Jane Field - PRINCE OF
WALES.
Born in England circa 1730 – Died in the
Colony 1788.
- this story is under review by Membership Team
Jane field, with Ann Harrison (who was
acquitted), was sentenced at Hick’s Hall, London, on 14
October 1785 to seven years transportation for theft of
two glass bottles of rum and one of red port. Several
petitions on her behalf were disregarded. One from a
clerk to a Lincoln’s Inn barrister blamed Harrison for
leading astray “an unfortunate old woman… near the age
of sixty years”, held in Newgate, “not allowed a bit of
bread to eat nor a bit of straw to sleep upon”, and
denied visitors unless bribed, owing to “the severity
and cruelty of some of the Inferior officers of Newgate”.
Field had “lived the major part of her
life in families of great credit and distinction… a very
sober honest and industrious women”.
Evan a petition from Edward Beacroft, MP
for Hendon, Wilts, in whose household she had once been
employed, was ignored.
Aged 57, Field was sent by wagon to
Portsmouth to embark on
Prince of Wales on 30 April 1787.
On 24 July 1788 she was buried at Sydney
Cove.
SACRED
To The Memory of
Jane Field.
Not forgotten, nor will you ever be.
We are a Fellowship of History Buffs,
who will remember thee.
Information:
Founders of Australia.
M. Gillen.
Verse: J. Mortimer # 6409.
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