1824
The Brothers sailed into Port Arthur on the 13th April 1824(13a) after 129 days at sea. The women destined for Port Jackson remain on board, and 12 DAYS LATER, on the 25th April the ship sails for Sydney with “a compliment of 39 female convicts” (40 names in the ships record, 3 of the original compliment “came free”), and arrives in Sydney Cove on Friday 7th May 1824(13b). James Hall immediately puts pen to paper to inform Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane of the ship’s arrival and of the mutinous attempt on his life(14). He also advises the Colonial Secretary Major Goulburn(15) of their arrival and includes a list of the prisoners and “their characters answered” in which he describes Hannah as of “Sallow pitted complexion unmarried, loose protestant”(15b).
Personally, I think labelling Hannah a “loose” woman is a bit tough. To give some sort of context to his decision, one would imagine James Hall harboured sympathies for the plight of the female prisoners, which presumably was why he was recommended for the job by Elizabeth Fry. Elizabeth Fry was a political activist who worked tirelessly to improve the conditions of female prisoners generally, and had already proved herself at The Downs in October by having the irons and handcuffs removed from newly arrived female prisoners. Having said that, it’s hard to blame Hannah for wanting to improve her conditions even slightly. The pity is the reward was only rum and a few moments away from the locked and crowded conditions below deck.
The following day there is a Muster of female convicts(16) on board the ship, and Hannah is assigned to the Female Factory at Parramatta(17 17a)
24th June the Mutiny Trial(18) begins in Sydney.
Evidence given at the trial in Sydney mentions Hannah as Ann (a variation of Hannah). Hutchins.
“Ann” crops up later as the middle name of her first two daughters – I wonder if it was her mother’s name??
“The court do not find either of the Charges of Mutiny or Conspiracy or Assault established by Evidence and therefore order this matter to be dismissed. And do adjudge that the Defendant is entitled to his Costs.”
At the NSW General Muster(19) taken in September,
Hannah somehow avoids a mention!
The Admiralty’s appointment of Charles Motley as Master of the Brothers was obviously a considered choice. Ferrying a boatload of women to the other side of the planet (where men outnumbered women ten to one), was severely tested a week after departing The Downs.
So far it’s been difficult delving into the life of Motley, and perhaps it’s only to satisfy my own curiosity, but there must be something on record, somewhere, that exemplifies “that quality” in his character.
The Admiralty were obviously satisfied with their choice. In 1827 Charles Motley made a 2nd journey to Port Jackson in the Brothers, with a cargo of female convicts.
According to the 1824 – 1825 Annual Return of Convicts prepared for the Colonial Secretary(20), the arrival of the Brothers brought the only boatload of English female prisoners to arrive at Port Jackson for the year.