Elizabeth Moore

Level 46

Heather Stevens on 7th October 2019

Approximate year of birth 1790 comes from her age in her death and burial record, and her certificate of freedom. Her native place is Liverpool in her certificate of freedom. Elizabeth Moore was convicted in 1817, and the Lancashire Quarter Sessions Order Book described her as 'singlewoman', 'late of the parish of Wigan'. She was convicted 4 Aug 1817 of larceny at the Lancaster Quarter Sessions, and sentenced to 7 years transportation. Transported in the convict ship 'Maria', which left England May 1818, arrived Sydney 7 Sep 1818. Not long after arriving, she and John Ramsay ('Scarborough' 1788) entered into a de-facto(?) relationship (marriage record not found). John had a farm at Narrabeen although he lived at Sydney, and his second wife had recently died. It appears that both his children from his first marriage (Elizabeth and John Thomas) had died as well. Elizabeth Moore and John Ramsay had two children: 1) Elizabeth Harriet 1819, and 2) John Thomas 1823 In the 1822 Muster she was Elizabeth Moore, ticket of leave, 'Maria' 1818 , wife of J Ramsay. In the 1825 muster, she was Elizabeth Moore, free by servitude, 'Maria' 1818 wife of J'o Ramsay Sydney. On 5 Aug 1824 she obtained her certificate of freedom: 27/2456 Elizabeth Moore, ship 'Maria'(1), 1818, convicted Lancaster QS 4 Aug 1817 7 yrs, native place Liverpool; calling: servant; age 40, 5 ft 6 1/2in, ruddy, hair brown and grey, eyes hazel inflamed. By 1828 Elizabeth and John had separated. John had fallen on hard times and in the 1828 census he was working as a gardener for Mr T C Farrell at Kissing Point. He had to admit his daughter Elizabeth Harriet to the Female Orphan Institution. On 29 Apr 1829 John Ramsay petitioned the Male Orphan School to admit his son John Thomas Ramsay who was near seven years of age, 'he having no mother to look after his Morals, (neither any home save trespassing upon a few of my acquaintances)'. The petition has the added notations 'John Thomas Ramsay was baptised privately when in danger of death & an infant by the Revd Mr Therry', and that Ramsay's wife was 'an abandoned woman living with another man'. In 1829 Elizabeth Moore was convicted at the General Session Court Sydney of 'Stealing in a dwelling', found guilty 26th May, sentenced 6th June to 3 months imprisonment in Sydney Gaol, and 'Disposed of' 15 July to Parramatta. [Sydney Gaol admission book: Moore Elizabeth, free 'Maria'] Parramatta St Johns Burial Register: Elizabeth Moore, Dare Hill, buried 18 June 1832, age 42, ship 'Maria', 'Free Settler'. She is also in Convict Death Register: Moore Elizabeth ship 'Maria' age 42 district Parramatta.