Bridget was born about 1830.
Bridget was tried and convicted of cow stealing on 26 June 1849 at Leitrim. She had one previous conviction for stealing a handkerchief and petticoat. According to the gaol report, she was quiet, the ship's surgeon reported her as middling.
Bridget was sentenced to 7 years and transported to VDL aboard the Earl Grey which arrived at Hobart on 9 May 1850. She was single, aged 20 and stood 5 feet in height with brown hair and blue eyes. A Roman Catholic she was unable to either read or write and was usually employed as a country servant. [1]
Bridget's conduct record shows that she was absent without leave on one occasion and was penalised with 3 months of hard labour at the Launceston Female Factory. She was also fined for being drunk once. However, she spent most of her time in private service at Westbury.
On 4 September 1852, she gave birth to a stillborn child at Launceston Female Factory. On 24 January 1853, she married John Williams, having received permission to do so. [2]John died on 7 December of the same year of Pleuritis leaving Bridget a widow. [3]
On 25 September 1854 permission was granted for Bridget to marry John Middleton (free). [4]They were married at the Catholic Church of Westbury on 13 November 1854.[5]
Bridget was considered free by servitude on 26 June 1856 and was given a Certificate of Freedom on 16 May 1857.
It is unclear where Bridget spent the remainder of her life. She and John may have migrated to mainland Australia. There are records for both John and Bridget Middleton but without further information, it's uncertain whether these are the same people.
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M > Maguire | M > Middleton > Bridget (Maguire) Middleton
Categories: Launceston Female Factory | Convicts from Limerick to Australia | Convicts After the Third Fleet | Earl Grey, Arrived 9 May 1850