Agnes Hay was born in Edinburgh about 1848 to Matthew Hay and Margaret Erskine. In January 1852 she arrived in Hobart with her mother Margaret, now a widow, and baby sister Margaret aboard the convict ship Anna Maria .Baby Margaret died at the Cascades Female Factory in March 1852 aged 12 months. On the first of July 1852 Agnes was admitted to the Queen's Orphan School. In August 1852 Margaret was assigned to the Rev. T J Ewing at St Johns New Town and on the 27th January 1853 Margaret married Richard Wilson in St John's Church. Agnes was discharged into her mother's care in March 1854 but in 1856, aged 8 was readmitted with her now younger brother, 3 year old Richard Wilson into the Queen's Orphan School. Richard appears to have been an abusive drunk and habitual thief according to articles in the Hobarton Mercury 1856-7.

Agnes remained at the Orphan School until July 1862 when she was apprenticed to Robert Beauchamp in Launceston. 

In February 1868 Agnes gave birth to baby Martha. The father is simply recorded as "Smith".

In 1871 Agnes married Frederick Curner in Longford. They had several children together, but none survived childhood except her daughter Martha who married William Lawler in 1885. William and Martha had seven children. Their third son, Hubert Arthur Lawler was my grandfather.

Agnes died in her late 80s in 1937, out living her daughter Martha by 2 years. She has descendants throughout Australia.