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| Notes for Elizabeth PERRY (PARRY) | ||||||||||||
| Elizabeth Perry, transported for seven years for theft, had arrived on the Lady Juliana in June 1790 and married Ruse in September of that year. She was the first woman convict in New South Wales to be emancipated [to be set free]. The farm succeeded and in 1791 Ruse reported he was able to maintain himself although his wife still had to draw rations from government stores since she was expecting their first child. Elizabeth Ruse Description Elizabeth Ruse (nee Perry) was transported to New South Wales for seven years on the Lady Juliana in 1790. Disembarking at Sydney, she was sent to Parramatta to work on the district's newly-established farms. There she met James Ruse, a fellow convict, and the couple were married after three months. In 1792, Elizabeth was pardoned for helping James become self-sufficient on an experimental farm at Parramatta. She had seven children and later farmed on the Hawkesbury. NOTES: 15 April 1789 - Embarked on the 'Lady Juliana' transport July 1792 - Received an Absolute Pardon as a reward for her good conduct and industry October 1793 - Elizabeth and her husband sold 'Experiment Farm' at Parramatta and were among the first group of settlers to move to the Hawkesbury district 1806 - The Muster seems to indicate that Elizabeth was no longer living with James RUSE January 1807 & January 1808 - Elizabeth signed two addresses to Governor Bligh from the Hawkesbury settlers 1820 - Elizabeth was still supplying grain to the public stores in her own name 1822 - The muster records Elizabeth as being the wife of James RUSE, an indication that they may have reunited after their lengthy seperation 1828 - The Census lists Elizabeth as living with James on a 4 acre farm at Lower Minto53 Status on Arrival: Convict Ship: Lady Juliana - 1790 Crime: Steal a large quantity of clothing as well as some cash Sentence: 7 years Tried at: Old Bailey Trial Date: 24 October 1787 Lady Juliana (also known as the Lady Julian) was a convict ship dispatched in 1789 from Britain to Australia. She was the first convict ship to arrive at Port Jackson in New South Wales after the First Fleet. She is therefore sometimes considered as part of the Second Fleet and sometimes not. A ship of 401 tons she was chartered to transport female convicts.[1]. Her master was Thomas Edgar who had sailed with James Cook on his last voyage. The surgeon was Richard Alley who was apparently competent by the standards of the day, but made little attempt to maintain discipline. After a delay of six months the Lady Juliana left Plymouth on 29 July 1789 with 226 female convicts, and took 309 days to reach Port Jackson, one of the slowest journeys made by a convict ship. She called at Tenerife and St Jago, and spent forty five days at Rio de Janeiro, and nineteen days at the Cape of Good Hope. An account of the voyage was written by her steward John Nicol. He gives a fascinating account of the voyage and the convicts. Most of these were London prostitutes, but there were some hardened criminals - thieves, receivers of stolen goods, shoplifters - among them. The vessel gained the reputation for being a floating brothel. Nicol recalled that "when we were fairly out to sea, every man on board took a wife from among the convicts, they nothing loath." At the ports of call seamen from other ships were freely entertained, and the officers made no attempt to suppress this licentious activity. The convicts were reported to be noisy and unruly, with a fondness for liquor, and they frequently fought amongst themselves. During the voyage only five convicts died. Rations were properly issued, the vessel kept clean and fumigated, the women were given free access to the deck, and supplies of fresh food were obtained at the ports of call. This treatment was in sharp contrast to that meted out on the infamous Second Fleet. Lady Juliana arrived at Port Jackson on 6 June 1790, the first vessel to be seen by the members of the first settlement since their own arrival almost two and a half years before. In the grip of starvation, with HMS Sirius wrecked at Norfolk Island Judge Advocate David Collins was mortified at the arrival of "a cargo so unnecessary and so unprofitable as 222 females, instead of a cargo of provisions". Lieutenant Ralph Clark was more blunt, lamenting the arrival of still more "damned whores". The ship carried letters bringing the first news of events in Europe to the settlement since the First Fleet had sailed in May 1787.54 ELIZABETH PARRY55 was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 13th of October , one bombazeen gown and petticoat, value 15 s. a cloak, value 6 s. a silk handkerchief, value 5 s. a pair of silk shoes, value 1 s. a pair of cloth shoes, value 1 s. a pair of pumps, value 2 s. two caps, value 4 s. a linen apron, value 1 s. a muslin neckcloth, value 1 s. two guineas and one half guinea, four half-crowns and three shillings in monies, the property of Abraham Attewell in his dwelling-house . SUSANNAH ATTEWELL sworn. See original I am wife of Abraham Attewell ; he is a porter , the prisoner came to me as a person that was out of place, a country girl just came to town, she desired employment in the milk business, she said she had no friends nor no money; for that reason I took her, she was from Tuesday to Saturday; she was very sick, she said all the time she was with me, she was in great pain in her side and bowels; on Saturday morning she was very bad indeed, she cried very much, I got her bled, and gave her three-pence to pay for it; I left her in my house when I went out, nobody was with her, it was about a quarter before one when I left my house; I returned about half past three, and I was informed she was gone, and I ran to my box, and found my box open, and all my property gone, which was my cow-keeper's money, I lost three pounds and upwards in money; there were two guineas in gold, half a guinea, four half crowns; and the rest in silver. How much? - I think to the best of my knowledge, about three shillings; I lost the things mentioned in the indictment, the handkerchief is here to produce, I never found the money; she was taken on the Tuesday morning following by the advertisement. Prisoner. Did not you go out to borrow a shilling to mend your son's shoes the day before? - I did not. Prisoner. Did not you borrow a shilling of your next door neighbour for a pair of shoes? - No. EDWARD TREADWAY sworn. In consequence of an advertisement, I found this gown and petticoat, and black silk handkerchief, and the shoes on the prisoner's feet, and the stockings on her legs; she said she had the things off the drawers, to the best of my recollection, belonging to her mistress. What mistress? - The prosecutrix. Prisoner. I never said any such thing. Treadway. I searched her, and found half a guinea and a shilling upon her. Court to prosecutrix. Whereabouts did you leave these things? - I left my gown and petticoat, folded up on the head of the bed, my cloth shoes were under my bed; I cannot say where I left the other shoes. When did you see this money last before it was stolen? - I saw it on Friday, and had it in my hand about eleven or twelve, and on Saturday it was stolen. (The prosecrtrix deposes to the handkerchief,) the cap I can swear to and the gown, it was never on my back, the mantua-maker is here that made it. Did you loose such a gown as that? - Yes, I did, I lost it off the head of my bed. Did you loose these stockings and shoes? - Yes. ANN FORSAR sworn. I am a mantua-maker; I made this gown for the prosecutrix; I know my work. Prisoner. I have had that gown these five years, and more than that; there were See original two pieces tore off the skirt, and I had them sewed on again; I had it at Mrs. Stokes's. GEORGE MEECHAM sworn. I am an officer; I took the prisoner in custody by the advertisement; we searched her, and she said, this is my mistress's property, for I took it off the head of the bed; nothing was said to her, she owned it voluntarily; I never had any thing to say to any one but the woman that stands in the red cloak. PRISONER's DEFENCE. The things are my own, honestly bought and paid for, and as for money, the prosecutrix had none; she went and borrowed a shilling the day before; I could bring witnesses, that I wore that gown two months in this town, before ever I saw this woman. GUILTY Of stealing the clothes to the value of 39 s . Transported for seven years . Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice HEATH. Graves of James and Elizabeth Ruse and the Cambelltown Cemetery The historic graves of James and Elizabeth Ruse are located in the north-western corner of the church graveyard. However in 1994 descendants of the family removed the headstones due to the extensive vandalism which was occurring in the cemetery and placed them in the Stables Museum. | ||||||||||||
| Last Modified 14 Jul 2010 | Created 15 Jul 2010 using Reunion for Macintosh |