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ISOBEL MACKIE (1811 - 1878)
Isobel was born 1811 to Lachlan Mackie (sometimes with different variations on the spelling) and Jane Morrison.
Not much is know of her until her marriage to Archibald Sheer (spelling varies) in 1828.
For unknown reasons, Archibald leaves a pregnant Isobel in 1829, migrating to Canada where he married Clara Sarah Slade in Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA, on 5 October 1836 when he was 28 years old.
1829 also saw the arrival of Isobel's first child Jane.
Not much is know of her until her marriage to Archibald Sheer (spelling varies) in 1828.
For unknown reasons, Archibald leaves a pregnant Isobel in 1829, migrating to Canada where he married Clara Sarah Slade in Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA, on 5 October 1836 when he was 28 years old.
1829 also saw the arrival of Isobel's first child Jane.
The 1841 Census illustrates that Isobel had more children. Mary and Patrick Tough are found living with Isobel's parents, Lachlan and Janet at Torry Street Huntly. Another search of the 1841 census shows at the age of 25, Isobel has already moved to Aberdeen (Old Machar) and has become the partner of 40 year old Archibald Reid, a Cattle Dealer. Isobel's appearance in the 1841 census fits nicely into the mystery of her life. The census is one taken in Aberdeen Prison. The interesting point about the census is throughout the Prison census, men and women are listed together. Research shows that this was a common occurrence in Scotland until and Act in 1839 made changes. An entry from The Female Convict Research Centre. Inc states that "John Howard (1777), a notable prison reformer, visited Scotland in the late 18th century. Howard found that conditions in Scottish prisons were often worse than, those in any other parts of the British Isles. He reported that prisoners were kept unsegregated by day and night leading to potential ‘moral contamination’. Recommendations included the segregation of prisoners into different classes and their housing in separate yards. An Act to give rise to this was passed in Scotland in 1839". https://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/pre-transportation/the-prisons/scottish-prisons#ScottishPrisons Was Aberdeen slow in implementing the changes recommended by John Howard? Is there a different explanation to her being listed as a prisoner? Regardless of the lack of answers, it is in Aberdeen the next chapter of Isobel's life would unfold. Again it would involve dealing with the legal system. |
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Isobel in aberdeen
Isobel, it would seem moved to Aberdeen, living in Gallowgate, one of the poorer areas of the quickly developing city. She had taken up residence with a shoemaker, Archibald Reid. Although they lived as husband and wife, they were not married. Their home was a two room dwelling with the front room serving as both part of their living space the shoe making business. The back room consisted of a kitchen and two beds. One belonging to Mary Tough, Isobel's 15 year old daughter.
CONVICTED OF THEFT
On the 12 of February 1849, Isobel was arrested for the theft of 13 pounds. Below are transcripts from the Court outlining the events of her trial and conviction.
From Aberdeen Press & Journal 25 April 1849
CIRCUIT COURT OF JUSTICIARY
The Spring Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here yesterday by Lords Moncrieff and Mackenzie. George Deas, Esq., Advocate-Depute
THEFT
Isabella Mackie or Shier, habit and repute and previously convicted - previous to her imprisonment, residing in the Gallowgate, with Archibald Reid, shoemaker - was brought up on the charge of having, on or about the 12th day of February, and in the house mentioned, stolen from the pocket of John Kelly, labourer, a pocket-book, containing two five-pound, and three one-pound notes. The panel pled not guilty; and from the evidence, it appeared that John Kelly and the prisoner had been intimate during the last harvest, and that on his calling at Archibald Reid’s shop, he had some drink with the prisoner, and returned again at night, when they again commenced drinking, and shortly afterwards went to bed. After some time the prisoner rose, and soon after Kelly did the same, and missed both the prisoner and his pocket-book.
The evidence was found most conclusive. The pocket-book and the notes were seen by several parties in the possession of the prisoner, immediately after she had left the house. Two officers, who were examined on the subject of her character, deponed to having known her upwards of sixteen years, during which time, the character that she bore was that of a thief.
Lord Moncrieff - “How comes it, then, that there are no more convictions registered against her!”
Mr Deas - “Was she a good thief!”
Policeman - “Oh a most expert thief - always managed to get off”.
Verdict: Guilty, Sentence: Transportation - 7 years
From Aberdeen Press & Journal 25 April 1849
CIRCUIT COURT OF JUSTICIARY
The Spring Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here yesterday by Lords Moncrieff and Mackenzie. George Deas, Esq., Advocate-Depute
THEFT
Isabella Mackie or Shier, habit and repute and previously convicted - previous to her imprisonment, residing in the Gallowgate, with Archibald Reid, shoemaker - was brought up on the charge of having, on or about the 12th day of February, and in the house mentioned, stolen from the pocket of John Kelly, labourer, a pocket-book, containing two five-pound, and three one-pound notes. The panel pled not guilty; and from the evidence, it appeared that John Kelly and the prisoner had been intimate during the last harvest, and that on his calling at Archibald Reid’s shop, he had some drink with the prisoner, and returned again at night, when they again commenced drinking, and shortly afterwards went to bed. After some time the prisoner rose, and soon after Kelly did the same, and missed both the prisoner and his pocket-book.
The evidence was found most conclusive. The pocket-book and the notes were seen by several parties in the possession of the prisoner, immediately after she had left the house. Two officers, who were examined on the subject of her character, deponed to having known her upwards of sixteen years, during which time, the character that she bore was that of a thief.
Lord Moncrieff - “How comes it, then, that there are no more convictions registered against her!”
Mr Deas - “Was she a good thief!”
Policeman - “Oh a most expert thief - always managed to get off”.
Verdict: Guilty, Sentence: Transportation - 7 years
Life as a convict |
DESCRIPTION OF ISOBEL |
Sentenced to 7 years transportation to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania Australia) on 25 April 1849, Isobel was imprisoned until April 13 1850 before starting her voyage to Hobart, Van Diemen's Land. Scotland's transportation numbers for women was particularly low when compared to other countries in the UK - 688 in all. Of that Isobel made up one of only 137 that came from Aberdeen.
Isobel would begin the 103 day journey with 186 other women on the bargue, Barretto Junior. Four women and two children would die on route. According to East Riding Museum website - "The Convict Journey" (link above) "The first leg of the transportee's journey would be made from the local gaol to a holding prison - perhaps Millbank prison in London or in one of the prison hulks at Woolwich or Portsmouth. This journey might be made by cart, or on a ship (perhaps departing from Hull's riverside quay). After perhaps two or three month's incarceration (although in the early period of transportation to the Australian colonies this could be many years), the convict would be loaded along with fellow prisoners onto a ship destined for New South Wales or Van Diemen's Land. (Female convicts were not typically sent to hulks, and instead would be held in prisons prior to transportation)". |
According to convict records.
Native Place Aberdeen Complexion Fresh Height 5/5¼ Head Oval Hair Brown Visage Oval Full Forehead Medium Eyebrows Dark Brown Eyes Blue Nose Pointed Mouth Wide Chin Medium |
Eighty eight days into the voyage, The Barretto Junior experienced a hurricane. Below is the Captain's description as reported on page 2 of The Courier 31 July 1850.
The Baretto Junior, female convict ship, has experienced, since passing the Cape of Good Hope, a continuation of heavy gales, and on the 10th and 11th of July, in lat. 46.30' S., and long. 82.40 E., experienced a most severe hurricane.
The Baretto Junior, female convict ship, has experienced, since passing the Cape of Good Hope, a continuation of heavy gales, and on the 10th and 11th of July, in lat. 46.30' S., and long. 82.40 E., experienced a most severe hurricane.
- The following is taken from the ship's log:-
- am. The 10th commences with moderate winds and cloudy.
- At 8 light winds, inching to calm.
- 9 30 the wind light and variable, trimming sails as requisite.
- 11 - Light variable airs, almost a calm, and snow falling fast; bar. 29.50', ther. 40.
- Noon- Moderate breezes from the eastward, tacked ship to the north-eastward, snowing heavily. At 1.30 p.m. bar 29.40, wind increasing mid shortened sail to a double-reeled topsail, slowed jib.
- 3.30 p.m bar. down to 29.20, at this time there was not more wind than all sail could have been carried with, but from the rapid manner that the barometer fell, with a southerly wind, it was considered advisable to stow the foretopsail and mainsail, and reef the foresail.
- At 5.30 light airs, almost calm, but the barometer still falling rapidly, took in all sail but the maintop sail, trysail, and foretopmast staysail; secured misenboom and gaff upon the deck.
- At 7 strong winds coming in squalls, sent hands aloft to stow the reefed foresail, but before it was made properly fast the gale burst upon them with tremendous fury, and the hands were called off the yard for fear it would be carried away and take the men with it.
- At 7 30 blowing a tremendous gale, and (the barometer falling very fast) finding that the ship's masts must inevitably go if exposed to the whole fury of the blasts, kept the ship away before the wind to the E.N.E. the wind having veered to the S.S.W.
- At 9, blowing a complete hurricane, kept the ship right before the wind, as nearly as possible, and at the same time tried to square the main yard; also finding that the main trysail prevented the ship from steering, attempted to take it in, but could not accomplish it, and it was blown entirely away.
- At 10 p.m., blowing a very heavy hurricane, the night so exceedingly dark that it was impossible to distinguish anything two yards away; snow and hail falling heavily, and freezing hard. At this time the situation of the ship was one of great danger, in consequence of the difficulty of steering; the sea was very confused and high, (owing to the rapid veering of the wind,) it at times tumbling over the taffrail in upon the poop; the binnacle lamps were continually blown out by the wind forcing itself into the binnacles, and even when alight for a few moments the compass was, with great difficulty, distinguished, the glasses being covered with snow ; the ship at the same time rolled so heavily that the compass cards were tossed off the pins; had the vessel breached too, nothing could have saved the lower masts, and the consequence of their going would most likely have been the loss of the ship, as it would have been impossible to have cut the wrecks away, the darkness being so intense.
- At midnight the hurricane was at its height, bar.28 o 42', and the wind and sea such as the oldest sailors had not experienced before; at this time it is supposed that the head of the maintop mast cap, cross-trees, &c. were blown away, carrying the maintop gallant mast and yard with them; which, for the remainder of the night, were swinging about, hanging by the rigging; the foretop-gallant mast was luckily on deck.
- At 1 am, the barometer begun to rise, but the hurricane continued with unabated fury, the sea bursting in the cabin deadlights, bulwarks, etc., curling and roaring up over the quarters as the ship yawed in her course, threatening every minute to broach too, there not being anything to steer by but the whistling of the tempest, as it rushed past; towards daylight the wind somewhat abated, and the snow ceased falling, which was a great relief.
- At daylight still blowing very hard, but with fine long run of a sea, which was very welcome, after the high confused one of the night.
- Noon-Blowing a common gale from the westward, which continued for two or three days. The scene below, as described by the Surgeon Superintendent, was very sad; several seas having forced themselves down between decks, many of the poor women thought their last hour was come; the least frightened among them, under the direction of the surgeon, baling and swabbing the water up with great industry, although they were thrown and bruised about by the heavy rolling of the ship.
arrival in hobart
When Isobel landed in Hobart, it was towards the end of transportation to Van Diemen's Land (VDL). By 1853 transportation to the colony was abolished. She would become one of the 13,500 women that were transported there between 1803 and 1853.
Isobel did not fit the average description of a young semi professional woman. Her convict records list her as 40 (although she says she is 32 in her court records) and apart from listing herself as a Laundress, does not claim any apprenticeship. Many depictions of convicts have them working in hard labour or confined to a prison cell. For some women transported to 1850 Hobart, this was the case, but for many, with several different institutions available to them, the majority of female convicts found themselves working as employees in the growing colony. When Isobel arrived in VDL in 1850, the wishes of the prison reformers of the early 1840's had been set in place. Reforming and training prisoners to establish skills of employment to assist them when free was now the practice in Isobel's Hobart. Unique to VDL at the time, the Probation period of training for Isobel would normally last six months. From 1844, until just before Isobel landed in July 1850, the prison Hulk Anson, anchored in Prince of Wales Bay (7km north of Hobart) was used as a women's probation station, however, by the time Isobel had arrived, the Anson had been decommissioned resulting in women convicts being sent to the Cascades Female Factory. After the mandatory six months at Cascades, Isobel would have been 'reformed' and permitted to work as a passholder for a master or mistress. For 18 months not much is recorded about Isobel other than her being charged for being under the influence of liquor on the 18 December 1851 and sentenced to 7 days in the cells. Isobel would have been returned to the Cascade's Female Factory and placed on a diet of bread and water. Within a month of her only recorded discretion, Isobel was for the first time hired out by the Bricksfield Hiring depot (21 January 1852). With a wage of 7 pounds per year, Isobel was hired out to James Luckman in Collins Street. The nature of her work is not recorded, but James Luckman owned a Flour Mill in Collins Street. It is recorded that he was experiencing finacial difficulties which may have resulted in Isobel returning to Brickfield in August 1852. Within 2 day of returning to Brickfield, Isobel was hired by Henry Mansfield in Elizabeth Street. At present, no information can be found about Isobel's work for Mr Mansfield other than it ended on February 21, 1853. Isobel most likely stopped working for Henry Mansfield as she had recently been married to William Clarke three weeks earlier. Under the convict system if a 'free man' married a convict, he would take on full responsibility of his wife. Although still regarded as a convict and subject to rules and regulations that could see her punished as a convict, Isobel was for all intensive purposes a free woman. Isobel would however need to wait until April 25, 1856 to receive a Certificate of Freedom. Isobel had served her time. |
Over the next few years Isobel's life took several turns.
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After these events, apart from one significant event, little is known of Isobel's life. On July 13, 1859, The Hobart Town Daily Mercury repots that Isobel (now listed as Isobel Clark) attempted suicide by throwing herself in the water at the New Wharf. The report concludes that she was rescued by the Police who took her to the hospital where she was doing well. It also mentions, Isobel was drunk at the time.
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Death of isobel mackie
Isobel is reported to have died from Bright's disease on 19 November 1878. She is listed as being 63, but other records indicate is more likely to have been 67.
Isobel was buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, in the Church of England area, section M, number 95 on 22 November 1878. A map of the cemetery can be seen below.
She is buried in an unmarked grave with Lucy Thompson, who died as a child and was buried on 25 January 1877. Any connection to the child remains unknown.
Isobel was buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, in the Church of England area, section M, number 95 on 22 November 1878. A map of the cemetery can be seen below.
She is buried in an unmarked grave with Lucy Thompson, who died as a child and was buried on 25 January 1877. Any connection to the child remains unknown.
The flower in the picture above shows the approximate location of Isobel's grave.
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Below are copies taken from Newspaper of the time announcing significant events in Isobel's life as a convict.