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Jane Bonner (c. 1765–1787)

Jane Bonner (c.1765-1787), a married woman with a young child, was found guilty on 18 April 1787 at the Old Bailey, London, of stealing a black silk cloak valued at 21 shillings. Within two weeks of her sentence (of seven years) she was discharged to the Prince of Wales for transportation to New South Wales.

Bonner died on board the ship on 30 July 1787 after receiving a violent blow to the head from the jolly boat which slipped from the booms in rough water on 24 July.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 402

Additional Resources

Citation details

'Bonner, Jane (c. 1765–1787)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/bonner-jane-31045/text38417, accessed 6 October 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

c. 1765

Death

1787 (aged ~ 22)
at sea

Cause of Death

shipping accident

Passenger Ship
Occupation
Key Events
Convict Record

Crime: theft
Sentence: 7 years