Jane Read/Reed/Reid was born on 16th December 1853 in Franklin, Tasmania. Her parents were George Reed & Anne Towns. George was a sawyer and most likely worked cutting timber around the Huon River for an employer.
There is no record of a marriage between George Reed and Anne Towns and no other children recorded as born to them.
Jane's father, George, died when she was 11 months old (30-11-1854).
It appears they were back in Hobart by this time.
Jane seems to have a tough time at life. Her mother was frequently in trouble with the law for drunkeness and disturbing the peace and went to prison many times. Even her pseudo step-father didn’t appear to be a stabling influence on family life.
She may have been working as a barmaid at the 'Rising Sun' in April 1867.
She appears as a witness to a burglary that took place on 24-4-1867, giving evidence in favour of her employer.
For more information on Jane Reed see WILLIS
JANE’S MOTHER
Jane’s mother was a convict named Ann Towns.
She was born c1822 in Greenwich, London.
She was tried at the Criminal Court on 10-5-1841 and charged with ‘Larceny from the Person’
ANN TOWN was indicted for stealing, on the 25th of April, 1 half-sovereign, 2 shillings, and 1 sixpence, the monies of Robert France, from his person.
ROBERT FRANCE . I am a soldier in the artillery. On the evening of the 25th of April I was in a public-house at Woolwich, about eight o'clock—the prisoner came in, and I gave her a glass of gin—I was then going to my barracks—she came after me, and asked me to go to her room with her—I went there—she put her arms round my waist, and I found her hand in my pocket—I lost a half-sovereign and 2s. 6d.—I had it in my pocket as I went up to the room, and no one could have taken it but her—I came out and found a policeman—the prisoner could not be found for some time—I found her in the public-house again, and gave her into custody.
PHILLIP PALMER (police-constable R 79.) I took the prisoner into custody about eleven o'clock at night.
Prisoner. I did not have it—he was in several other girls' company before he was in mine.
ROBERT FRANCE re-examined. Q. In what manner had you spent the day? A. had a brother come down to see me—I left the barracks at three o'clock with him—at six be went on board a vessel to go to London—I had drunk a little, but was quite sober.
GUILTY. Aged 18 — Transported for Ten Years.
There were previous offences for which she spent 2 months (assault) & 3 weeks (leaving the Union House) in the House of Correction. Prior to conviction she had spent 4 months ‘on the town’.
She arrived in Van Diemen’s Land on the 10th October 1841 aboard the ‘Garland Grove’.
Her convict record shows a number of offences:
25-7-1842 - Misconduct - 6 months hard labour at the House of Correction (this is most likely as a result of bearing an illegitimate child).
15-9-1844 – Absconding – 3 months hard labour at the House of Correction.
5-8-1845 – Ticket of Leave granted.
10-6-1848 – Out after hours – 10 days in the cells.
12-9-1848 – Out after hours – 2 months hard labour at femaile factory.
10-7-1849 – Stealing a watch, property of William Foote – Existing term extended 12 months – Kept on probation
6 months – T.of L. revoked.
10-7-1849 – Calling convict Wicks a ‘bloody dog’ when leaving the P.O. after charge of larceny –
period of probabtion extended another 6 months.
4-9-1849 – Ticket of Leave revoked.
23-10-1849 – Delivered of an illegitimate child.
26-9-1851 – Absent without leave – 7 months hard labour – to be hired in the Interrior north of Hobart Town.
11-5-1852 – Free Certificate granted.
There is record she bore other children besides Jane.
Women who got pregnant outside of marriage were jailed until the baby was born. The baby was put into the jail nursery, where hundreds of them died from cold, overcrowding or lack of hygiene. The women had 6 months added to the end of their sentence as a punishment.
After serving her sentence in Van Diemen’s Land we find her living in Franklin on the Huon River. She is living with an ex-convict named George Reed. George was a sawyer and most likely worked in the timber industry around the Huon River. It is here she gave birth to Jane, her only child born to George Reed. Shortly after she returns with George & Jane to Hobart where George dies in Dec 1854. At the time they were living at the Old Wharf, Hobart.
On 15-8-1855 a convict named Bernard McPheeley is given permission to marry her. There is no record they ever married. A child was born to them in 1855 named William. Sadly William dies in Nov 1859. It seems as though Ann’s relationship with Bernard ends at this point.
In the 1860’s she lives with (though doesn’t marry) a fisherman named Robert Patterson. She bore him three girls all born in Hobart. Margaret (1862), Ellen (1864) & Agnes (1869). From this time onwards she goes by the name Ann Patterson.
Robert Patterson was a convict who arrived on the ‘Duchess of Northumberland’ in 1843. His convict record states that he was a shoemaker. But newspaper records from 1856 show him as a fisherman and fish hawker.
He is admitted to the Brickfields Hiring Depot on 21-11-1873 and is in and out of that institution for the next seven years.
He died at the New Town Pauper Establishment on 21-2-1883.
Clearly he is not able to care for his family. Although not living at the Brickfields at the time, we find his children do not have a home to live in. Where their mother, Ann is, is not clear.
From the City Police Court: 14-8-1874:
"Waif's.-Margaret Patterson, aged 12 years, and Ellen Patterson, her sister, aged 9 years, were sent to the Industrial School for two and four years respectively. The children had been found by Mr.Catling begging bread in the streets, and when questioned as to their parents, they replied that they had no home"
Margaret & Ellen were admitted to the Girls Industrial School on 14-8-1874. Their time in the school expired on 14-8-1876 & 14-8-1878 respectively.
Agnes also was admitted to the Girls Industrial School. Admitted 8-2-1879 for 4 years. Released 8-2-1883.
It seems as though she did very well there.
In July 1883 she appears in the papers with commendations for excellent reading, writing and dictation skills.
Records of Charges for Ann Patterson:
17-3-1866 - Charged with disturbing the peace in a public street. Abusing the landlord of the Hibernian Inn – Fined 5s or 7 days imp.
18-6-1866 – Charged with disturbing the peace in a public street – Fined 10s or 5 days imp.
29-10-1868 – Charged with disturbing the peace in a public street – Fined 10s or 14 days imp.
17-7-1869 – Charged along with Susan Allen with Wilfully committing certain damage to certain real property belonging William Wilson, the amount of damage equaling four shillings – Fined £1 over her share of the damages – 2 months imp.
24-3-1870 - Charged with disturbing the peace in a public street. Appeared in court with an infant in her arms – Fined £2 6d or 3 months imp.
20-12-1870 – Charged with using obscene language in a public street – Fined £2.0.6. or 3 months imp.
23-6-1871 - Charged with disturbing the peace in a public street – Fined £2 or 2 months imp.
7-7-1873 – Charged with drunkeness along with William Lee, George Aitken, Elizabeth Longrove & Patrick White – Fined 5s or 7 days imp.
19-10-1874 - Charged with disturbing the peace in a public street – Fined 20s 6d or 1 month imp.
20-1-1877 -– Charged with using abusive language in Barrack Street – Fined 10s or 14 days imp.
15-6-1877 - Charged with disturbing the peace in a public street – Fined 40s 6d or 2 months imp.
9-2-1882 - Charged with disturbing the peace in a public street – Fined £3 3s or 3 months imp.
3-3-1882 - Charged with disturbing the peace in a public street. With Jane Reid – 14 days imp.
25-1-1883 - Charged with using abusive language. With Jane Willis – Fined 20s.
11-4-1882 - Charged with using obscene language in Campbell Street – Fined 42s or 2 monthss imp.
28-10-1884 – Charged with being drunk & disorderly – Fined 5s or 7 days imp.
19-1-1885 - Charged with being drunk & disorderly with Ann Holmes – Fined 5s or 7 days imp.
3-11-1885 - Charged with being drunk & disorderly with Mary Ann Waller, Mary Ann Rushbrook & Henry Hatfield – Fined 5s or 7 days imp.
19-11-1885 – Charged with being drunk & incapable in Collins Street – Fined 10s 6d or 14 days imp.
23-3-1887 – Charged with using abusive language in Liverpool Street – “This is shocking,” said the Bench, “and you’ve been here scores of times before.” ‘Ann wiped a trifling tear from her delicate eye and took a back seat by the side by the harmless though aesthetic policeman.’
23-12-1895 – Charged with drunkeness and ordered to be returned to NTCI from where she came.
Records of gaol admissions:
1-8-1884 to 30-8-1884 – abusive language.
28-10-1884 to 3-11-1884 – Drunk & disorderly.
19-1-1885 to 24-1-1885 – Drunk & disorderly.
4-11-1885 to 10-11-1885 – Drunk & disorderly.
20-11-1885 to 3-12-1885– Drunk & disorderly.
15-1-1887 to 14-2-1887 – Idleness.
23-3-1887 to 21-5-1887 – Abusive language.
Later in her life she is a frequent patient at the New Town Charitable Institution:
Admitted Discharged
25 February 1885 2 November 1885
10 December 1885 2 March 1886
20 April 1886 12 January 1887
22 May 1887 4 October 1887
13 October 1887 20 February 1888
9 April 1888 5 December 1888
14 December 1888 15 March 1889
1 February 1890 30 June 1890
1 September 1890 11 August 1891
15 August 1891 6 September 1892
Unknown 23 December 1908 (died in the institution)
Ann Patterson died on 23-12-1908 at the New Town Charitable Institution and was buried in Cornellian Bay Cemetery in a paupers grave on Christmas Eve. Her occupation is given as a laundress.
JANE’S FATHER
Jane’s father was a convict named George Reid.
He was born c1821 in Galloway, Scotland.
He worked as a stable boy and had a brother named James who was a shoemaker. There is no record of other family.
He was a Protestant who could read.
He was tried at the Dumfries Court on 20-9-1839 for housebreaking and stealing about £5 in money from a house in Maxwell Town, Dumfries. He was sentenced to be transported for seven years.
He is described as a bad character who can be very troublesome.
He had previous offences, for which he spent one month in prison. He was also caught stealing whilst held in the hulks and spent 3 weeks in irons.
He arrives in Hobart aboard the ‘Eden (2)’ on 5-7-1842 after departing from Woolwich, London on 7-3-1842.
Records of Offences:
21-10-1842 – Insolence and refusing to work – 10 days solitary.
14-9-1843 – Idleness – period of probation extended 2 months.
23-12-1843 – Misconduct, having tobacco in his possession under suspicious circumstances –
period of probation extended 6 months.
6-2-1844 – Misconduct, assaulting a fellow prisoner – period of probation extended 6 months.
26-4-1844 – Idleness – 7 days solitary.
1-6-1844 – Misconduct, ill-treating his fellow prisoner – 36 lashes on the breach.
29-11-1845 – Misconduct, sawing timber without leave & neglect of work – 4 months imp and hard labour.
14-5-1846 – Neglect of duty, refusing to work except on their own terms – dismissed.
16-7-1846 – Cattle stealing – acquitted.
George receives his Free Certificate on 5-10-1846.
The next we hear of him is when Jane’s birth is registered in Hobart by John Horan in 1853.
George Reed died of a “disease of the lungs” on 30-11-1854 in Hobart. Jane’s mother Ann was the informant.