Orphan Number: 3500
| Orphan: | Mary McBRIEN |
|---|---|
| Mother: | McBRIEN, Bridget |
| Father: | McBRIEN, Francis |
| Mother's ship: | Earl Grey |
| Father's ship: | |
| Age when admitted: | 8yrs |
| Date admitted: | 16 May 1850 |
| Date discharged: | 13 May 1854 |
| Institutions(s): | Queens Orphan School |
| Discharged to: | mother, married to William Fletcher |
| Remarks: | mother's name Bridget McBrine on convict record |
| References: | SWD28 |
You can claim this Orphan here
Joyce Purtscher wrote:
Mary was born to Bridget and Francis McBRIEN (McBRINE, McBRIAN, McBRINIE, O’BRIEN) in Northern Ireland. Bridget had been sentenced to 7 years transportation for stealing 1lb horse hair, pins and iron. Her husband was in the upholstery trade and according to oral family history, he was the one who committed the crime, but thinking that a mother and 5 children would not be transported, she took the blame. Bridget arrived in VDL per Earl Grey on 9 May 1850 after having left the port of Kingston, Ireland on 17 December 1849 with her 5 children. This family had been earlier in the Grangegorman Gaol, where the children were named as Sarah, Mary, Eliza, Ellen and John. Sadly, Sarah, aged 10 died of dysentery on board on 30 March 1850. The surgeon’s report listed her as Mary. Her death was registered in Hobart by the Matron of Cascade Female Factory as Sarah McBrine.
Mary was 8 years old when admitted to the Queen’s Orphanage on 16 May 1850. She was discharged to her mother on 13 May 1854. Her mother was then married to William Fletcher and she had her Ticket-of-Leave. Mary, 18, married William Fletcher’s son Charles, 24, at Franklin on 6 Jan 1859. He had been given permission to join his father who was a convict. Mary and Charles lived at Victoria, Huon, where their parents also lived. Charles and Mary Fletcher had 12 children, 5 boys and 7 girls. Mary Fletcher died 31 May 1931 aged 91 and is buried with husband Charles who died on 31 October 1928 aged 95 and Mary’s step-brother William Fletcher junior, who died on 5 February 1935 aged 82 at the congregational Cemetery, Huonville.
Charles Fletcher, Irene Nerissa Fletcher, holding her son, Thomas Frederick Mooore, Frederick William Fletcher and Mary McBrien
Errol Smith wrote:
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Site last updated March 2025