Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed Mary Crowther
- Researcher (Allan Murphy)
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Biographies
Mary Crowther was recorded as aged 21 in 1817, so she was born around 1796.
The Lancaster Gazette of 4 November 1815 lists her as one of several prisoners:
“At Salford Sessions, last week the following prisoners were sentenced to be transported for seven years”, including: “Mary Crowther, for stealing a watch and banknote from Jos. Butterworth.”
Mary Crowther arrived in NSW on the Lord Melville on 24 February 1817, one of 103 female convicts aboard. The ship had left England in August 1816. The ship’s manifest records that she had been convicted at Lancaster on 25 October 1815.
In 1818 she petitioned the governor seeking permission to marry Elias Connel (convict, arrived on Surrey 2 1816). (see Reel 6006, 4/3498 p.269) She was then 22 and he was 50. The marriage did not proceed.
In May 1819 she gave birth to a daughter, Frances Crowther, at the Female Factory, Parramatta. Frances was baptised in July 1819 with parents named as Mary Crowther and Edward Doyle, noted as unmarried.
In April 1820 she sought permission to marry Edward Dowlin (“Doolan”, convict, arrived on Britannia 1797) (see Reel 6007, 4/3501 p.331)
She married Edward Dowling (Doolan /Dooley/Dooly/Dowland/Dowling/Dowley/Dawley) in June 1820.
In 1822 she and Edward were convicted of “drunken & turbulent conduct in the town late at night” by the Bench of Magistrates, Parramatta. Mary was sent to the Parramatta Female Factory for 12 months. Edward was confined to the convict barracks for six months.
A son Richard Doolan/Dooley/Dowling was born in Parramatta in 1823. The 1823 birth of Richard Dooley/Dooly is listed in the NSW index with parents Edward and Mary A. (Why three index refs? Two have surname as Dooley.)
She was granted a certificate of freedom on 15 March 1824.
Husband Edward Dowling was sent to Port Macquarie 17 March 1824. There is a document showing a request from Mary Dowling and her two children to also proceed to Port Macquarie 17 March 1824. Son Richard Dooly was baptised in Port Macquarie in May 1824.
Her daughter Frances was in the Orphan School in 1827.
At the time of the 1828 census, she and son Richard are listed as lodgers with Samuel Willis, a Miller, in Kent Street, Sydney.
Some researchers list her death as occurring in 1852, quoting NSW BDM #V1852504 106/1852. This relates to the NSW death index entry for Mary A Crowther, age 48, who died in 1852. This seems very unlikely as there is no record that she used her maiden name after 1820. There is a Mary Doolan who died in Sydney in 1856 and two Mary Dowling deaths (Penrith and Richmond) in 1858. One of these may be her.
Allan Murphy
Submitted by Researcher (Allan Murphy) on 26 December 2019
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/2, p.274
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