Margaret Bradburn: From Convict to Free Woman

A Female Convict in Van Diemen's Land, Convict Department Form No.62 for Margaret Bradburn, a 4 feet, 10 inches tall housemaid from County Cavan, Ireland, was 20 years old when she was convicted and transported to Vdl. She had been sentenced to seven years for stealing a coat, petticoat and shawl, following a previous conviction for the theft of a cloak. She arrived in Van Diemen's land in 1853 on the 'Midlothian' (with 22 other female convicts) which had departed from Dublin in 1852. After arriving in Hobart she was sent to the Cascades Female Factory for only 6 days before being placed with a master, Horace Rowcroft, in New Town. However, 5 months later Bradburn was returned to the Cascades Factory for 6 months hard labour after being 'Absent without Leave' from her master's house. It took a year before Bradburn was able to once again leave the Cascades Factory, returning to Rowcroft in July 1854. Yet a year later, Bradburn was granted a Ticket of Leave and 4 years later, in 1859 was Free by Servitude. She was married twice, had at least 9 children and lived till 1910.