Convict: Ruth bowyerBorn: 1761
Died: 5 June 1788 (aged 26–27) Cause of death: Disease Nationality: English Occupation: Kitchen Maid Criminal penalty: Seven years penal transportation Convictions: Stealing WHY WAS SHE SENT TO AUSTRALIA? “Ruth Bowyer was an English convict sent to Australia aboard the First Fleet. She was convicted in 1786 for the theft of five spoons from the Surrey hotel, she was soon sentenced to seven years’ transportation but soon died two years later and was buried beside the shore of Sydney Cove.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Bowyer) Her journey to Australia what would it have been like? Ruth was returned to Newgate Prison, she stayed there for 6 months. 36 other women were brought to Portsmouth on the 30th of April 1787. Where they travelled on the convict transport Prince of Wales. The ship soon had a total of 47 convicts aboard after 10 more female convicts joined from prison hulks. As part of the first fleet to Australia, Prince of Wales sailed from Portsmouth on the 13th of May 1787. Up until the ship reached Rio de Janeiro on the 6th of August, the ship had run out of supplies and females were left in ragged prison apparel. Humid conditions and heavy rains near Rio generated a “plague of bugs” below decks. In one small sleeping area alone hundreds of insects were found along with lice, fleas, rats and an outbreak of scurvy arose in late December.
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