Johanna (Reardon) Anderson (abt. 1815 - 1850)

Born about 1815 in County Cork, Ireland

Wife of John Lane — married 2 Oct 1846 in Launceston, Van Diemen's Land

Died 24 Jun 1850 at about age 35 in Launceston, Van Diemen's Land, Australia

Biography

Johanna (Reardon) Anderson was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to Van Diemen's Land

Johanna Reardon (alias Anderson) was aged about 26 when she was tried in Dublin on 25 October 1841 and found guilty of the crime of stealing a watch. She was sentenced to seven years transportation.^[1]. Johanna travelled to Van Diemen's Land on board the Hope, departing Dublin on 10 April 1842 and arriving on 17 August 1842^[2].

Johanna's conduct in prison was said to be "middling" while on board ship she was "steady and quiet". She claimed that she was not married and had been previously convicted for stealing a coat and epaulets from Richmond Barracks in Inchicore, Dublin, and for drunkenness. Johanna stated that she was "not married, I lived with Robert Anderson for four years." ^[2] She had a son called Robert aged 9 and her indent record contained confirmation from Johanna that Robert senior was the father of her child.

Johanna was found guilty on 7 December 1842 of being absent a day and a night without leave and drunk, she was sentenced to six days solitary confinement. In February 1843 she was found guilty of being drunk and disorderly. In October 1843 and November 1843 Johanna was again absent without leave and was sentenced to solitary confinement. In March 1844 she was reported as absent for three days without leave and was sentenced to two months hard labour. In May 1844 Johanna received the same sentence, again for being absent without leave, and served this sentence at the Female Factory in Hobart. Later that year Johanna was again found to be drunk and was sentenced to 14 days solitary confinement. In December 1844 Johanna was again drunk and disorderly and was sentenced to three weeks hard labour. In March 1845 she was absent without leave and was sentenced to three days solitary confinement. In December 1845 Johanna was found guilty of absconding and (notes unclear) it appears she was required to be detained for three months on probation and possibly had her right to a ticket of leave deferred for six months. There were further offences of being drunk and absent without leave in 1846 and 1847 and again, Johanna received sentences of solitary confinement for these infractions.^[2]

According to her convict description record, Johanna came from County Cork. She was a house servant by trade. Johanna was five feet four and a half inches tall with fresh complexion, oblong head, brown hair, oval face, grey eyes, large mouth, short nose and her face and neck were slightly freckled.^[3] Johanna was also Catholic and could read but not write.

In July 1846 Johanna received permission to marry John Lane, a free settler.^[4] The marriage took place on October 2, 1846. The marriage record revealed Johanna's maiden name of Reardon.^[5] At this time Johanna was the holder of a third class probation pass. At some point later in the year Johanna obtained a ticket of leave.^[6]

Johanna died in Launceston on 25 June 1850 at the age of 34. Cause of death was "disease of the womb".^[7]

Points for Further Research

In her indent record, Johanna also stated she had one brother John and sisters Margaret, Nancy and Mary all living in her native place, County Cork. It is likely that that "Anderson" was not Johanna's maiden name (she may have called herself this because she had lived with Robert Anderson for a period of time and may have considered herself his common law wife). On her marriage record, her surname is given as "Reardon alias Anderson" which supports this contention. Accordingly, her LNAB is given as Reardon.

Who were her brother and sisters - were they also known as Reardon?

Sources

1. ↑ National Archives of Ireland, Irish Transportation Database, PDF compilation database of records contained in the National Archive of Ireland; entry for Johanna Anderson, page 38. Record reference code: TR 4, P 222.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Archives of Tasmania, PDF original convict conduct record for Johanna Anderson.
3. ↑ Archives of Tasmania, PDF original convict description record for Johanna Anderson.
4. ↑ Archives of Tasmania, PDF original convict Marriage Permissions record for Johanna Anderson and John Lane.
5. ↑ Archives of Tasmania, PDF original marriage record for Johanna Anderson and John Lane.
6. ↑ Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 5, 19-20, 32-51); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England.
7. ↑ Archives of Tasmania, PDF original death record for Johanna Lane.

See also:

• Archives of Tasmania, PDF original convict indent record for Johanna Anderson.