Mathinna was an indigenous Australian girl, who was adopted and later abandoned by the Governor of Tasmania, Sir John Franklin. Mathinna was born as Mary on Flinders Island, Tasmania to the Chief of the Lowreenne tribe, Towgerer, and his wife Wongerneep but the tribe was captured by Robinson, the Chief Protector of Aborigines, in 1833. Mary was renamed Mathinna when she was about six years old and adopted by Governor Sir John Franklin, an Arctic explorer, and his wife, Lady Jane Franklin; Mathinna was raised with Sir John's daughter Eleanor.Just one fragment of a letter written by Mathinna reveals what the transition from living with her family at Flin...
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