HIPWELL, Mary Ann ¹³⁴

  General Notes:

Mary Hipwell , convict, arriving Sydney 1791. Convicted in middlesex, term 7 years, - on the Mary Ann- some say this was the last of the second fleet others say the first of the third fleet. This was a convict ship with only women convicts.

The third fleet of 11 ships [Atlantic, William and Ann, Britannia, Matilda, Salamander, Albemarle, Mary Anne, Admiral Barrington, Active and Gorgon] arrived in 1791, with over 2000 convicts. The newspaper report states that 194 male convicts and 4 female convicts died during the voyage, and that though conditions on board ship weren't as "diabolical" as the previous year, they were still outrageous.

Conditions on the second fleet were diabolical.....
From the "SYDNEY COVE CHRONICLE", 30th June, 1790.
At last the transports are here
DIABOLICAL CONDITION OF THE CONVICTS THEREON
278 died on the fearsome journey to Sydney Cove
". . . The landing of those who remained alive despite their misuse upon the recent voyage, could not fail to horrify those who watched.
As they came on shore, these wretched people were hardly able to move hand or foot. Such as could not carry themselves upon their legs, crawled upon all fours. Those, who, through their afflictions, were not able to move, were thrown over the side of the ships; as sacks of flour would be thrown, into the small boats.
Some expired in the boats; others as they reached the shore. Some fainted and were carried by those who fared better. More had not the opportunity even to leave their ocean prisons for as they came upon the decks, the fresh air only hastened their demise.
A sight most outrageous to our eyes were the marks of leg irons upon the convicts, some so deep that one could nigh on see the bones . . . . . . We learn that several children have been borne to women upon the Lady Juliana, the cause for which were the crews aboard African slave ships which met up with the transport at Santa Cruz. . . . . . So the Guardian is lost and with it our provisions. What, in the name of Heaven, is to become of us ? . . . "

On arrival, female convicts were sent directly to the Female Factory. Some did not live in the Factory, but were housed nearby and went to the Factory every day for work. Many only remained a day or so before they were assigned to settlers to work as domestic servants.
Many women were married soon after arrival. The idea was that any man wanting to marry one of the women would apply. They were lined up at the Factory and the man would drop a scarf or handkerchief at the feet of the woman of his choice. If she picked it up, the marriage was virtually immediate.
Although some convict women were classed as depraved and prostitutes, others had been in domestic service in England and were transported for stealing from their employers or shops. After arrival, though, many had to take up prostitution to survive and the system of selection of servants often meant that the gentry and officers would choose the pretty young convicts. Instead of Iron Gangs, troublesome and hardened female prisoners were sent to the Female Factory.
Children of convict women either stayed with their mothers or were moved to an orphanage. Young convict girls were also employed in the Female Factory.
The first Female Factory was built at Parramatta in 1804 and initially consisted of a single long room with a fireplace at one end for the women to cook on. Women and girls made rope and span and carded wool. Their accommodation was very basic and they slept on the piles of wool. A three-storey barracks and female factory was built in 1821 and was mainly used to house women who had committed local offences, convict women with children and convict girls who were unsuitable for work with the settlers. In time, the work done in the female factory became less difficult and needlework and laundry became the main duties. In later years, a Female Factory was also built in Hobart and women were either sent to Van Diemen's Land from Sydney or directly from England.
Quite a few married women were transported with their children and some shipping entries record their husbands' names as well. Divorce was not available to the common person until the late 1800s and was expensive and scandalous. Previously married convicts were permitted to remarry after seven years' separation as long as their spouse was abroad, even if they were still living. The Government encouraged marriage between convicts as it was seen as a means of rehabilitation and more desirable than a de facto relationship.

Mary had a relationship with Richard Reynolds, another Third Fleet convict and bore a son to him in 1794. This son was known an Edward Reynolds Junior. Sometime before 1798 she took up with Thomas Gosper, fellow Londoner. Her son Edward went with her to form the Gopser household at Freeman's Reach. ²⁵⁶

Mary married Richard Beale Reynolds, son of Living and Living, in 1794 in ? Sydney.⁸⁵ (Richard Beale Reynolds was born on 19 Nov 1769 in Poplar, London, England ⁸⁵, christened on 3 Dec 1769 in St. Dunstans, Stepney, London,²⁵³ died on 26 Aug 1837 in Wilberforce, , New South Wales, Australia and was buried on 29 Aug 1837 in St. Johns church, Wilberforce, , New South Wales, Australia.)

Mary next married Living