Molly Morgan: podcast appearances and interviews

Molly Morgan was an English-born landowner and settler in New South Wales. Originally from Ludlow, Shropshire, she married William Morgan in 1785 and had two children. In 1789, she and her husband were convicted of theft involving stolen hempen yarn. Molly was transported to New South Wales as a convict aboard the Second Fleet. Following her initial incarceration, she escaped back to England by becoming Captain John Locke's mistress and later returned to Australia aboard the Experiment after being accused of arson. Once in Australia, Morgan acquired land and cattle and was later sentenced to seven years in prison for milking a stolen cow. She was eventually granted land at Wallis Plains, now Maitland, where she started farming and built the Angel Inn. By 1828, she was recognized as one of the largest landholders on the Hunter River and had several features named after her. Morgan contributed to her community by donating funds for a school, converting part of her residence into a hospital, and advocating for convicts. Her efforts extended to riding to Sydney on behalf of convicts and supporting local settlers. Despite her wealth's decline in later years, she owned 203 acres of land at her death in 1835 at Anvil Creek in Greta, New South Wales. Her life's story reflects resilience and active participation in the early colonial society of New South Wales.