Hello list As a new subscriber I was thrilled that in the first mailing I found information that I had been looking for over the last few years. I am now looking for further information on my gggrandmother Sarah Murphy who arrived in Sydney alone in 1850 on the 'Maria"aged 16. Her shipping records show that she was a nursemaid but gives no other info other than her father was Thomas Murphy and mother unknown. I would like to find out if she was in fact an orphan and where she came from.She is not listed anywhere on convict records. She may have travelled with a family as a nursemaid but I can't find anything on this. Does anyone know if the 'Maria' only brought the Irish orphans? or if the passengers were mixed? Is there anyone out there researching the 'Maria'? Sarah married James Cunningham in 1856 but the marriage record gives nothing other than her 'mark'. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Regards Margaret