Rebecca KerrIndexPage FamilyOnly U_Comment
Rebecca Kerr
Rebecca born 1818. She was a housemaid, nurse and needlewoman and a native of Fleet Street, London. where she was awarded 10 years transportation in the Central Court, London, in 1837 for larceny.
She received a conditional pardon after 7 years and she and George Fisher were married soon afterwards. Only small parts of Rebecca's convict record survive, the rest doubtless being disposed of by George whilst at work.
George is supposed to have made Rebecca's acquaintance at his tailor's shop where she was plying her trade as needlewoman.
Rebecca died 21st August 1908 aged 90 years
"Rebecca Kerr had arrived in the colony as a convict by the “Nautilus” in September 1838, and since this date had been assigned to Mr. Lightfoot at New Norfolk who became her “master”, according to the custom of the time. Her colonial career before she obtained her freedom in 1844 is not known, because the page has been removed from the convict register. No doubt George Harbroe, employed in the Convict Department and consequently having access to the records, saw to this. It was probably better that not too much be known about Georges ex convict wife, when his sister Anne had made such a very good match. As a matter of fact, the position must have been; in fact, undoubtedly was, very embarrassing. The fact that the marriage took place almost immediately upon her gaining her freedom, which would suggest that George had been waiting for her. There is little doubt he met her in some way through his job. However: writing about this is known, and indeed, until the information was discovered by me in l961, it had always been believed by our family that our great grandmothers maiden name was Harris. No doubt, this ruse, and removal of the records, was intended to prevent the truth from ever becoming known. But there is an old saying, that “the truth will eventually come out” and so it has now.
It may be asked by some, why did I have to tell you this, but I feel I am duty bound to tell the truth, and I feel no shame in this case, just as I certainly felt no shame in the case of the Fishers. I seem to recollect my mother saying it was not a happy marriage, and she certainly had no kindly feeling for the memory of her grandmother Harbroe, whom she always referred to as a tyrant, when as a younger man, your father sometimes would be very tantalising, he would be told he was a real “Harbroe”, meaning of course, that he took after his great grandmother.
Well; let us see what it was all about. Rebecca Kerr was tried at the Central Criminal Court in London on November 27, 1837 for larceny from a dwelling house, and sentenced to 10 years transportation. Her age is variously given as 15, 16 or 17. (Can you imagine a child of this age being transported for 10 years, and probably she stole a reel of cotton – it is incredible). She was single, and it was stated in court that her connections were decent. Her occupation was that of a housemaid, nursemaid, a needlewoman, and she was a native of Fleet Street, London. She was 4’ 10” or (11”) in height, was of dark complexion, had round head, brown hair eyebrows and eyes, a full visage and high forehead, a large nose and a small mouth. Some time you can compare these pictures with her photograph, which I suppose still hangs in the dining room at your fathers home."
Source Robert G Gregory's letter to Tony dated 1967
Paul Bathurst Edwards