The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
Farrell, Elizabeth
Convicted of stealing clothing and linen and transported for seven years, she became known as Nance Ferel and was considered a 'troublesome' convict. John Nicol described how she 'was ever making disturbance', and would 'abuse the agent and captain'. She was confined in a 'wooden jacket' as punishment, which was an empty flour barrel with holes cut out for the head and limbs. Nicol described the scene: 'She laughed and capered for a while...She walked about strutting and smoking the tobacco, and making others laugh...her head moving from side to side like a turtle'. This did not seem to have much of an impact, and she was eventually whipped with a cat o' nine tails.