In 1833, Ann Thompson stood before the court at Castle Rushen and was sentenced to seven years’ transportation for stealing 37 yards of lace edging. Taken from the Isle of Man, she was destined for Australia, but never arrived. The ship carrying her, the Amphitrite, was wrecked off the coast of France, claiming the lives of more than 100 women and children, including Ann.
Her story is just one of many that reveal a little-known chapter in the Isle of Man’s history. Between 1698 and 1862, around 200 Manx men, women and children were sentenced to transportation ‘beyond the seas’. While some were convicted of serious offences, many were punished for stealing everyday essentials such as food, clothing and livestock, often driven by poverty and hardship.
Through personal stories, historical records and archival discoveries, this exhibition uses Ann’ story to explore the lives of those who were transported. From imprisonment at Castle Rushen and separation from loved ones to the perilous journeys into exile and the uncertain futures that followed, it brings their experiences back into focus.
More than 300 years after the first Manx convict was transported, these forgotten stories are being brought to light, offering a poignant insight into the lives, hardships and human cost behind this remarkable part of our island’s past.
Exhibition curated by Manx National Heritage and artist Rebecca Odessa.