Date of Conviction: 22/04/1822

Age at Conviction: 21

Crime Convicted of: Theft

Court Convicted at: Lancaster Quarter Sessions (held at the New Bailey, Salford)

Sentence Length: 7 Years

Ship Transported on: Mary (1)

Where Arrived: Hobart, Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania)

Departure Date: 03/06/1823

Arrival Date: 05/10/1823

Biography: Elizabeth, born at Wellington in Shropshire, had stolen a quantity of ribbons, the property of Francis Marcellus Hodson, a calico printer in Manchester.

Through 1824 and 1825, Elizabeth persistently absconded from the service she was put into and three times was sent to the Georgetown female factory for stays of 2 weeks to 3 months, often on bread and water. She ran away from her employment as a servant a further time, whilst in the service of a Mr G Walker at Launceston in May 1825 at which time she was described as being 5ft ½ inches tall with brown hair, hazel eyes and then 28 years of age. Her employer offered a £2 reward. In 1825 Elizabeth had been transferred to Sydney with her employer (Andrew Allan Esq) and soon after, applied to marry James Barton (ship- Neptune) but the marriage was initially refused as her paperwork could not be found, probably due to her move. By August 1826, matters had been cleared up and Elizabeth and James were married at St John’s in Parramatta.

Early in 1828, the couple had a child, James Thomas. Elizabeth gained her certificate of freedom in April 1829. At this time, she was described as 5ft 1, hazel eyed, dark brown haired and a fair complexion. They had a second child this year, Humphrey William. They had a third child, a girl, in 1830, Sarah Elizabeth, by which time the family had moved to Pennant Hills and James was a constable, replacing his predecessor who was dismissed for drunkenness.

Family life abruptly ended just one year later when James died in March 1831.

Elizabeth died at the Parramatta hospital in 1840 and is buried in St John’s Cemetery.