Ann Elizabeth Earnshaw

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Dianne Jones on 18th June 2022

ANN ELIZABETH EARNSHAW, THE GOVERNESS: Ann was one of only 29 female convicts sent to VDL who said they were schoolmistresses or governesses. Ten of those women were the subject of a study by Don Bradmore whose paper, “Convict schoolmistresses in Van Diemen’s Land”, was presented in November 2015 in Hobart at the Female Convicts Research Centre seminar, “What the convicts brought with them – and what they left behind” (see https://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/seminars/DonBradmore-Nov2015.pdf). About Ann Elizabeth Earnshaw, Bradmore (2015, p3) writes: “It is unlikely that she taught in schools in VDL. Arriving in VDL at the age of 36 in 1844 [or younger, as per my notes above], she was granted a ticket of leave in 1849 but died of apoplexy in that same year... Two factors made the finding of evidence for this study particularly difficult. The first was the difficulty of tracing the women after they had married and changed their surnames – in some cases more than once. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that details of their lives and whereabouts were no longer recorded after their release from the convict system. The second difficulty was the fact that there was increasing opposition to the employment of convicts and former convicts as schoolteachers in the colony during and after the 1830s. From 1849, in fact, the employment of convicts and former convicts as teachers in government schools was banned. Thus, while it is known that there were quite a number of female convicts and former convicts teaching in schools in VDL in the period, their names are not easily discovered. ” —0—

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Dianne Jones on 18th June 2022

NEWSPAPER report: 10 November, 1849: From the Launceston Examiner, p7 -- "ANOTHER SUDDEN DEATH.--A female named Elizabeth Ann Earnshaw [sic], residing at the Albion Inn, was on Friday morning found dead by Mrs. Waldron. It appears that deceased had been unwell tor a considerable time, but objected to having medical advice. On Thursday night Mrs. Waldron prepared some arrowroot for her, and last saw her alive at about nine o'clock. Mrs. Waldron at seven o'clock on Friday morning went to the room occupied by deceased, and on opening the door discovered her lying upon the floor, quite dead. An inquest will be held upon the body to-day." 10 November, 1849: From the Launceston Examiner, p7 -- "INQUEST.-The inquest on the body of Elizabeth Ann Earnshaw [sic] was held yesterday, and terminated in a verdict of 'died by the visitation of God, from apoplexy'."

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Dianne Jones on 18th June 2022

DEATH: 9 November, 1849: Ann Earnshaw (called Elizabeth Ann Earnshaw in this document), servant, aged 35, died at Launceston (https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD35-1-16p197j2k). However, the Register of Convict Deaths gives her age as 41 years at death (Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899 for Eliza Ann Earnshaw; Register; Registers of convict deaths, 1845-1874). This is closest to the details in her Central Criminal Court and Newgate jail records in the UK where her date of birth is 1810. In fact, there is a 10 year span (from a birth date as early as 1808 up to 1818) in the ages attributed to her on various records. --0--

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Dianne Jones on 18th June 2022

IN VDL: 20 December, 1844: On arrival, Ann Elizabeth Earnshaw was listed as convict #131, aged 26 [see below] a governess [option not available in summary section, hence school teacher selected], native place Reedness, Yorkshire. Ship's surgeon's report -- "quiet but nervous" (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON41-1-4$init=CON41-1-4p48). Her Convict Indents record listed Anne as married but separated from her husband Edward "for 6 or 7 years". Her father Joseph and brother Benjamin were still living -- no address given. She said "My property £10,000 made over to my daughter." She was described as a governess who could teach music (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON15-1-3$init=CON15-1-3P60). 12 January, 1846: After receiving "black marks" for absence and drunkenness, she was sent from Hobart to Launceston. 29 May, 1849: She received a Ticket of Leave (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON41-1-4$init=CON41-1-4p48). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 18th June 2022

NEWSPAPER report of their trials: On Wednesday, Ann Elizabeth Earnshaw, aged thirty-four, and Emma Wells, aged twenty-eight, were tried for stealing articles from various shops. Mrs. Earnshaw was a married woman, who resided in Camden Town; and Miss Wells lived with her as a companion. They appear to have carried on a regular system of shoplifting, as a number of trinkets and other small goods were found in their house. On the 17th February, they went to the shop of Mrs. Rose, a cutler in Farringdon Street, and examined some knives. Being suspected, they were followed, and a silver fruit-knife was found in Miss Wells's boa, which was slit and seemed to have been used as a secret pocket. Their arrest brought forward several tradesmen who had been plundered, and the two women were now tried under four indictments. Wells was convicted of stealing Mrs. Rose's fruit-knife, and three diamond rings worth 3/. 78.6d., from Mr. Clapham, in the Strand; both were convicted of stealing a watch worth 30/. from Mr. Smith in the Strand, and a gold locket from Mr. Lamb, also in the Strand. They were sentenced to seven years' transportation." (The Spectator, 13 April 1844, p2, from http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsearch/convict/chain/ai21017). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 18th June 2022

TRIAL: 8 April, 1844: Ann Earnshaw and Emma Wells faced four separate charges at the Old Bailey on the same day. Although co-accused, only Wells was found guilty of stealing a fruit knife, and three rings from two different owners. Both were found guilty of stealing a watch. The pair faced their final indictment, as below: 1054. ANN ELIZABETH EARNSHAW and EMMA WELLS were again indicted for stealing 1 locket, value 12s. 6d. the goods of George Lamb. MR. BALLANTINE conducted the Prosecution. JAMES REARDON, assistant to Mr. Fleming, pawnbroker, Farringdon-street. Between three and four o'clock on Saturday afternon, the 17th of Feb., Wells came to our shop—there are two entrances, one into the boxes, and one into the fore part of the shop—there is a passage which runs into the boxes and into the street—she pawned this gold locket for 8s. WILLIAM BUTLER. I am assistant to George Lamb, jeweller, 69, Cheapside. I have seen the prisoners at our shop; the last time was on the 17th of Feb., I think, between one and two o'clock—I received some communication from an officer—this locket now produced is ours—the prisoners had been looking at lockets—Earnshaw had desired to see them. COURT. Q. Had they bought anything? A. No—when they came they asked to see lockets, which I showed them—the excuse they made for not buying was, one was too large and another too small for the miniature they wanted it for—Earnshaw spoke of the miniature. ANDREW LYNN. I am servant to Mrs. Rose. On Saturday, the 17th of Feb., by her direction, I followed the prisoners to Mr. Fleming's shop—they both went up the steps—I then left them, to give information. (Rev. John Wilson; Theophilus Carrington; Robert Wright, of Hull; William Hughes, Stationer, Park-street, Camden-town; William Robson, grocer, High-street, Camden-town; William Pitt, baker, Park-street, Camden-town; and Mary Ward; gave both the prisoners good characters.) EARNSHAW — GUILTY. Aged 34. WELLS — GUILTY. Aged 28. Transported for Seven Years (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/) --0--