Date of Conviction: 23/08/1830 

Age at Conviction: 51

Crime Convicted of: Uttering Base Coins

Court Convicted at: Lancaster Assizes (held at Lancaster Castle)

Sentence Length: Life

Ship Transported on: Mary (2)

Where Arrived: Van Diemen’s Land

Departure Date: 09/06/1831

Arrival Date: 19/10/1831

Biography: Elizabeth (also known as Betty) paid and put off to Elizabeth Ratcliffe at Kirkdale, ten counterfeit shillings. Elizabeth was married, had had nine children and had many prior convictions. The death sentence she had received was commuted to transportation for life. After having been certified free of any ‘putrid or infectious distemper’ by castle surgeon James Stockdale Harrison on the 21st May, Betty was sent to the south coast ports. The petition she sent to the king whilst moored at Woolwich was turned down.

The surgeon reported that Betty had been quiet and well behaved aboard ship.

In Tasmania, at arrival Betty was assigned to a Mr Wilson who she worked for for several years and then earned a ticket of leave in December 1839 and at this time was described in detail as being 5ft 1, with a pale complexion, a large head and face, light brown hair going grey, a wrinkled forehead, small grey thin eyebrows, grey eyes, quite a long nose with wide nostrils, large thick lips with her upper lip overhanging. Then followed a conditional pardon in July 1843. Betty began applying for her allowance in 1844 and was recommended for an absolute pardon from the queen; the result being the pardon was upgraded which allowed her to travel anywhere but not return to Europe. However, now aged 66 it seems unlikely that Betty left.