A Cargo of Women

Susannah Watson and the convicts of the Princess Royal

Babette Smith

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English

Rosenberg
01 June 2005

History; Australasian & Pacific history; History: specific events & topics; Social & cultural history

Intrigued to discover a convict ancestor in her family tree, Babette Smith decided to investigate her life and the lives of the 99 women who were transported with her on the ship Princess Royal in 1829.

Piece by piece she reveals the story of her ancestor the indomitable Susannah Watson who, trapped in the crowded filthy slums of Nottingham, stole because she

could not bear to see her children starving'. Separated forever from her husband and four children, she was transported to Australia for 14 years. She endured the convict system at its worst, yet emerged triumphant to die in her bed aged 83 singing

Rock of Ages'.

Babette Smith reconstructs the lives of the women from the Princess Royal from fragments of information in shipping lists, official records, newspapers and court transcripts. Her research overturns stereotypes of women convicts as drunken whores and criminals. Caught in an England convulsed by change, they become the unwitting and unwilling pioneers of a new land. Many proved to be resourceful and resilient, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by a new society.

First published two decades ago, A Cargo of Women became a bestseller and remains one of the most valuable accounts of convict life in Australia. This new edition includes further information about the women from the Princess Royal and new illustrations.

'Smith comes as close as any historian has come to reconstructing the complex experience of a convict woman an absorbing story.' - Kay Daniels, Australian Historical Studies

By: Babette Smith
Imprint: Rosenberg
Country of Publication: Australia
Edition: 2nd
Dimensions: Height: 230mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 430g
ISBN: 9781741755510
ISBN 10: 1741755514
Pages: 328
Publication Date: 01 June 2005
Recommended Age: From
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction 1 Into the Maelstrom 2 Pity Our Distress 3 The Full Penalty of the Law 4 Transported Beyond the Seas 5 A Very Pleasant Town 6 On Assignment 7 The Female Factory They Must Be Kept Under' 8 With His Excellency's Consent 9 Female Married' 10 Beating the System 11 A Dubious Refuge 12 Different Journeys 13 Some Evidence of Affection 14 Caught in the System 15 Survivors and Victims 16 An Affectionate Mother 17 A Second Chance Appendix: The Convicts of the Princess Royal Notes Bibliography Index

Babette Smith, a scholar and historian, is author of the much acclaimed history Australia's Birthstain.