Jane Field.

Born in England circa 1730 – Died in the Colony 1788.

Jane field, with Ann Harrison (who was acquitted), was sentenced at Hick’s Hall, London, on 14 October 1785 to seven years transportation for theft of two glass bottles of rum and one of red port. Several petitions on her behalf were disregarded. One from a clerk to a Lincoln’s Inn barrister blamed Harrison for leading astray “an unfortunate old women… near the age of sixty years”, held in Newgate, “not allowed a bit of bread to eat nor a bit of straw to sleep upon”, and denied visitors unless bribed, owing to “the severity and cruelty of some of the Inferior officers of Newgate”.

Field had “lived the major part of her life in families of great credit and distinction… a very sober honest and industrious women”.

Evan a petition from Edward Beacroft, MP for Hendon, Wilts, in whose household she had once been employed, was ignored.

Aged 57, Field was sent by wagon to Portsmouth to embark on

Prince of Wales on 30 April 1787.

On 24 July 1788 she was buried at Sydney Cove.

SACRED

To The Memory of

Jane Field.

Not forgotten, nor will you ever be.

We are a Fellowship of History Buffs,

who will remember thee.

Information:

Founders of Australia.

M. Gillen.

Verse: J. Mortimer # 6409.