Above: Mabel Ruth Adams who married John Thomas Pond Howard in 1898. She previously had had two children registered under her maiden name. She later married her son in law, Stephen Warner in 1929.

Above: Death notice placed in a local paper by Stephen Warner in 1917, in "sad but fond rememberance of my dear wife, and our dear Ethel". Ethel died giving birth to their child, George 'Dixie' Warner.

Mabel Ruth Howard nee Adams was my great grandmother on the paternal side of the family.

I am also related to William Adams / Elizabeth Southernwood, Mabel's parents, and Catherine Mack / Francis Southernwood, Elizabeth's parents - all of whom were convicts. Elizabeth was born to Catherine in Tasmania before she married Francis. Their histories are fascinating, and form the second part of this account.

The Howard Family of Strahan, Tasmania. This photo was taken in 1915. Click on the photo or here for a larger view.

From left to right, top to bottom: Esmond Lester (11 years old), Queenie (16), Ethel (21), Bertha Mavis Howard, Mabel Ruth (42), Tom (15 months), John Thomas (60), Ken (8) , Edeline (11), George "Skeeta" - my grandfather (3)

Mabel Ruth Adams brought a child, Ethel, to her de facto - and later bona fide - marriage with John Thomas which commenced around 1898. When Ethel died giving birth to 'Dixie' George Warner, Mabel started a relationship with her son-in-law, Stephen whom she later married in 1929. Mabel and Stephen lived in Thompson Street in Williamstown. Mabel briefly returned to Tasmania in 1926 at the time of John Thomas' death. (more information below)

It should be kept in mind that John Thomas had had two previous relationships before meeting and marrying Mabel Ruth. Firstly, he had two children with Sarah Lindsay who died in Devenport in 1885. After that, he married Elizabeth Irvine in 1887. There seem to be no registered births nor information about their divorce or her death that I have (as yet) managed to locate. We don't know when John Thomas' second marriage (to Elizabeth Irvine) terminated and therefore, whether Mabel played a part in it or not.

Mabel left Tasmania in 1921 with Stephen for Melbourne. They lived in Carlton, then Pascoe Vale and later on Williamstown. It seems that in 1921 there was a "Farewell Social" for Mabel organised by what appears to be Strahan State School's Council. The event was recorded in one of the local papers:

Farewell Social

On Tuesday last a farewell social was tendered to Mrs. T. Howard and family on the eve of their departure for Melbourne. There was a large and representative attendance. During the supper interval Mr. G.D McPhail presented Mrs. Howard with a very nice suit-case as a small token of esteem and in doing so expressed regret at her departure from the district. Boxes of chocolates were also presented to each of the three children. Opportunity was also taken to bid farewell to Mrs. Bradford, who is leaving for Hobart. She was presented with a nice brush and comb. "They Are Jolly Good Fellows" was heartily sung and cheers given. Mr. E.J. Mitchell responded for the two departing guests, and referred to the loss the departure of the Howard family would be to the Strahan State-school. Both Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Bradford were highly esteemed, and carry with them the best wishes of everyone at Strahan.

(Source: Unknown. Photocopy of unsourced local newspaper column, Strahan)

At the time of John Thomas' death in 1926 in Tasmania, Mabel Ruth was the informant. Therefore, she returned and spent some time in Strahan. It is reported that Mabel left the deed to her property with a grocer in the town. The house supposedly overlooked the harbour where a motel now stands as a surety for debts either she and/or he (John Thomas) had incurred. The settlement of the estate was not finalised until 1979.

I have in my possession a document from the Department of Lands and Surveys dated March 21, 1925 issuing John Thomas Howard a deed to some property in Strahan:

Section : K4 / Lot : 5 / Area: 0.1.51/2
Situation: Town of Strahan
Signed: W.N. Hurot
Countersigned: Mr J.T. Howard

Mabel Ruth's Convict Parents ... William Adams (updated August 2, 2002)

A lot of information has come to light since the research was done into Mabel's parentage about six months ago.

Mabel Ruth's father, William Adams, was transported to Australia for life, firstly to Norfolk Island and then on to Van Dieman's Land in 1844. He committed a heinous crime - or at the very least, aided and abetted in it* - at Gawcott, just outside Tingewick, Buckinghamshire, and was tried along with three other men at the Aylesbury Assizes in March of 1844. On 28 June, 1844, he was transported on the 'Agincourt' (con 33/83) which arrived at Norfolk Island on 9 November of that year.

*I possess considerable information about the crime itself and the trial as it was reported by the press and the police at the time. Those wishing to know more can email me.

William's convict record tells us that he was given a Ticket of Leave on 7/3/54 and "conditionally pardoned on 22 April, 1856". Judging by the remarks on the convict record, it seems William was transferred to Van Dieman's Land to work as a convict labourer on Woolmers Estate, near Longford, sometime between March of 1847 and May of 1848. Click here to visit the Woolmers Estate website - Woolmers being one of Australia's most important colonial properties established by Thomas Archer in 1816.

I also know that Thomas, William's brother, came to Tasmania on the ship "The Fortune" which arrived in Launceston on June 1, 1857. A descendant of Thomas, informed me:

"Thomas Adams (bp 1824 at Tingewick) and Mary Paragreen (b 1827-32 at Water Stratford) marr. 1848 at Tingewick. Thomas and Mary emigrated to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) in June 1857 introduced by Thomas' brother William Adams. William was a convict before becoming a free person and was able to introduce Thomas. "

The description of William Adams on his convict record reads:

The convict indent I have from the 'Agincourt' details a 'Statement of Offence', 'Religion' (William was an Anglican) and interestingly, an indication of each man's literacy skills. William could 'Read' - and I assume this means he could not write, as other convicts are recorded as having 'both' (skills). In other words, it appears he was not at face value, well educated. He did, however, manage to spend only about three years on Norfolk Island and about 7 or eight years in the service of the Archers at Woolmers, before becoming a 'free' man. It seems he was smart enough to work the system. His fate, at the very least, showed up the loopholes in the convict system, considering the seriousness of his part in the crime and the original sentence - which was meant to be for life.

Elizabeth Southernwood ... Step Daughter of a Convict Footman (updated 2 August, 2002)

As mentioned above, Mabel Ruth's mother, Elizabeth Southernwood, is the child of a convict couple, Francis Robbin Southernwood and Catherine Mack. There is a question mark, however, over the identity of Elizabeth's biological father.

Elizabeth's "(step) father", Francis, and his brothers John and James were all convicts. Francis was born near Bath in Somerset around 1807.

Francis arrived 13. 10. 1826 on the convict ship, "The Chapman", and served as footman while on board.

The Chapman itself is fairly typical of the convict transports which plied the oceans from one hemisphere to the other in the 19th Century. On its first couple of voyages out of England it carried about 180 convict men and crew to Hobart with stops at St.Jago (Cape Verde Islands) and Rio de Janeiro. For more on convict ships, conditions on board, shipping routes etc visit this Convict Ships to Australia page.

It seems that Francis was Elizabeth's "step father" because I have in my possession his Will made out on the 25th of September, 1869. (Note however that the following information does not necessarily prove Francis' claim that Elizabeth is illegitimate). He bequeths to his son:

"John James Southernwood and to my Step Daughter Elizabeth Adams all that may be left from the proceeds of the aforesaid Sale of said Personal & Real Estate & Property to be".

(Source: Archives of Tasmania, Southernwood Francis | 1869 | AD960 /9 page 84 | Will No 1371)

I now have in my possession Francis Southernwood's convict record which is a document testifying to tough punishments meted out to many convicts at the time. Subsequent crimes and misdemenours committed which were noted down on Francis' record, once arrived in the colony, range from 25 lashes for "being instrumental in causing the death of one of the master's pigs" to being fined two pence costs for a "Breach of the Harbouring Act" (?) Francis was also consigned to a chain gang for an unspecified "felony". The convict record also shows that Francis had prior convictions in England and Wales for "stealing lead", "sheep stealing" and "vagrancy".

Francis was given a "Free Certificate" (pardonned) on 4 August, 1841. I have also been told that Francis and Catherine lived at Giblet Hill on the road to Hobart just outside Launceston for much of their life in the colony. According to his death certificate, Francis died of heart disease on 10 October, 1869.

(source: Deaths in the District of Longford, 1869, #283, 1159)

Curiously, Francis' 'step daughter', Elizabeth, also died of heart disease on 3 May, 1890 at the age of 53.

(source: Deaths in the District of Longford, 1890, #146)

The fact that they both died of heart disease may be some reason for weighing up the possibility that Elizabeth may have been his biological daughter. It opens up space for speculation about his motives and perhaps mixed feelings about her (or by extension, his wife, Catherine?) Did he call Elizabeth his 'step daughter' out of jealousy of Catherine who was quite possibly liberal in her personal behaviour with other men? This leads us to consider ...

The Mysterious Catherine Mack

Catherine Mack, Elizabeth's mother, is a mysterious figure and stories about a female convict of that particular name in 19th Century Tasmania abound. Considering Elizabeth's birthdate, I suspect that our Catherine Mack was born in Ireland between 1805 and 1808. There are two references to female convicts with the name "Catherine Mack", one which fits the birth date of 1805-1808. The Catherine Mack born in 1805 arrived on the ship, 'The Harmony' and departed from Down, England, 13 September, 1828 with 100 female convicts on board. (Source: http://www.rootsweb.com/~austashs/convicts/conships_h.htm)

She is listed as follows:

Mack, Catherine | 50247 | Dublin | 1808 | free by servitude, 3 July 1835

(Source: http://www.rootsweb.com/~austas/harmony.htm)

Catherine's birth date (1805) , the date of departure on 'The Harmony' (1828) and the Tasmanian archival listing of Catherine's marriage to Francis Southerwood in 1833, makes the Irish Catherine Mack 23 years old when she is transported and 33 years of age when she marries Francis. Thirty three may seem relatively old for her marrying but keep in mind she has had a child, Elizabeth, by another man whom she brings to the relationship and she has had to serve her sentence in that period.

UPDATE: 2 August, 2002

A descendant from the Southernwood family has provided me with information suggesting Catherine was a convict from Hedley, in Hampshire. At first I was suspicous but as it turns out, this Catherine Mack might be the most likely candidate. This Catherine Mack was convicted in 1830 at the age of 21, she would have been born in 1809. We know she was married at Longford in 1833 to Francis Southernwood which would have made her 23 years of age respectively. She was transported to Van Dieman's Land on 'The America' 9 May, 1831. She was convicted for the offence of "Stealing a cotton handkerchief" according to the convict record. Catherine was tried in the in October, 1830. The transcript of the court proceeding reads:

CATHERINE MACK was indicted for stealing, on the 28th September, 1 handkerchief, value 3s and 1 collar, value 12s., the goods of Charles Bowles Tripp.
MADELINE TRIPP. I am the wife of Charles Bowles Tripp; we live in Bristol. On the 28th of September we were at the Gloucester hotel, the prisoner was servant there - I missed a handkerchief and collar from my box, and spoke to her about them; she said she had not taken them - no other person could have taken them.
JOSHUA FREDERICK CLEMENTS. I am an inspector of the Police; I have a handkerchief and collar which I got from the prisoner's box - she had been brought to our station house for being drunk; she owned it was her box, and sent the key which opened it - I have since sent to Newgate the gown and handkercheif she now has on.
(Property produced and sworn to)
The prisoner put in a written defence, stating that she had found the collar on the stairs after the prosecutrix inquired about it, and that she intended asking if it was hers; the handkerchief she had found in the water-closet.
GUILTY. Aged 21. - Transported for Seven Years.

(source: Middlesex Assizes, 835, First Day, Eighth Session, 1830)

Catherine had never been convicted for any other offence while in England and was 'single' at the time of sentencing. She did, however, notch up an array of misdemenours when reaching Tasmania where it seems she was allocated work as a servant. Here is the list of her reported 'crimes', indication of the sentencing judge and subsequent punishment:

Sept 21, 1831/Giblin - Drunk and absent without leave | Oct 20, 1831/ Giblin - Drunk and Indecent Conduct yesterday evening. Cell on B & W* 6 days & returned to her service | Nov 11, 1831/Giblin - Drunken Disorderly & Insolent in her service the night before last, Mr. Giblin saying that this woman is generally a good servant but for her failing of getting drunk. Cell on B & W 6 days only. | April 21, 1832/ Davis - Drunk. 3 days subj. confined on B & Water. | May 16, 1832/Davis - Lewd and disorderly Conduct in her Master's house. 3 months Female House of Correction | July 23, 1832 / Whittaker - Drunk and Insolent to her Mistress. Cell 10 days | Aug 20, 1832 / Abbot - Drunk and Insolent to her Mistress. to be placed at the Wash Tub Female House of Correction for one month. | ??? 1832 / Whittaker - Absent from her service without leave. to be placed at the Wash Tub Female House of Correction one month & then to return to her service. | ??? / Sutherland - Making use of abusive language to Cathe Cutter, ordered to change her [insolence]**

*B&W, I assume, stands for "bread and water".
**not clearly legible on record.

Catherine's description on her convict record is as follows:

Women feature largely in this side of the family history and one can only imagine how difficult life must have been for Catherine, Elizabeth and later on, Mabel Ruth. Convict women especially were exploited by the State as cheap labour and preyed upon by men. They were far from home and had no real means to support themselves except by selling sex or becoming servants. Life opportunities were few and ending up with a man who would treat them decently - or genuinely love them - must have been rare considering the low regard in which convict women were held. One can only hope that the life Catherine Mack made with Francis Southernwood and Elizabeth found with William Adams, were happy ones. A generation on, Mabel's relationship with John Thomas Pond Howard was hardly problem free, and as mentioned above, John Thomas had had other wives before marrying Mabel. Mabel had brought a child by another man to the marriage. It seems to me that all of the relationships described here would have been stressed by tough circumstances and harsh personal histories rooted in the the shadows of the convict past.

© Dale Pobega. Please respect the time and effort invested in the research and writing of this family history. Apart from reasonable quotation or linking to the material contained in this story for non-commerical, personal family research, no part of the text or any image, may be reproduced without the express written permission of Dale Pobega