Hello Irene, My convict ancestor Jonathan Dart was transported to VDL in 1821 and his wife Bridget (Keeven) made a pebreastion to join him...in 1822 she (in company with 2 other women) was indicted for stealing six yards of lace, value 12 shillings..Bridget Dart was found not guilty ...by 1826 she was still waiting to hear from the authorities ..she was transported on the Sir Charles Forbes Sep 1826 for her second crime of stealing a cloak from the door of a shop and arrived at Hobart Town Jan 1827..a comment from the Ship's Surgeon: " A full plethoric girl. Has buttisted in the sick-bay greatly to my satisfaction. Her case is peculiar, she evidently committed a crime in order to get to her husband who is here, and after her sentence an order was issued for her coming out as a free woman"..(Source: Surgeon Journal AJCP PRO Reel 3209-10).....NB..Bridget and Jonathan had a daughter Elizabeth b1821 but the child died within a year in London ...regards Elly Hill ps..Bridget never reoffended....and she and Jonathan went on to have at least another 6 children in Van Diemens Land... -- I generally avoid temptation unless I cant resist it!
