Elizabeth Dowling

75

iain Frazier on 13th April 2026

Family connections for Elizabeth (Dowling) are: DOWLING Mary (Dowling) was tried with her 2daughters & 2others for murder, in May 1798, of Mrs (Deane) associated with the Irish rebellion at Naas Spring Assizes Kildare co. about May 1801, sentenced to hanging, held at Athy & hanged on 14 8 1801. Mary (Dowling) & ??? (???) produced perhaps 2children: Eliza/beth (Dowling) was born about 1757. She was tried with her mother, sister & 2others for murder, about May 1798, of Mrs (Deane) associated with the Irish rebellion at Naas Spring Assizes Kildare co. about April 1801, probably sentenced to hanging commuted to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict with her sister on 7 7 1802 afer a voyage of 7months on ATLAS; her Ticket of Leave was issued semingly immediately-ie no indenture?. She was Free by Servitude by 1813. She may have been a wet-nurse employed to care for Laurence (May)s daughter Sarah. She had a relationship with Laurence (May his second (2of3?) relationship) & produced maybe 4children. Her Absolute Pardon was made void after the 1809 Rum Rebellion & reinstated in 1810. She was granted a Free Pardon on 29 2 1812&/or1815. She was recorded in 1822 with Absolute Pardon as wife of Laurence (May) at Pitt Town. [She was registered as a free settler in Tasmania in 1826; she was regularly fined for being drunk and disorderly & often sent to House of Corrections. In December 1828 she was charged with receiving stolen wheat at which time she was living with ??? (Spencer) at Pattersons Plains-she was sentenced to Hard Labour in the Female Factory at Hobart. She continued to be in & out of the Female Factory for being drunk & disorderly. She died on 19 9 1845 age98.) However, an Elizabeth (Dowling) was a lunatic when she died on 29 10 1818 age61 & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta-stated as free. ..[Some details taken from this Website; where 2entries are found & where references to Tasmania seem to refer to another person] ..Laurence (May) was born about 1772. He was tried for breaking entering & stealing at Dublin city Ireland, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 9 1791 after a voyage of 5months on QUEEN. He had a first (1of3? relationshhip with Ann/e (Baker). He was flogged as an Irish Papist after suppressing evidence of robbery at (Arndell)s Parramatta residence. He was granted 30acres at Robinsons lagoon in 1800-when he was recorded as a miller at Windsor with 18acres. He was recorded in 1801 with 30acre grant at Green Hills. He farmed at Bardonarrang farm-which was later partly demolished by storms-& operated an Inn at Parramatta-which was later sold to pay for recovery of his farm. He was Free by Servitude by 1803. He had 18acres & was a miller at Windsor in 1800. He also farmed at Prospect, Concord & other places. He assisted his sister in law Winifred (Dowling) to sell or let the 30acre 'Fentons farm' at Prospect Hill in 1805 & again in 1807. His house at Bardo Narrang was blown awy by a 'cyclone' in November 1808. In 1809 he worked with brother in law Edward (Redmond) to sell 30acre 'McDonalds farm' at Hawkesbury. He had a racing chestnut gelding 'Tickle Toby’, which won him a lot of money & also caused him in 1813 to ask debtors to pay up. In 1815 he opened the Windsor horse flour-mill at Wilberforce & provided complimentary cartage from wharf to mill. He was falsely charged that he substituted inferior grain. He married thirdly Risetta (???)-according to this Website, but not found in Smees records. In 1819 a leg was amputated in Sydney after suffering friction for a long time while riding, but he carried on with fortitude-he became a pioneer irrigator along the Hawkesbury River. He was recorded in 1822 with Absolute Pardon as husband of Elizabeth (Dowling). He was living in Parramatta in 1827. In about August 1828 his wheat farm was used for experimentation, by son in law Robert (Cooper), in raising water 800' from the Hawkesbury River. He was recorded in 1828 as farmer at Pitt Town with Rosetta (May/Kite) & 2sons. He was issued an Absolute? Pardon in 1836. He died on 23 7 1837 age65 father of perhaps 7children. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 2.Winifred (Dowling) was born about 1776. She was tried with her mother, sister & 2others for murder, about May 1798, of Mrs (Deane) associated with the Irish rebellion at Naas Spring Assizes Kildare co. about April 1801, probably sentenced to hanging commuted to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict with her sister on 7 7 1802 afer a voyage of 7months on ATLAS; she was given her freedom off stores semingly immediately-ie no indenture?. She married firstly Francois (Durinault) on 16 9 1802 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced a child. She owned the 30acre 'Fentons farm' at Prospect Hill after her husband left & attempted to sell or let it in 1805 with her brother in law Laurence (May)s help. She was recorded in 1806 with Ticket of Leave at 'Fentons farm' with 2children off stores - & again as a concubine with 1child. She was living at the Rocks & attempted to sell the farm again in 1807 with help from her brother in law. Her Absolute Pardon was made void after the 1809 Rum Rebellion. She had a second relationship with Edmond/Edward (Redmond), produded 2children & was an emancipist when she married him on 15 10 1811 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. Her Absolute Pardon nwa reinstated in 1810. She was granted an Absolute Pardon no.4/4486 on 29 2 1812. She was recorded in 1814 as wife of E (Redmond) with 4children off stores in Sydney. She was recorded in May 1822 Living at 'Harp and Crown' at the Rocks. She was recorded in 1828 at George St with her wife & 1child. She died on 7 5 1862 age about85 mother of 3children. ..[Some details taken from this Website; where 2entries are found. Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.

8

Libby Moon on 12th April 2026

Elizabeth left her husband around 1825 as she was registered as a free settler in Tasmania in 1826. She was regularly being fined for being 'drunk and disorderly' & was often sent to 'The House of Corrections'... In December 1828 she was on charges for 'feloniously receiving stolen wheat..' & she mentions at her trial that she was for 'Life' but got a Pardon from Governor Macquarie. And that she was now living with Spencer at Pattersons Plains. she was sentenced to be detained at 'Hard Labour in the Female Factory' in Hobart. Until her death on the 19th September 1845, she continued to be in & out of the Female Factory for being drunk & disorderly.

71

Robin Sharkey on 27th March 2016

1815 -Elizabeth Dowling received a Free pardon. Tried Summer 1801, Kildare. 1816 Birth John May - from 1825 muster,son of Lawrence May. Sydney Gazette Tue 18 Sep 1838 p. 3 Text: DEATH, At Windsor, on Thursday, the 13th Instant, after a short illness, John May, aged 21 years. UNCLEAR IF THIS CHILD IS ELIZABETH'S 1820 - BIRTH JAMES MAY, Baptism, 1820, 20th December James May son of Lawrence May & Elizabeth Dowling. Reg’d St Mary’s RC Sponsor, Robert Muldoon. 1822 - Marriage of step-daughter Sarah May to Robert Cooper, Widower at Sydney. Robert Cooper was a distiller who was a wealthy man in the Colony. Sarah was aged about 19 yrs. 15 March 1822, Elizabeth's other step-chip, Laurence May jnr, aged about 23, shot at his neighbour, John Smith. Elizabeth's other step-child, he got into an altercation on his 60 acre grant at Hawkesbury over the allocation of some land between them and shot the neighbour as he reaped his wheat on the disputed land. This must have been a stocking incident to his family and the community. see Syd Gaz 15/3/1822. He was sentenced to life transportation to Port Macquarie as a convict leaving in May 1822 for shooting with intent to kill. In Feb 1824 he had permission to return to Sydney and be assigned as a convict. Perhaps some influence was brought to bear by his well-connected father since he had permission in July 1827 to marry convict Catherine Flynn at Parramatta - although it was wrongly recorded that Lawrence May aged 57 per "Queen" had the permission - since in the 1828 Census, Lawrence May age 30 and Catherine age 23 per Brothers, were farmers living at Lower Portland Head, He received a Pardon in 1836, recorded as "Abs", and died in 1840. 1822 -Recorded as wife of Laurence May at Pitt Town, Absolute Pardon 1825 - recorded as wife of Laurence may, 7 yr sentence (!) Conditional Pardon, Windsor, wife of May. Elizabeth Dowling-May was dead by 1828 because Laurence was recorded in the 1828 Census as farmer living at Pitt Town with Rosetta May (or Kite) aged 40 per Indefatigable in 1809, together with his sons James aged 8 and John aged 11.

71

Robin Sharkey on 27th March 2016

FIRST DECADE IN NSW Eliza was recorded in documents in NSW as “Elizabeth” Dowling. She married Lawrence May, taking on the mothering of his two surviving young children, and over 18 years would have three children of her own, the first sadly drowning at the age of 8. 1802 arrival in NSW. Gov King granted her indulgence of Ticket of Leave. 1804, birth of son Christopher to Lawrence May, at Windsor. Since Lawrence’s first wife Ann died only in January 1804, Christopher was probably born in the last quarter of 1804. Marriage to Lawrence May (record not found) either 1804 or 1805. She stated in her 1810 petition she was married to Lawrence “shortly after her arrival in the colony”. LAWRENCE MAY had arrived per Queen in 1791. Tried at Dublin, aged 18. Married first wife Ann Baker about 1796 and had three children, * 1800 he was a miller at Windsor held land with18 acres cultivated, 10 pigs * 1801 had 30 acre grant from Gov Hunter (May 1800) at Green Hills, all cleared. * 1804 wife Ann died from excessive drinking, leaving two children (per Sydney Gazette 15 January 18064 page 2). These children were Laurence Jnr born 1799 and Sarah born 1803 who would be raised by Elizabeth Dowling as their mother. Another, Martha, had been born in 1796 but must have died by 1804. Sarah was a baby at her mother’s death and Lawrence advertised for a wet nurse. 1805, November, Lawrence was assisting Elizabeth's sister Winifred, Ms Durinault, now a single mother after the departure of her French husband, to sell a 30 acre Prospect farm she’d purchased from Fenton. (1805 - Syd Gaz 17/11/1805 p 1. To be Let or Sold, etc … For terms & further particulars apply to Mr. Lawrence May, Settler at Hawkesbury.”) * 1806 - Lawrence May in the Muster had one woman off stores (i.e. Elizabeth) and 3 children (2 eldest by Ann Baker, and Christopher by Eliza, aged 2). He had 150 acres! If not already doing so, he would lease land on the Hawkesbury river flats from James Williamson Esq, at least from 1810 to 1822 (Sydney gazette 24/2/1810). There were several convict servants assigned to Lawrenec May in 1806 and over the next decades. * 1807 Her sister Winifred was now with Edward Redmond, living in the Rocks, who was a trader and got a spirit licence and from there would become very wealthy and respectable; Winifred had two daughters with him in 1807 and 1809. 1808 Set-backs: (1) Loss of house Syd Gaz Sunday 6 Nov 1808 p 1 " On Friday evening a dreadful hurricane set in at Hawkesbury, which raged for about 20 minutes with uncommon fury, and was productive of consequences which it is feared will have a serious tendency. … …. An unfinished house, the property of Mr. Lawrence May at Bardo Narrang, was blown down and some of the materials scattered to a considerable distance; … … The storm was …. accompanied with a bad shower, and a deluge of rain which continued several hours after the thunder storm has passed away. … The storm extended very little above the Green Hills.” (2) Death of Son Christopher, aged about 4 years, by drowning: “Last week a son of Mr. Lawrence May, at Hawkesbury, unfortunately fell into a saw-pit, which had been filled by the rains, and perished un-perceived.” (Syd Gazette, 20 Nov 1808 ) Now Elizabeth has only her two step-children. In five years she would have another of her own. 1809 - Elizabeth (and also her sister Winifred) petitioned Col Paterson ( in charge in NSW for the whole of 1809)  for a remission of sentence, who gave her an Absolute Pardon. (per her memorandum to Macquarie in February 1810).  Her sister Winifred’s Feb 1810 petition to Macquarie to reinstate her Absolute Pardon was in almost the same terms. 1809 - Elizabeth’s and Winifred’s husbands work collabotirvely: Syd Gaz 26 Feb 1809 p 1 “ ... selling a capital 30 acre farms at Hawkesbury well known by name of McDonald’s farm, apply Lawrence May or Edward Redmond.” * 1810 - Elizabeth petitioned Gov Macquarie to have her Absolute Pardon reinstated after Macquarie declared void all pardons issued during the Rum 1813 - Birth of second child, named Christopher Watkins MAY

71

Robin Sharkey on 26th March 2016

Eliza Dowling was transported for life on “Atlas” arriving NSW 1802, after being tried at Naas in Kildare in the summer of 1801. She arrived with her sister, Winifred Dowling, same sentence. IRISH CRIME - MURDER in 1798 (primary source: ‘Finns Leinster Journal’, Wed 19 August 1801 page 3) Both Eliza Dowling and Winifred Dowling, together with their mother Mary Dowling, and a woman named Elizabeth Byrne and Mrs Byrne's son, had been found guilty of the May 1798 murder of a Mrs Deane. The Irish Rebellion started in that month, at Kildare, and the attacks and fighting from both sides were ferocious. The womens’ mother however was hanged on Friday 14th August 1801, before their departure in November 1801, having attempted to gain some more time on earth by claiming, when she was found guilty, that she was pregnant. The Byrne woman however was hanged the very next day after sentence. The Dowling sisters would have received the same sentence of death, but there was probably a recommendation to mercy and it was commuted to transportation for life. The mother’s hanging would have occurred either outside the jail, or at the place where Mrs Deane had been murdered. From ‘Finns Leinster Journal’, Wed 19 August 1801 page 3: “On Friday last, Mary Dowling was executed at Naas, pursuant to her sentence at Spring Assizes. She and her two daughters, with Elizabeth Byrne and her son, were convicted of the murder of Mrs Deane, in May 1798. “Elizabeth Byrne, above-mentioned, was executed the day after her conviction, but M. Dowling pleaded pregnancy, her execution was suspended from time to time, until she was finally examined by a surgeon, sent from the Assizes at Athy by Mr Baron Daly, who reported that she was not with child.” _________________________________________