Ann Norman: Female Convict in Van Diemen's Land

Ann Norman - A Female Convict in Van Diemen's Land, The record of her convictions, punishments, physical appearance, etc., recorded in manuscript on vellum. Ann arrived in Van Dieman's Land in August 1827 one of 60 female convicts aboard the 'Persian', after being tried at Cambridge in 1826 and sentenced to 7 years for 'stealing in a dwelling house'. Norman is described as: a housemaid, 5 feet, 1½. On 29 Nov.29 1827 she is recorded as having 'disobeyed orders and general improper conduct' receiving 12 months in the (Women's) Factory Georgetown. In 1829 she was found 'absconding' but her master was 'not willing to take her back'. Instead she was placed in the 2nd class House of Correction for 3 months. Again in 1830 Norman was found 'in Hobart Town away from her service, running away from Constable Hamston', and again was placed in the 2nd class House of Correction. She was tried, again, at Hobart Town in October 1835 and received another 7 year sentence 'for receiving'. Her record continues to 1841 with numerous infractions and punishments. Ann had been born in 1806 near Cambridge. While her trade was a 'housemaid' she gained her living by prostitution. She was single at the time of her first conviction and sentence. The jail report described her as 'very indifferent before convicted of felony', furthermore she is recorded as 'house breaking once - 6 months in Cambridge' and as having a 'bad character, always quarrelling with other prisoners.', In 1831 Norman was assigned to Mrs Midwood, and free by servitude in 1835. However, Norman continued to be unruly, charged on many more occasions of 'neglect of duty' and 'absconding without leave', The George Town Female Factory opened in 1821, set up in the shed of a lumber yard. Female convicts made cloth, leather and shoes from the colony's produce. By 1825 however, the looms were moved to Maria Island and the Factory was moved to a former parsonage in George Town. By 1832 there were 37 female convicts and 5 children in residence. Problems in the Factory included shortages of material and machinery as well as unreliable supervision and overcrowding. There were food shortages for the women and concerns for their moral safety having to travel from their place of sentencing in Launceston to George Town by foot or boat up the East Tamar. As a result, the George Town Female Factory closed in 1834 and inmates were relocated to the new Launceston Female Factory. From 1803 to 1853, 12,500 female convicts were transported to Van Diemen's Land.