Female Transport - Katie Noonan

Came all young girls both far and near and listen unto me

While unto you I do relate what proved my destiny

Me mother died when I was young which caused me to deplore

And made me find me way too soon all on me native shore

Sarah Collins is me name and dreadful is me fate

Me father reared me tenderly the truth I do relate

Til enticed by bad company along with many more

Which led to my discovery all on me native shore.

Me trial it approached fast, before the judge I stood

And when that he the sentence passed it fairly chilled me blood

crying

You must be transported for fourteen years or more

And make haste without delay unto Van Diemen’s shore.

It hurt me heart when in the coach me native town passed by

To see so many I did know it fairly made me cry

Then to the ship I went with speed along with many more

Whose aching hearts did grieve to go

all on Van Dieman’s shore.

They chained us two by two and whipped and lashed us all along

They cut off our provisions if we did the least thing wrong

They march us in the burning sun until our feet are sore

So hard our lot now we have got all on Van Dieman’s shore.

We labor hard from morn til night until our bones do ache

Then everyone we must obey our mouldy beds to make.

We often wish when we lie down that we might rise no more

To face our savage Governors all on Van Dieman’s shore.

So come young men and maidens a warning take by me

If tongue could tell our overthrow

t’would make your hearts to bleed.

You girls I pray be ruled by me, your wicked ways give o’er

For fear you end your days like me all on Van Dieman’s shore

After the loss of the American colonies, the British government

was at a loss to know what to do with its convicts.

And so penal

Settlements were created in Australia.

The most trivial offenses

were enough to ensure transportation there for seven years,

fourteen years, or for life.

Many songs were written around this

theme.

Most of them dealing with men.

Here the women’s voice is heard.