Estimated reading time: 1 minute
History depends on documents. During my research on Mary Bryant and her family’s inheritance, I have trawled archives, but there are various documents that I have yet to track down. Some are supposed lost to history, but I live in hope that they will be found. Do you know where any of the following are to be found? If so, please contact me.
- A two page memo written by James Boswell on 12 October 1793. It records Mary’s “curious account of the escape from Botany Bay.”
- The prayer book bought by James Boswell for Mary Bryant, likely to be signed by Boswell and contain an inscription
- The genuine log book kept by William Bryant during their escape from Botany Bay. Possibly used as cartridge paper for British rifles. Read by William Bligh in Coupang, Timor.
- The fictitious log book kept by William Bryant during their escape from Botany Bay. This is based on the genuine one.
Julia is a corporate lawyer by day, and a historical detective in her spare time. She researches the 18th century and the women history has overlooked. She competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, for fencing and was granted an OBE in 1999. Today, she lives outside Edinburgh. Follow the instagram link below for daily posts on inspirational and controversial women.