Martha Davis (c. 1756–?)
Martha Burkitt/Burkett (c.1756- ) was found guilty on 30 August 1786 at the Old Bailey, London, of the theft of a handkerchief, a sixpenny rule and 6 shillings from a man. Sentenced to 7 years transportation, she was sent to Newgate Gaol and embarked for New South Wales on the Lady Penrhyn in January 1787, arriving in the colony in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.
Burkitt married (as Patience Burkitt) James Davis on 13 February 1788. The couple were sent to Norfolk Island on the Golden Grove in October. James Davis had left the island in September 1792. Martha left the island for Sydney on the Harrington in January 1802. No further records have been found for her.
* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 59
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Davis, James (husband)
Citation details
'Davis, Martha (c. 1756–?)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/davis-martha-30470/text37780, accessed 13 October 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Alternative Names
- Burkitt, Martha
- Burkitt, Patience
- Burkitt, Pacence
- Burkett, Martha
- Burket, Martha
- Burkil, Martha
- Valentine, Martha
Birth
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.