Bridget Veale, Bonnet made by Margaret Richards, Roses from the Heart Waterford Group.
Bridget Veale, Convict No.8213, police number 37 from Waterford, born circa 1825.
Bridget was tried in Waterford in October 1848 for larceny (stealing potatoes and wheat). She was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years transportation. Bridget was 24 years old and single. She was Roman Catholic, who could not read or write.
Bridget was described as being a height of 5 feet with yellow hair and grey eyes. She also had a round face and high forehead, a small nose, mouth and chin. Her convict trade was that of a country servant.
Bridget departed on the Maria on 5th April 1849 from Dublin, arriving in Hobart on the 23rd July 1949. When she departed, she left behind in Waterford Her Mother, Elizabeth, and 3 Brothers, Edward, Thomas and Richard.
Bridget had quite a checkered history while in the colonies. Between 1849 and 1951, she committed a number of offences, for which she received the harsh punishment of hard labour in the Cascades Female Factory. Her offences included being in the procession of a piece of flannel and being absent with a forged pass.
Bridget married Bernard Connors on 21st June 1852 Church of England, Franklin, Australia. They had 2 daughters, Mary Ann and Bridget.
She received her Certificate of Freedom on 8th October 1855.
Bridget died on 10th April 1879 aged 50, from Typhoid Fever, in Emu Bay, Mount Bischoff, Tasmania. This area was a large tin mining area. Sadly, research also shows that her Husband, Bernard, was discovered by the police in 1886 in the act of “attempting to commit suicide by cutting his throat, and was taken into custody upon the charge”. Thankfully, the wound was not of a dangerous nature, but it was noted that at the time he had been despondent and had hinted at self-destruction.
Research by Eleanor Murphy Roses from the Heart, Waterford.
Sources:
https://itsfilemaker4.its.utas.edu.au/fmi/webd/Female_Convicts_in_VDL_database
Colonial offences – in the above website
Marriage Reference : RGD37/1/11/612 – from above website
Certificate of Freedom Reference : HTG – 13-11- 1855 – from above website
Death Certificate Reference : RGD35/1/48 no 123. – from above website.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/39524018?searchTerm=bernard%20connor
Bridget Veale (1849) - Researched by Nell Murphy on 12th December, 2016
She was convicted for stealing potatoes during the Famine.
She was convicted at Waterford, in Oct 1848 for stealing potatoes and wheat. One previous conviction. 7years transportation sentence. Sent to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) per the ship ‘Maria’ arriving 23 July 1849.
Aged 24yrs; country servant; 5’; single woman; Roman Catholic.
Native Place - Waterford.
Mother - Elizabeth
Brothers - Edward, Thomas & Richard
Assigned to the ‘Anson’ hulk, in the Colony.
28 Dec 1849: to spend 4 months in separate area of the Female House of Correction.
29 Nov 1850: Having 2yds of flannel in her possession. 6mths hard labour at the Female Factory, Hobart.
13 Nov 1851: absent, then having a forged pass. 3mths hard labour at the Female Factory, Hobart.
21 June 1852: Marriage to Bernard Connor (transported on the ‘Kinnear’) at Church of England, Franklin, district of Hobart. Bernard aged 36yrs; labourer; widower.
Bridget aged 23yrs, spinster. (Ref. 37/1/11 no. 612 & noted on her Conduct Record)
29 Mar 1853: Ticket of Leave granted.
9 May 1854: Absconded. TL revoked.
11 July 1854: Ticket of Leave restored.
8 Nov 1855: Certificate of Freedom
Children: Mary Ann “O’Connor” b. 13 Jul 1860, Emu Bay district. Father - Bernard O’Connor. Mother - Bridget Vale (should be Veale).
Bridget “O’Connor” b. 17 Sept 1862, Emu Bay district. Father - Bernard O’Connor. Mother - Bridget Bail (should be Veale).
10 Apr 1879: Died, Emu Bay district. Cause - typhoid fever. Aged 50yrs. Informant husband B. Connor.