Date of Conviction: 14/03/1828

Age at Conviction: 25

Crime Convicted of: Receiving Stolen Goods

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

Sentence Length: 14 Years

Ship Transported on: Competitor

Where Arrived: Port Jackson, New South Wales

Departure Date: 08/06/1828

Arrival Date: 09/10/1828

Biography: Along with Ann Lee and their husbands, they were part of a sophisticated operation where the men burgled and stole from a jewellery shop at Manchester, stealing over £400 of jewellery, the women moved the stolen goods to lodgings in Liverpool and then transported them to London. Eliza and Ann both sailed on the Competitor with their husbands both sailing on the Albion.

Eliza was from Dundee in Scotland. She was ‘married’ to John Jones, and could read and write. She was described as being 5′ 3 1/2 inches tall, with a fair to ruddy complexion, dark brown hair and brown eyes. Eliza and her husband were both initially assigned to Edward Joseph Keith with Eliza as a housemaid on arrival in Pitt Street but this arrangement didn’t last long. Eliza had numerous sentences between 1819 and 1835 which usually ended in a visit to the female factory in all classes for insolence, improper conduct and drunkenness. In 1836, she was returned to her master F. Watson after having been on the run. In 1837 she absconded from her next master J Tyre and was reported to be using the alias Jane Jones.

Eliza received her certificate of freedom in March 1844 at which point she was now 42. Her husband John was given a conditional pardon at the same time. Her description was similar to her arrival one with the addition of her calling as ‘house maid’ and some additional physical features- she had a dark spot on her right eye which caused her to be nearly blind in that eye. She had two scars around her lips.

There is a possible death record for Eliza Jones in November 1852, aged 49 at Camperdown cemetery but it is by no means certain that this is the same Eliza.