I have now checked the family history society journals for more information on John Marshall. Timespan No. 14 P 25 - an article on Female Immigration by Elizabeth Lindsay. Most early emigration of women and girls was entrusted to John Marshall, a London ship charterer, who for some years was chief operator of the Bounty system and who claimed to be the official agent of colonial governments. The women sailing his ships had to pay 5 pounds towards the cost of their passage as well as possess a change of clothes, and have a certificate signed by clergy or other townsfolk testifying to the person's good character. If the ship was hard to fill, Marshall did not hesitate to recruit paupers and prostitutes. It should be noted though that many respectable people emigrated on the same ships. The Sydney Herald criticized Marshall, openly describing him as a person who "sweeps the penitentiaries and streets in order to furnish live cargo for NSW. By 1831 complaints reached an official level. Jenny Tresize writes an article called "Lady McNaghten - Horror Ship" in Timespan 22 pages 8-9. She says that the scheme for female immigration was established in 1831 and controlled by a Committee whose Manager, John Marshall of London, was paid 15 pound a head for every unmarried female aged between 15 and 30 years who was landed alive in NSW. The females came from England, Ireland and Scotland. John Marshall became greedy for larger profits and ended up rounding up people from the streets and asylums. My relatives were married with children, so I guess among the "respectable people" brought to Australia by John Marshall. However, I am always grateful to people who contribute stories such as the above for people like me to learn more about the times and the social conditions my ancestors lived in. Pat Curry