Date of Conviction: 04/08/1817

Age at Conviction: 28

Crime Convicted of: Theft

Court Convicted at: Lancaster Quarter Sessions (held at the Town Hall, Ormskirk)

Sentence Length: 7 Years

Ship Transported on: Maria

Where Arrived: Port Jackson, New South Wales

Departure Date: 15/05/1818

Arrival Date: 17/09/1818

Biography: Elizabeth was a single woman of Wigan, native of Liverpool. She had stolen from an Arthur Alker along with Henry Smith, also transported (ship- Lady Castlereagh). She was put on board ship on the 17th March.

Whilst at sea, she was particularly ill and the ship’s surgeon noted “Complains of wearyness and general debility succeeded by cold shiverings afterwards terminating in a violent heat all over the system. Pulse full and quick, skin dry and hot white tongue high coloured urine. Bowels rather confined. She was previously very healthy and attended Elizth Hely her Messmate as Nurse. I am of opinion she caught the disease from Hely. Given jalap root, ipecac, and potassium bitartrate. Washed all over with vinegar and separated to the sick bay. Later given liquid ammonia, tongue very foul, with delerium, picking at the bed clothes. Given camphor, ammonia and a plaster of Spanish fly. Still complains of sickness at the stomach arising from debility. She is particularly abstemious in her regimen. She only takes small quantities of light food at a time”. Later in the voyage, she suffered from constipation then a further bout of sickness again and was found to have a swelling of the salivary gland.

Elizabeth began a common-law relationship with widower sailor, now farmer and First Fleeter John Ramsay (ship- Scarborough) shortly after her arrival and they had two children. She received her certificate of freedom in 1824. She was described as 5ft 6 1/2 with a ruddy complexion, brown and grey hair and inflamed hazel eyes. By 1825 though the relationship was failing, John was in his 60s and their daughter was put in an orphanage for several months. In 1828, Elizabeth had abandoned John and her children to live with another man and now in financial difficulties, John (who had previously been a very successful farmer) appealed for both their children to be put in the orphanage. Elizabeth was found guilty of stealing from a house the next year and received a three month jail sentence at Parramatta.

Elizabeth died in June 1832, aged 42 at ‘Dare Hill’, and is buried at St Johns Cemetery, Parramatta.