The photographing of prisoners was introduced into New South Wales gaols in 1871. This 1875 record contains a rare and revealing photograph of a former Imperial convict, a prisoner again in her old age.
Margaret Greenwood
Margaret Greenwood was originally transported as Margaret Shannahan on the Caroline from Cork in 1833, under a sentence of seven years for house robbery. Her occupation was listed as housemaid, and she was aged 17 at the time of her trial. She was assigned as a domestic servant, gave birth to a daughter in 1837, and three years later married the child’s father (William Greenwood ), a ‘greatly respected’ citizen of the Araluen district.
However, by the 1870s her life was falling apart. Her husband had died tragically in a carting accident, and she seems to have been abandoned by her eight surviving adult children. She became a derelict, and embarked on a life of petty crime (being tried and convicted on 12 different occasions for a variety of offences).
As the gaol record notes, she was killed in a tram accident on 18 May 1887.
This post was originally published in our 50 Years of NSW State Archives Gallery
Darlinghurst Gaol Photograph description book, entry for Margaret Greenwood, (formerly an imperial convict), 1875. NRS 2138 [3/6040, no. 1219]
(Page 1)
Prisoner’s Name: Margaret Greenwood
Number on Gaol Register: 1178/75
Previous Number:
Where Born: Ireland
Year of Birth: 1815
Arrived in the Colony: Ship Not known
Year:
Trade or Occupation previous to conviction: Nil
Religion: RC
Colour of Hair: Brown & Grey
Eyes: Blue
(Page 2)
1219
Portrait taken: 19th March 1875
Prison History:
Braidwood Quarter Sessions: 1 May 1872 Arson 2 years Labor
Summary Braidwood: 6 mos L
Police Office Sydney: 30 Dec 1874 Drunk4 days Conf
Ditto Ditto 12 Jan 1875 Stealing 1 month L
Police Office Araluen 2 Dec 1867 Attempt at arson 2 mos C. Braidwood Gaol
” “ 22 Dec 1868 Larceny3 mos L “
” “ 6 June 1869 Illegally on Premises 6 mos L “
” “ 11 Feb 1870 Obscene language 1 mos C “
” “16 Nov “Having stolen property 2 mos L {
Braidwood Quarter Sessions 5 Dec 1870 Prison Escape 12 mos Impt “
Sydney Quarter Sessions 6 Apl 1875 Larceny 2 counts 2 years HL
4 Apl 1877 Sentence expired
Qr Sessions Syd | 25 Sep 1880Stealing2 years L
26 May 1882 Sentence remitted
Killed by tram accident on the 18 May 87 particulars of her history fowd to Coroner 20 May 87
