Esther Abrahams and George Johnston - First Fleet lovers

They were part of the First Fleet coming to establish British colonial rule in Gadigal land. Esther Abrahams was a Jewish convict with a baby in her arms, George Johnston an officer in the Marines who led the Rum Rebellion that overthrew Governor Bligh. They met on the long, miserable voyage to Sydney Cove and remained together the rest of their lives. The ex-convict Esther is sometimes compared to Elizabeth Macarthur. While George was away in Britain for four years, being court martialled for the coup that he says he had to stage or there would be rioting in the colony, Esther ran their extensive properties. George was thrown out of the military and when he returned to Sydney they finally married. After his death one of their sons had Esther declared mad and seized control of her property. She ended her life in an attic room but their tomb is one of the most impressive in Waverley Cemetery. Script and production by Nicole Steinke Sound engineering by Judy Rapley Esther Abrahams and the Angel read by Ainslie McGlynn George Johnston read by Jeremy Waters Music and SFX from Epidemic Sound