I am great x 3 grand daughter of Jean Baptiste De Arrieta who had Adelaide assigned as his servant when she first arrived in the colonies. He was interested to have a countrywoman of his in his employ...
Much research and investigation has been done on her. It is not at all likely she was high born Spanish or indeed born in Spain..There is no record of her father or uncles supposedly prominent in government ministry and being assassinated...
THere is no evidence and the name de la Thoreza is not Spanish nor is Adelaide. There was a book written about her "A Chequered Career" by Reverend James Cameron which is mostly fiction and fantasy about her early days. None of the rather outrageous claims can be substantiated at all. What is in evidence is her trial in London for stealing sheets when a servant. She was consequently sent down to NSW. . Whether she concocted the story about her supposedly dramatic early life or the author of the book, or both, cant be discerned..
Her out of wedlock son Alfred Smith claimed he was born on a property of William Cox of Hobartville when in fact he was born and baptised at the Parramatta Female Factory... The father George or John "Smith" having supposed drowned, he was adopted out at 15 months.
You can investigate for yourself i.e. Lucy Frost and Susan Ballyn University Barcelona and read their findings.
If any family member has traces of Spanish ancestry through Adelaide who married John Masters, I would be interested to know. Also any descendants of Alfred Smith..
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