Mary - Katie Noonan

When James the young boy died, I stole his clothes to hide

So I could escape this workhouse orphanage

1791, nothing to do but run

So I cut off my hair and stole a horse to flee

Salford town, the law they tracked me down

And in this prison cell I sit as a boy

My gender soon found, i’m bought to the dock as mary

And sentenced to hang by the neck ‘til i’m dead

But luck soon intervened so my fate was to sail

On the Royal Admiral to Sydney Cove

I disguised myself again, to protect me from the men

Now 15 I arrive in this brave new world

With my learning history, I’m not sent to the factories

‘Tis my first of many blessings in this land

Soon more good fortune, thomas reibey fell for me

And on the first day of spring of 94 we wed

We’ve comes from shared paths — he’s a bastard son, I’m an orphan

Now emancipated we start our family

This colony’s our home and a blessed on at that

Our wealth grows as we go from strength to strength

Virtue, hard work and liberty tis all you need

This is a city of women, we make it and define it

A widow with 7 children, I run the business and the home

And though grief has scarred my life I stand strong

I’m proud of my life, i’ve achieved more than i dreamed

In this new land of prosperity

I leave this life free with my wealth and my family

Though the road was rough and long, I stand strong