Elizabeth Anderson

341

Maureen Withey on 12th July 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 12 July 2020), January 1787, trial of ELIZABETH BRUCE ELIZABETH ANDERSON (t17870110-22). ELIZABETH BRUCE, ELIZABETH ANDERSON, Theft > grand larceny, 10th January 1787. 181. ELIZABETH BRUCE and ELIZABETH ANDERSON were indicted for stealing, on the 3d of January , three linen table-cloths, value 15 s. two aprons, value 5 s. the property of Francis Hayward . FRANCIS HAYWARD sworn. I live in John-street, Golden-square ; I am a victualler ; on Wednesday, the 3d of January, the prisoner Anderson came into my house; I never saw her before; I saw both the prisoners standing in the street, before she came in about ten minutes; they were looking over a basket of wet linen that stood on the curb, before a gentleman's door; I passed by them twice; I saw the prisoner Bruce give Anderson something out of the basket, and she put it into her apron, and wrapped it up on one side; I was then in the street passing by; Anderson came into my house about two minutes after; the other stood on the outside; Anderson called for a quartern of gin, and desired it might be brought to the door; I saw the spout of a gallon pot under her gown; I knew it to be mine; taking it away, I saw in her apron, two wet check aprons; I took them from her, and took her into the house; I kept her, and told her she should not go; Bruce came in a few a minutes after with three table cloths in a basket, wet; she called for a pint of beer, and I took charge of her, and the table cloths, and basket, and sent for a constable: Bruce wanted much to go and leave the basket behind her; she said she sold soap about the street for a gentleman at Wapping, and those cloths were given her to wrap it in: Anderson did not say a word: Bruce was the person that gave Anderson the aprons. STEPHEN PITT sworn. I am the constable; I received these things from the last witness, in his parlour; I have had them ever since; I took them to the public office in Poland-street, and had them advertised, and the prosecutrix came and claimed them. MARY HAYWARD sworn. I live in Poland-street, in St. James's parish; my husband's name is Francis; I lost two aprons, and three table cloths out of my garden, on Wednesday, the 3d of this month; it was near three when I missed them; the Justice's man who lived in the street, came on Saturday following, and asked me, and I told him; I went to the office, and saw the things; they were mine. (Deposed to.) PRISONER ANDERSON'S DEFENCE. I had the aprons of this woman, and if you will be so good to question her how she came by the entire of the property, I will be obliged to you. PRISONER BRUCE'S DEFENCE. I found the things, and sold the two aprons to this woman. BOTH GUILTY . Each to be transported for seven years . Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice WILSON.

ref'norfolk island and its first settlement.by r nobbs. punishment short of death. by m hazzard. s=seaman. c=arrived in colony as convict. m=lived as married person on N.I f=came free,or as an ex-marine or corps member took up land in N.I robert(herbert) webb. ship=sirius. at N.I 13 oct 1788. departed N.I feb 1791' s,f,m elizabeth anderson(henderson). ship=lady penrhyn.At N.I 13 oct 1788. departed N.I by feb 1791. c,m "on 24 jan 1789 robert webb,a former seaman from sirius told king(gov) that he had heard of a plot by a number of prisoners to seize control of the island,imprison king and others capturing ship supply & sailing to tahiti." "..the plan came to nothing.It was "blown"to king by a gardener,robert webb who had no wish to go to Otaheite.He had been told by his mistress Elizabeth Anderson,a convict woman who desperately wanted to go(gov.closure of N.I) with the others and wanted webb to go to." Re clearing of land and 10 acres to non convicts,plus further grants"robert webb,a seaman from sirius,as the first to take advantage of this offer,and in nov 1789 left the settlementfor his chosen block of land in the valley above cascade bay.'(N.I) ..Pipers decision to auctio the goods of one ernest prosser,a baker and shopkeeper,who had been taken in adultery with the wife of robert webb"(this refers to "Robert webb,now a middle aged man..married a woman 30 yrs youger..julia.Robert had invited his friend prosser to his home.Prosser met his wife julia,fell in love.etc wit the result prosser was ordered off the island. --chez

Hello my name is Elizabeth Anderson I am a convict I was once a servant too. I was born in 1759.I was tried at England on the 10th January 1787 when I was 28 years old for stealing 3 tablecloths and I apron with a value of 20 shillings about 4 dollars in today’s money. My partner in original crime was Elizabeth Bruce. I left England for 7 years on the lady Penrhyn aged about 32 at that time. It took 250 days to get to NSW which is about 8 months. I was one of 262 convicts on the lady Penrhyn. In 1788 Elizabeth Anderson was sent to Norfolk Island on the golden grove. I got married to Robert Webb on September 11 1791 in Parramatta which is exactly 4 days and 220 years ago. A month after my husband died in March I left Australia on a ship called Reliance and sailed into portsmonthons on the 5th of September 1800 which is 13 years before I went to NSW and I was freed.