Mary Nye

Archie's Mum

Archie's Mum

Always digging up clues
I have found a photo of an ex convict Mary Nye. The story with the photo is that she was happily married to a farm worker and as he was walking home he found a hen's egg. He took it home but a neighbour reported him to the magistrate. Nye was sentenced to 7 years transportation for having and egg in his possession which he was unable to satisfactorily account.
Mary in her wisdom seemed not to get by without Nye so she committed a trifling offence so she could join him. She stole a coat!
After much searching I have found her being transported under the name of Mary Wilson on the Elizabeth and Henry 20th June 1848. She was aged 33 had 4 children and was described as a widow. Convict records say she had a daughter, Jane who died at the 'LOV'? 20 Jan 1849
Her fathers name was Timothy, her mother Mary. Children were John, Thomas, Ellen and Mary (St Giles, I'm guessing this is where they were left) Her siblings were Rosanne, Margaret, Cornelius and John.
She was Roman Catholic and records say her real name was Fleming.
She married Charles Nye 10 Oct 1854 he was a constable 37 and her age was given as 34. Christ Church Longford.
Charles was transported in 1831 and already had permission to marry two others, Eliza Turner in 1842 and Mary Adams in 1843..
Mary Nye died in 1891 aged 83 born Ireland and she was a house servant.
Now to my problem.......who was she really?. Did she really have a husband who was transported and if so who was he? What was his name? Wilson? Fleming? I know it wasn't Nye as the photo states.
I would love some answers if only to satisfy my curiosity about the photo.
Thank you my fellow detectives.
 
Lord above - this from the Bolton Chronicle 4th April 1846.....

A Melancholy Case— At the Quarter Sessions of the peace for this borough, (yesterday) a case of a most appalling nature occurred. Mary Bird, alias Wilson, was arraigned on a charge of having stolen £35, from John Waddilove, butcher in this town. The circumstances of the robbery need not be detailed—they may be well-imagined—The prisoner, an unfortunate female, lived, horrifying to relate with her own parents, in a common brothel, at the bottom of what is called Twenty Steps, in Bank-st, and was permitted, and encouraged by them, to eudure a life of the most disreputable nature. When she had committed the theft, she handed the money to her father, who went off with it to Manchester, and there himself got robbed of it in a house of ill-fame. He took this so much to heart, that, in a fit of excitement and despair, he went out and hung himself, an awful example of retributive justice, the prosecutor losing his money for his iniquity, the prisoner receiving no benefit from it, and the author of her being, perhaps of her misfortunes, meeting so awful an end. She had been previously convicted, and was sentenced to transportation for ten years.
 
Thank you Ann but thankfully not my Mary. Mary Bird alias Wilson was tried in Lancashire. Mary Nye/Wilson /Fleming was tried in Surrey. They were transported on the same ship and the chid Jane mentioned in Mary Nyes report actually belonged to Mary Bird alias Wilson. She died in the orphan school age 5. So I'm quite happy to keep pursuing Mary Nye. I would stop right now if it was Mary Bird. What a poor soul and a horible life she was forced to endure. I may even follow her to see where her life took her after I research Mary Nye
 
Not at all surprising. Seems it was the only life she knew. Founders and Survivors have her marrying John Acton in 1854. I'm going to be very busy today it seems. First day of my new data allowance so it's all systems go. I was running pretty close to the wind in the last week or so.
 
Archie's Mum said:
Thank you Ann but thankfully not my Mary. Mary Bird alias Wilson was tried in Lancashire. Mary Nye/Wilson /Fleming was tried in Surrey. They were transported on the same ship and the chid Jane mentioned in Mary Nyes report actually belonged to Mary Bird alias Wilson. She died in the orphan school age 5. So I'm quite happy to keep pursuing Mary Nye. I would stop right now if it was Mary Bird. What a poor soul and a horible life she was forced to endure. I may even follow her to see where her life took her after I research Mary Nye
Click to expand...
Phew, glad to hear she wasn't your Mary - but a sorry tale of life in the raw nevertheless. I wonder if she as any descendants still living.......
 
Rough night here, I became confused by dates & people, started checking out Charles to sort it out. may have to email you Sue before I can look further.
Will try hot shower & brekky first. :confused:
 
Thank you for your help Terry :)
Isn't she just wonderful. A life hard lived. Heaven knows how she did it, but she did. God love her. I have no idea how old she was when the photo was taken. She may not have been very old at all. Who knows.
 
She's not mine! Just found her in a book but I'm loving finding out all about her. I know she married Charles Nye but which one. They had a child, Charles born 14 October 1855 registered under the name of NAPE. Charles Nye was a convict and apparently free to marry, without permission in 1854. He may have been the one transported on the Argyle...lots more work here.
Was he also a pauper and lover of the bottle? Lets see.
 
Mary Bird/Wilson/ Acton died 5 August 1868 age 45 of Schirrhus. I have no idea what that is. Any ideas. I thought it may be cirrhosis. A John Acton died in 1870 of liver disease age 70.
 
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