The Remarkable Mrs Reiby

Mary Haydock was arrested for stealing a horse in August 1791. Fourteen months later she was aboard the convict ship, Royal Admiral, on her way to Sydney Cove. In 1794, Mary married seaman, Thomas Reiby, and they moved to the Hawkesbury where they been given land to farm. 

They started a cargo business transporting goods on the Hawkesbury River between Sydney and the new settlement where they now lived. Mary became involved in operating the family business as well as looking after their growing family of seven children, especially when her husband travelled overseas for more cargo.

When Thomas Reibey died in 1811, Mary was in control of a successful business which she operated from the heart of Sydney. She was more than able to compete with the other traders in the colony and became a wealthy businesswoman and landowner.

As well as telling Mary's story in The Remarkable Mrs Reibey, Grantlee Kieza provides vivid descriptions of life in the colony of New South Wales at the time both in Sydney and at the Hawkesbury, politics, trade, Rum Corps, other merchants and living as a former convict in the settlement. When some of her family settle in Van Diemen's Land descriptions are also provided of life in that colony. One of Mary's neighbours in Sydney was Simeon Lord whose name appears quite often in the book.

Mary Reibey has been remembered with her image appearing on the Australian $20 note.

 

The book has detailed endnotes and a bibliography.