Maker: Merrilyn George

Panel number: 499

Petition sheet number: -

Person honouring: Jessie Wheeler

Relationship to maker: My husband’s great-grandmother

While being a convict did not thrill our ancestors, we were delighted to unravel Jessie Wheeler’s secret 150 years later. Jessie was sentenced to 10 years transportation for burglary. She was not readily accepting of authority and the misconduct book that followed her sentencing records her singing and being insolent to the matron. Her solitary time on bread and water, and the 128 days voyage to Hobart prison, had not subdued our Jessie. She applied for and was denied permission to marry Robert Paul. They absconded but were recaptured and separated. 

Jessie was given four months hard labour while pregnant and the baby was born in the Cascades Female Factory. She later received another six months for insolence. Eventually pardoned, Jessie married William Wheeler and, with three children, moved from Hobart to Dunedin. Jessie became a land owner, ran a general store and had nine children. Jessie did not let a lack of formal education hold her back and was a strong advocate for her family, especially in difficult times. No one knew better than her what it was like to endure hard times. She is a role model to family today.

Panel materials: Recycled sheets.