Martha Virco

Susan BOYD

Miss W. Biography, Boyd , , , , , , , , , ,

Susan Boyd was the second child born to John Holliday (Henry) BOYD and Martha HEARN also known as Martha VICO or VIRCO. She was born 29 May 1844 and her birth was registered in Launceston by Thomas Jones who worked at a place called Falls (possibly Logan Falls near Evandale). Susan’s parents had both been convicts – John received his free certificate on 26 September 1842, Martha got hers on 2 February 1849.

Life as a child

Susan’s siblings:

  • 1842 – Anne
  • 1846 – Catherine
  • 1848 – Robert John
  • 1850 – Martha (Caroline)
  • 1852 – Sarah Jane
  • 1855 – Frederick but died 1859 of croup
  • 1858 – Harriett
  • 1859 – Harriett – baptised in 1860 but could be Harriett born in 1858
  • 1861 – unnamed male but is probably Frederick baptised in 1862

All the births of Susan’s siblings were registered at Evandale (Morven) which is south of Launceston, Tasmania. Her father John was a carpenter in the district.

On Catherine’s baptism in 1846, it says her father was a labourer at Logan Falls.

Robert’s birth record now has John working as a carpenter at a place called Mary Vale.

Sarah Jane‘s birth was recorded at Evandale by her mother Mary (Martha?)

Susan’s father died from pneumonia in October 1862 aged 47. His wife Martha was left to bring up  4 children 12 years and younger.

Anne, Susan’s older sister, had married in 1859 so Susan would have been helping her mother look after the younger children.

Married life and children

On 19 May 1865, Susan, aged 20, married Francis John COLEGRAVE, aged 21. They were married at the Manse at Evandale by the rites of the church of Scotland by banns. Witnesses were Catherine Boyd and Samuel Colegrave. Francis was the eldest son of two more convicts Francis Colegrave and Isabella Watkins.

Francis John was a labourer in Evandale.

Over the next 20 years, Susan gave birth to 10 children.

All children lived to adulthood and many died in their 70’s.

On the birth record for Frances in 1869, the family are now living at Blessington with Francis as a farmer.

In 1876, there is a Francis Colgrave purchasing a property in English Town area. This may have been Susan’s husband or her father-in-law also called Francis. But there are many properties owned by Colgrave men in the Blessington, Deddington or English Town (white marker on map) areas.

Adam Burston, constable for Deddington, was the informant of John’s birth in 1878 and Ernest’s in 1881.

Susan’s mother Martha died in 1880 from pneumonia at the age of 68.

In 1881, a letter in the local paper was asking why there was no public vaccinator allocated to the area around Deddington, English Town especially as measles was prevalent at that time.

Letter in local paper

Two months later, there was another report in the paper about the vaccinations held at Deddington by Dr Oldmeadow from Evandale.

In March 1882, there were terrible thunderstorms and flooding of the Nile River and the ford and road to English Town was impassable for a while.

There was no public school at English Town, but a private teacher had 19 students on his books. Wonder if Susan taught her own children or if they went with the private teacher?

Ethel’s birth record shows her older brother Francis John, of English Town, was the informant of her birth.

In 1890, the Public Works Scheme decided to improve the road from English Town to Deddington for the cost of 300 pounds. Tenders were taken again in 1893 to further improve the road.

On 13 March 1890, the marriage of Martha Jane to George Davey was held at Francis and Susan’s house. This was according to the Presbyterian church by license.

1892 marriage of Francis John to Laura Maud Wynwood was according to Baptist rites.

On 14 May 1895 marriage of Lilian Ada to Charles Davey was held at Francis and Susan’s house. This was according to the Presbyterian church by license. This was the second marriage between the Davey and Colgrave families.

In April 1896 at the Evandale Agricultural Society Autumn Exhibition, a Mrs S Colgrave won second prize for her Swiss Roll. This might be Susan or the wife of Samuel Colgrave.

1897 marriage of William to Lillian May Brown according to Baptist rites.

1898 marriage of Samuel to Jeannie Duncanson according to Baptist rites. Susan was a witness to the wedding.

Before her death in 1900, Susan had seen 5 of her children get married

Susan died on 27 February 1900 at her son Samuel’s residence and registered as living in English Town, Deddington. She was buried at the old English burial ground in Evandale.

Martha Virco – trial record

Miss W. Convict Ancestors course, Virco ,

This story has been created by Wendy Westgate as part of the University of Tasmania’s HAA007 Convict Ancestors unit

The Trial of Martha VICO at the Old Bailey

457. MARTHA VICO was indicted for stealing, on the 12th of December, 1 watch,. value 1l. 5s.; 1 purse, value 6d.; and 2 shillings; the goods and monies of William Leighton, from his person.

WILLIAM LEIGHTON . I am a private in the 45th regiment of foot. I was out on furlough, and was at Edgware, on the 12th of December—I was going to Watford, to my friends—I got to Edgware about eight or nine o’clock at night—I went into the White Lion public-house, and found the prisoner there, in company with another woman—I got into conversation with them, and treated them—I paid about 2s. for what I had—I took out my purse to pay—I had 5s. or 7s. in it—I was rather under the influence of drink, but I knew what I was about—about eleven o’clock the prisoner and I went out together, and the other woman left us—I went into the fields with the prisoner, and laid down and went to sleep—I do not know whether I paid her any thing—I had a watch, fastened to a guard round my neck—the purse was in my right-hand pocket—I awoke between four and five o’clock in the morning, and she was gone—I missed my watch directly I awoke—the guard-chain was broken—I went into a public-house immediately, and then missed my purse—the prisoner was taken next evening—this is my watch—(looking at it)—I did not give either the watch or purse to her.

JOHN BLEUMAN . I am shopman to Mr. Marchant, a pawnbroker in Edgware-road. I took this watch in pawn between ten and eleven o’clock, on the morning of the 13th of December, for 12s., from a woman—I cannot positively swear to the prisoner, but I believe she is the person—I did not see her face, but I can swear to the bonnet she had on—I saw her before the Magistrate on the 19th, and believed her to be the person.

THOMAS BUTLER . I am a policeman. On the 13th of December I apprehended the prisoner, from the prosecutor’s description—she denied having the watch—I took her to the Magistrate, who remanded her for a week—on our road to Clerkenwell she became lame, and we got on a coach, with Susan Burr—she told Burr, in my presence, on the coach, that the was sorry to see her in trouble, for she had nothing to do with it, that she had taken the watch herself, and pawned it at Paddington—Burr was discharged at the next examination.

SUSAN BURR . I was in company with the prisoner and prosecutor at the public-house—I left them—I was taken up on this charge—the prisoner told me what the officer has stated, on the roof of the coach.

GUILTY .+ Aged 22.— Transported for Ten Years.

 

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 7.2, 13 June 2016), December 1838, trial of MARTHA VICO (t18381231-457).