Mary Reibey - Molly Incognita: Emancipist Extraordinaire: A Biography 1777-1855 by Nancy Irvine

Book Description

Secondhand. Good condition. Ex library copy with no external stickers. Date due slip and barcode on inside page. Book has minor wear to book corners and edges. Foxing to foredges and some pages. Some minor marks on preliminary pages. Dust jacket has wear at spine top and tail Spine top has been repaired with book tape.

Molly Haydock, later to become Mrs Mary Reiby, in June 1791 when 14 years old, fled from her hometown Blackburn- Bury in Lancashire. Effectively disguised as a young labourer, she adopted the convenient alias, James Borrow. For five months she maintained that male role.

Arrested as a horse thief, Molly despite interrogation never disclose her identity. Condemned to death but some six weeks later commuted to transportation for seven years, eventually her charade was rumbled and her troubles multiplied.

Molly arrived in New South Wales in 1792 and by 1794 was married to Thomas Reiby, formerly in the service of the East India company. The couple moved to the Hawkesbury settlement where Molly now Mary was widowed between 1811 and 1855 Mary was emancipated and became a very successful and respected merchant in Sydney. (front book flap)