Brian F. Smith
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Brian F. Smith
by Brian F. Smith
In 1786, a 26-year-old English woman, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, became involved in England’s brutal justice system and found herself exiled from her homeland to Sydney Cove in the Antipodes, where she had to endure brutality, near starvation, love and treachery, she also found herself on board the HMS Sirius on its final voyage, before a heavy storm sank her off the Norfolk Island coast two years later in 1790.
While on Norfolk Island, Elizabeth gave birth to twin girls, Susannah and Mary, their father being marine William Mitchell, who arrived on the island at a later date. When, back in Sydney, Elizabeth moved in with a British soldier, Thomas Wright, to whom she bore a child, Sarah Anne Jane.
William Mitchell later discovered a letter held by Irish rebels in London that blew open their cruel childhood relationships.
In 1786, a 26-year-old English woman, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, became involved in England’s brutal justice system and found herself exiled from her homeland to Sydney Cove in the Antipodes, where she had to endure brutality, near starvation, love and treachery. On its final voyage, she also found herself on board the HMS Sirius before a heavy storm sank her off the Norfolk Island coast two years later in 1790. Also on board was Jane Fitzgerald with one of her twin boys‚William, as James had died previously. Her twins were fathered by marine William Mitchell, who stayed back in Sydney.
While on Norfolk Island, Elizabeth gave birth to twin girls, Susannah and Mary, their father being marine William Mitchell, who arrived on the island at a later date where he took up land holdings.
All eventually returned to Sydney, where Mitchell took up several landholdings, and Elizabeth moved in with a British soldier, Thomas Wright, to whom she bore a child, Sarah Anne Jane.
Elizabeth eventually fell foul of the law again and was imprisoned at Parramatta, but a cockney-speaking overseer, Margaret, turned everything on its head when William discovered a letter held by Irish rebels in London that blew open their cruel childhood relationships.
Brian was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and his Australian ancestory has been traced back to the First Fleet, his passion has always been history, despite his choosing to start his career in the Australian Army and then the Victoria Police Force. On leaving the Police Force, he was appointed Chief Security Officer at the Loloho Port Site on Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea during the construction of the Bougainville Copper Mine. On returning to Australia, he founded the 'Jordan River Journal' , a Hobart suburban weekly newspaper, before he left the city to establish another weekly newspaper, the 'Western Herald', on the island's West Coast.
On retirement Brian has written four books; 'Off The Record', 'Convict Connections,' Witness to a Miracle' and 'Her Jailer's Secret's. Brian was awarded a Diploma in Family History by the University of Tasmania in 2020. He now lives in Devonport. Tasmania.