Ann Elliot

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Maureen Withey on 18th October 2025

https://www.oldscottish.com/convict-records-1.html Ann ELLIOT or ALEXANDER. Housekeeper Edinburgh, Widow of Alexander Alexander, grocer, Edinburgh. Tried: Edinburgh, 6 Nov 1826, Transportation - 7 years; Per Princess Charlotte, 27 March 1827, New South Wales.

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Maureen Withey on 10th April 2025

Ann's original sentence:  HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY Monday, Ann Elliot or Alexander, pleaded guilty to stealing a variety of articles of wearing apparel from the house of the Rev. Mr Davidson, between the months of March and July last the house being left under her charge. while the family was in the country. She was sentenced to seven years transportation—the  court holding that previous good character was, in a case of this nature, no plea for a mitigation of punishment, because it was only persons of good reputation who would be entrusted with such  charges. The Lord Justice-Clerk, after passing sentence, said, that on looking into the article’s descriptions, he observed that most of the goods had been pawned . He considered the practice of pawnbrokers. too loose in receiving articles , and advancing money upon  them without due inquiry. If they continued to do so , they might bring themselves into a very awkward predicament. He need say no more on that point. The Scotsman, 8 Nov 1826.

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Maureen Withey on 10th April 2025

Tasmanian Conduct Record. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON40-1-3/CON40-1-3P122 No 24. Ann Elliott or Alexander. Per Princess Charlotte & Laing 1827. Tried Edinburgh 16 Nov 1826, 7 years. Oct 10 1831. Ux. Taylor . Claiming goods by false pretences, obtg good by false pretences of Jno. Bodry. Comm. For trial but discharged upon entering into Recogns. for her personal appearance at the Supreme Court or Q. Sess. To answer the charge. In margin: Q.S. 25 Oct 1831. 7 o 7 (?) after the former (ux Taylor = Wife of Taylor.) At the Court of Quarter Sessions, ….  On Tuesday, …. Ann Taylor for obtaining goods under false pretences from a shop was sentenced to 14 years. Hobart Town Courier, 29 Oct 1831. Quarter Sessions. Ann Taylor stood oharged with obtaining goods under false pretences from Mr. John Bodry, a shopkeeper in Hobart Town. The prisoner stood charged under a second indictment for obtaining a further quantity of goods from the same party. John Bodry sworn. - I am a shopkeeper living in Argyle-street ; on a day in July the prisoner came to my shop and said she came for some dresses for Mrs. Fawkner ; I knew she lived in a part of Mr. Fawkner's house in Macquarie-street. She had the goods, and carried them away ; the value of the goods was £3. I had never credited her on account of Mrs. Fawkner before that time ; I debited Mrs. Fawkner with the amount of the goods. Cross examined by Mr. Horne, for the prisoner. - I had previous to this sold Mrs. Taylor goods on her own account, and there was at that time an account standing against her ; she first asked for dresses, which Mrs. Bodry shewed to the prisoner ; I recommended them as good articles ; she said they were for Mrs. Fawkner's daughter ; the dresses were not full sized, such as would be sent to suit Mrs. Taylor ; the account of Mrs. Taylor was unsettled ; but she asked or sent for the dresses on her own account on credit, they would not have been delivered to her; Mrs Bodry delivered the dresses to Mrs. Taylor ; and I think she took them away tied up in a cotton handkerchief ; a day or two afterwards, Mrs. Taylor came again and asked for some stockings for Mrs. Fawkner ; and, on being shewn to her, selected six pairs - 2 pair of men's, and 4 pair of women's ; I don't know if a bill of parcels was made out ; but they were debited to Mrs. Fawkner ; I discovered that the goods were falsely obtained when I sent in the bill. Ann Fawkner, sworn - I am the wife of Mr. John Fawkner, in Macquarie-street ; Ann Taylor lives in a skilling adjoining our house ; I never authorised her to obtain dresses in mv name : she did go by my directions to purchase half a chest of tea, which I have a bill and receipt for. Mr. Horne took objection to the indictment upon several legal grounds, and also from a deficiency of proof as to the fraudulent possession of the goods, as well as to the identity of the articles. The Chairman went over the evidence at great length, commenting on the evidence that had been adduced and concluded, by saying, that he felt very great pain at coming to the conclusion which he had done ; that, in his opinion, the charges had both been clearly substantiated ; it was more than unusually painful to see a woman with on infant in her arms in distress, and her husband at no great distance from her evincing symptoms of extreme distress, was trying to the feelings of human nature ; but the Court must take care not to allow any private feelings of their own to operate to the prejudice of its public duty ; theirs was a straight forward course not to be deviated from under any circumstance, however painful, that did not come within the simple rule. Is the party accused guilty or not guilty of the crime charged in the indictment ? Verdict, Guilty on both charges. - Sentenced to be transported for seven years for each offence, making together 14 years. Colonial Times, 2 Nov 1831.

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Maureen Withey on 5th December 2022

Marriage in Hobart William Taylor, of Hobart, and Ann Elliott, alias Alexander, of Hobart, widow, per Princess Charlotte from Sydney, were married by Banns 10 August 1829.