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Esther (Rosanna) Stewart (1787–1837)

Esther (Rosanna) Abrahams was born in Newgate prison, London, England, on 18 March 1787 while her mother was waiting to be transported to New South Wales. She embarked with her mother on the Prince of Wales on 3 May 1787, transferring to the Lady Penrhyn for the voyage to the colony. Mother and daughter arrived at Port Jackson in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.

In 1805, aged 17, she married (as Rosanna Julian) Isaac Nichols. They had three children. Following Nichols' death she married James Stewart (Stuart) in 1820. She died at Sydney on 11 April 1837.

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Citation details

'Stewart, Esther (Rosanna) (1787–1837)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/stewart-esther-rosanna-25129/text33613, accessed 1 June 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Alternative Names
  • Stuart, Esther
  • Abrahams, Esther
Birth

18 March, 1787
London, Middlesex, England

Death

11 April, 1837 (aged 50)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

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