A Cargo of Women: A Window into the Lives of Female Convicts

It’s been a while since my last blog post, but over the Christmas and New Year period, I’ve been indulging in something I truly love: reading. One book that captivated me during this time was Babette Smith’s A Cargo of Women: Susannah Watson and the Convicts of the Princess Royal. It’s a beautifully researched and profoundly human account of the lives of women transported to New South Wales as convicts in the 19th century.

Smith’s work challenges the stereotypes of female convicts as simply immoral or criminal. Instead, she shines a light on the social and economic realities these women faced in Britain, where systemic poverty and inequality often drove them to desperate measures. Crimes like theft—commonly committed out of sheer necessity—resulted in harsh punishments, including transportation to the other side of the world.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is how Smith reframes these women's lives. They weren’t just prisoners but essential to the British Empire’s vision of establishing a stable and permanent settlement in Australia. Women like Susannah Watson (Smith’s central figure) played crucial roles as labourers, mothers, and settlers. Despite the stigma of their convict status, many of these women demonstrated remarkable resilience, carving out lives for themselves and their families in the harsh and unfamiliar environment of colonial New South Wales.

I couldn’t help but draw parallels between the women Smith describes and Hannah Brown, an ancestor I’ve been researching as part of my own family history. While Hannah was transported to Botany Bay two decades earlier than the events detailed in A Cargo of Women, many of the themes resonate with her story: the desperation that led to her crime, the brutal punishment for what was essentially a minor theft, and the new opportunities (and challenges) that transportation to New South Wales brought.

Smith also delves into the structures that shaped the lives of convict women, from the judicial system that sentenced them to the colonial policies that dictated their fates. Her writing offers a balanced view of how these stigmatized and marginalized women contributed to the colony's growth.

Reading this book gave me a new perspective on the lives of convict women and their enduring legacy. It’s a reminder of the complex interplay between individual lives and larger historical forces. I’ll reflect on Smith’s insights as I continue researching and writing about my material, Third Great Grandmother Hannah Brown.

If you’re interested in convict history or enjoy deeply empathetic storytelling, I highly recommend A Cargo of Women. It’s a fascinating historical account and a moving tribute to the resilience of women who endured extraordinary hardship.

Smith, B. (2008). A cargo of women: Susannah Watson and the convicts of the Princess Royal. UNSW Press.