly becomes you in particular to employ the little time you have left, in endeavouring to obtain that mercy hereafter, which justice and even humanity must refuse you here." To be transported for fourteen years. 3."