The Remarkable Mrs Reibey by Grantlee Kieza

‘From the time Mary Reibey was born as Molly Haydock in the old Norman town of Bury, Lancashire, she had to fight a grim battle for survival.’

Mary Reibey (1777-1855), née Haydock, businesswoman and trader, was born on 12 May 1777 in Bury, Lancashire, England. She was convicted of horse stealing at Stafford on 21 July 1790 and sentenced to be transported for seven years.

I am familiar with aspects of Mary Reibey’s story: I spent much of my childhood in Launceston and often admired Entally House at Hadspen. Yes, I knew she was convicted of horse stealing and was transported New South Wales. I had no idea, though, of the extent of her business interests and property holdings.

Mary arrived in Sydney on the Royal Admiral in October 1792 and was assigned to the household of Major Francis Grose as a nursemaid. On 7 September 1794 she married Thomas Reibey, a young Irishman in the service of the East India Company.

On the death of her husband in April 1811, Mary Reibey was left with seven children and the control of numerous business concerns. She already had had experience in assisting her husband and managing his interests when he was absent on trading voyages.

In this book, Mr Kieza provides the context necessary to understand Mary Reibey’s life. I was particularly interested in her rise to prominence in the new emancipist society championed by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Sadly, Mary Reibey outlived five of her children as well as several of her grandchildren.

‘The remarkable Mrs Reibey lived a huge and fascinating life and left behind a legacy of hard work and determination, encouraging all who came after her to rise above the most humbling of circumstances.’

A remarkable woman.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith Book 3 in my 2024 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. I’ve entered as a ‘Nonfiction Grazer’ and this book should be included under the heading of ‘Memoir/Biography’