Date of Conviction: 22/08/1828

Age at Conviction: 44

Crime Convicted of: Uttering Forged Notes

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

Sentence Length: Life

Ship Transported on: Lady of the Lake

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

Departure Date: 06/06/1829

Arrival Date: 01/11/1829

Biography: Elizabeth holds the dubious honour amongst the Lancastrian convicts of being sentenced to death twice, both times having her sentence commuted to transportation.

Born in Donaghmore parish, Newry, Ireland, Elizabeth had uttered and put off 20 forged bank notes for the payment of £1 each to John Linacre and Joseph Vernon at Liverpool along with Elizabeth Evans and Margaret Rogers, and her husband John Tod in 1820. Elizabeth had her first death sentence reprieved; her husband John was not so lucky and was soon executed after their joint trial. From Lancaster, she was sent to Millbank jail in London (named as Catherine Todd), where she was described as being 5ft 5 1/2, now a widow, has 6 children, dark brown hair, dark complexion, dark eyes. Elizabeth received a pardon whilst at Millbank and was discharged on the 1st May 1824.

She headed back to Liverpool where the next year in April 1825 she was again tried, at the Liverpool Quarter Sessions for uttering a forged coin and received a one year prison sentence. Two years later again, in 1828, she was back at the Lancaster summer Assizes where again she was retried for the same crime, uttering counterfeit coins at Liverpool along with Margaret Carr, and was again given the death sentence, receiving another reprieve and finally, this time, was transported for life.

On arrival her description was taken, which was similar as before, with the additional details of her being a 45 year old servant and having a round face, pale complexion, large chin, hazel eyes, arms- much freckled and large hands with long fingers.

Elizabeth was recorded in 1833 as being assigned to Mr Woodward and received a ticket of leave in 1835 but in July 1836, she was convicted of stealing a £20 promissary note and £230 belonging to Ann Bridger and was sentenced at the New Norfolk Quarter Sessions to a further 14 years transportation with the first six months to be in solitary confinement. This was overturned by the new Lieutenant Governor, Arctic explorer, John Franklin. Elizabeth was reprimanded for being out after hours in 1837 but by 1839 she was holding a ticket of leave. In 1843, she was recommended for a conditional pardon, which was granted in 1845.

A Mrs Elizabeth Tod(d), widow, was recorded as passing away in her 80th year as a result of ‘decay of nature’ at the home of T.J. Crouch, Argyle Street, Hobart in July 1855, which is likely to be our Elizabeth.