Catherine/Mary was transported to the colony of New South Wales in 1791 on The Queen. Tried in Dublin, but originally from County Laois, Ireland. Mary is believed to have been involved in early actions of the United Irishmen, and her transportation (along with her child) is believed to be entirely politically motivated, no details of crimes committed were recorded. In 1792, Mary attempted to escape Rose Hill whist heavily pregnant along with 20 men in favour of China, which was rumoured to be a few day's walk north of Sydney. This is most likely the cover story that was provided as the convicts tried to procure boats and flee.
Mary was arrested in 1806 for murder following the death of her husband, but was released due to lack of evidence. In 1818, Mary was murdered by her son-in-law due to her response to his ongoing abuse against her daughter, Ruth. Legal action failed to keep him away from her daughter and protect her from his brutality. After an argument, her son-in-law shattered her skull with the branch of a tree, killing her. By a jury in Sydney, Richard Hayman was acquitted of her murder, despite the testimonies of many witnesses. Catherine/Mary is the ancestor of songwriter/Boudicca vocalist, Madeleine.
lyrics
We crawled from the same stinking tide
Condemned to wither until we die
Too starved to keen on hostile land
Born branded, uncouth, wretched
She's me and I am her
Still after all of these years
I've got no choice but to fight
Survival, a right
Fists of fire
Belly of rage
Cursed croppy
Criminal DNA
Bloody calloused feet
Why am I so afraid?
Broad arrow
Broad arrow bitch
Intemperate rebel
Empire-shattered life
Forced to grieve
She's rotting in chains
Bloody shattered skull
Why am I so afraid?
Broad arrow
Broad arrow bitch
credits
from Uncouth,
released November 13, 2023
Thank you to Tom Croucher, author of Years of Hardship: The Story of Catherine Edwards: a Pioneer of Parramatta and the Hawkesbury (2002) for your dedication to doing our ancestor's story justice, as well as for your generosity.
The Brooklyn miscreants dish out six helpings of raw, sinister punk that combine raw energy with metalcore power moves. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 14, 2022
