Date of Conviction: 21/10/1817

Age at Conviction: 19

Crime Convicted of: Theft

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

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: Ellen was a single woman of Manchester who had stole clothing and money belonging to William Holt along with a John Fisher (ship- Isabella). She had already served time for stealing clothing. on the 12th March a removal order was received there from the secretary of state for 35 female convicts who were to be sent on the Maria. The women left the castle in three groups over several days. Ellen was in the second group, leaving Lancaster on the 16th March 1818 and was put on board ship two days later on the 18th. During the voyage she had a falling out with shipmate Mary Chambers and was removed from her bunk for urinating on her head then pouring boiling water over her bed during the night.

Almost immediately after arrival, Ellen was transferred to Van Diemen’s Land on the Elizabeth Henrietta. There, she was assigned initially as a servant, then as a nurse. She married Archibald Curry/Currie (ship- Globe) in January 1823 and they had a son, James in 1825. Ellen got her certificate of freedom in 1825, though the following year and in 1830 she was reprimanded, then fined for being drunk and rowdy in the street. She was back up to her old tricks in 1831 though, stealing a lace cap belonging to an assigned servant and was given a three year jail sentence at Launceston. It is not clear that this sentence was carried out (she was possibly returned to being assigned) as she had a further conviction for being drunk later that year and was jailed in solitary confinement for a week.

Ellen died at Launceston in December 1833 (recorded for an unknown reason as Jane Curry) aged 30.