Date of Conviction: 25/10/1815

Age at Conviction: 45

Crime Convicted of: Theft

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

Sentence Length: 7 Years

Ship Transported on: Lord Melville

Where Arrived: Port Jackson, New South Wales

Departure Date: 29/08/1816

Arrival Date: 24/02/1817

Biography: Alice, who was the wife of Thomas Russell, was also known as Alice Butler, suggesting she was either convicted in her maiden name or was in a common law relationship with Thomas. She had stolen printed calico from John Watts at Manchester. She left Lancaster Castle with the other women to board Lord Melville on the 8th July.

She was assigned to be a servant upon arrival- in 1819 she was noted as married at Sydney, in 1820 and 21 she was servant to a Mrs Flynn. From 1822 onwards, Alice was reunited and living with Thomas, her common-law husband, on the wharf on Market Street. Thomas had been convicted in July 1815 for fabric theft and was transported before Alice on the ship- Elizabeth, arriving in 1816, leaving Alice to follow him. Alice received her certificate of freedom in July 1823. Thomas petitioned for a grant of land for Alice and himself in 1824, stating they were both advanced in years are unable to return to their native soil but this request was denied- them not having the means to cultivate the land. By 1825, she is again noted as wife of Thomas Russell at Sydney who had been a police constable for several years. Although not conclusive the newspapers record an inquest taking place in August 1826 of an Alicia Russell, a free woman who died from suffocation, in a state of intoxication. By 1828, Thomas is noted alone as a lodger and a gardener.