People Australia

Mary Greenwood (c.1763-1837), a servant, was found guilty (with George Partridge, with whom she had been living for a year) on 11 May 1785 at the Old Bailey, London, of the theft of a cotton gown, cotton stockings and a linen handkerchief. The pair's death sentences were commuted to 7 years transportation. Greenwood was sent to Newgate Gaol and then to the Lady Penrhyn on 6 January 1787. She arrived at Sydney in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.

Greenwood began a relationship with Richard Partridge soon after landing. He may have been a relative of George Partridge, who was not transported. Their son, Richard, was born on 3 November 1793, and a daughter Mary in 1797. The couple were married on 5 November 1810 at St John's Parramatta. They were still living together on their farm in 1828.

Mary Partridge died at Parramatta on 16 September 1837 and was buried at St John's, Parramatta; her age was given as 69.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 150