Mary King (c. 1756–1810)
Mary Humphries (c.1756-1810?), indicted as Mary Humfreys, was found guilty on 10 December 1783 at the Old Bailey, London, of assaulting a man and stealing 23 shillings 6 pence. Her death sentence was commuted to 7 years transportation to Africa on 25 February 1784. She arrived at Sydney aboard the Lady Penrhyn in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.
Humphries married John King on 19 October 1790; they were still together in 1806 and were recorded as being childless. She was probably the Mary King who was buried at Sydney on 10 May 1810; her age was given as 60.
* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 184
Additional Resources and Scholarship
- proceedings of trial, Old Bailey, London, 10 December 1783 (pdf)
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- King, John (husband)
Citation details
'King, Mary (c. 1756–1810)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/king-mary-30948/text38315, accessed 7 May 2025.
Life Summary [details]
Alternative Names
- Humphries, Mary
- Humfries, Mary
- Humphrys, Mary
- Humfreys, Mary
Birth
c. 1756
Death
9 May,
1810
(aged ~ 54)
Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Cause of Death
Passenger Ship
Occupation or Descriptor
Key Events
Convict Record
Crime: assault and robbery
Sentence: 7 years