01/09/2026
Among the graves on the Isle of the Dead is a story that offers a glimpse into the social order of Port Arthur, and the moments when compassion crossed its boundaries.
Ann Gibbons was the wife of a soldier, a position that placed her family lower in the settlement’s social hierarchy. She died following the birth of her daughter, leaving behind a distressed husband, another small child and a newborn baby who needed to be fed.
Wet nursing was not uncommon at the time, and the women who took on this role were usually of a similar or lower social standing than the family they assisted. What makes Ann’s story particularly significant is who stepped forward to help.
Women from higher-ranking households within the settlement helped care for and feed the baby. Charlotte Lempriere and Mrs Burrows, the wife of the Superintendent of Shoemakers, were among those who shared responsibility for nursing the child.
In a settlement where rank and status shaped daily life, their willingness to care for the child of a soldier’s family crossed the usual social boundaries.
The baby survived, and her descendants have since visited Port Arthur.
The Isle of the Dead holds many stories of loss. Ann’s is also a story of community, compassion and the moments of humanity that could transcend the social divisions of the settlement.
Image credit
