Jane Ruth

Level 53

Beth Taylor on 12th February 2026

Jane was placed on the Broxbornebury as a convict and arrived in Sydney in 1814. She was sent as an assigned servant to Mrs G Philips in Sydney and the next year, 1815, Jane claimed she was a widow when she married Andrew Tiffen (or Tiffin, alias Greenlow) (c1788-?) at St John’s Church Parramatta on the 27th of April 1815. The groom was literate and could sign his name, however Jane marked the register with a X. Andrew reached Sydney in 1814 on the ship General Hewitt as a convict with a life term. This was not Andrew’s first visit to New South Wales and he appeared before the Old Bailey Court on three occasions. In 1807 Tiffen was accused of stealing a pair of boots from a shop at 93 Golden-lane and was chased and caught by the shopkeeper. Andrew stated that he was innocent and “I was just come from Plymouth, hearing the cry of stop thief I ran; I thought they wanted to press me.” The Royal Navy has always had problems recruiting enough personnel to crew the ships of the fleet and it was common for press gangs to seize men and force them to join the Navy. The Judge declared Andrew guilty however “judgement respited” and he may have been discharged. Tiffen and Robert Bolton were convicted in London in 1809 for “burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of William Salmon” of 54 Goswell Street, in the Parish of St Luke’s. “Tiffen's Defence. I was walking on the other side of Goswell street; I was very much in liquor; I saw a mob on the other side of the way, consequently I pushed myself into the mob; this gentleman was accusing one and another; he said, you were with him; I argued with him on the subject; he drew a large stick and hit me on the arm; I ran away and he pursued me and struck me. I never had any discourse with the other young man before this transaction.” Andrew was found guilty and given a death sentence which was commuted on condition of being transported for life and he was sent to the Colony. “He was received on boards the hulks, at Woolwich (London), in June, 1809…from which he was removed to Sheerness (Kent)” and thence onto the Indian in 1810 on a voyage to Sydney. It is not known how Tiffen made his way back to England, however in 1812 the police recognised him back in London and Andrew told the Judge: “I am not able to express myself properly. I hope you will read this appeal. This paper will shew (sic) that it was unavoidable, my coming back to this country”. It is not known what reason Andrew had, but because he had broken the original conditions of his life being spared, he was again sentenced to be hanged. Fortunately Andrew had been given a good character reference from Richard Smith, who had been in charge of the convict hulk where Andrew had stayed in 1809 and the Court showed him mercy, sending him again to Sydney. Andrew worked as a tanner when the couple wed however a year later, in 1816, Andrew was listed in the newspaper as a runaway convict, described as 29 years-old, dark complexion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes and “a little pock-marked”. There is no record of Andrew’s death and it is possible he escaped back to England. Jane re-married on the 18th of February 1822 to William Calvin Dyer (c1793-1871), also at Parramatta. Dyer was able to sign his name and Jane had acquired the skill to write her name as well. William was a free settler and had travelled to Sydney as a sailor on the Mary Ann. There were no children born to Jane by either marriage. In 1818 Dyer was listed as a member of the crew of the ship Mary & Elizabeth, leaving Sydney “bound for Macquarie Island, New Zealand & thence back to Port Jackson”, however in 1822 he remained in Sydney with Jane as a settler. Although there is no record of Jane, who was still a prisoner, breaking any laws or causing concern to warrant a punishment, she was assigned to work for Mr Throsby in the Argyle district about 1823. She was listed as the wife of Dyer at Bringelly in 1825 while William was shown as residing in Sydney, and the couple may have separated for a short time. In 1828 the couple lived at Wallis Plains (Maitland) and William was a farmer, with twelve acres. Jane did not have her freedom and her status remained as a convict, 25 years after her trial. It is not known where or when Jane Dyer (nee Ruth, formerly Tiffin) died. Notes from the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on tbeth3370@gmail.com for further info

Level 75

iain Frazier on 9th December 2024

Family connections for Jane (Ruth) are: RUTH Jane (Ruth) was born about 1785. She was tried probably at Old Bailey, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 28 7 1814 after a voyage of 7months on BROXBORNEBURY. She married firstly William (Dyer) of Sydney on 18 2 1822 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She is recorded in 1828 with her husband at Wallis Plains.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] William (Dyer) was born about 1802/4. He was tried at Southampton Quarter Sessions Hampshire, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 31 12 1820 after a voyage of 4.5months on ELIZABETH. He is recorded in 1828 with his wife at Wallis Plains. He is recorded on this Website as being buried on 4 12 1826 age22 at Parramatta & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. [Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Jane (Ruth) married secondly Andrew (Tiffin) on 27 4 1815 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. Andrew (Tiffi/en) was born about 1788. He was tried w/1other for breaking & entering, on 1 3 1809, premises of William (Salmon) at parish St Luke London at probably Old Bailey on 12 4 1809, sentenced to hanging reprieved to Life, held at Newgate gaol, a hulk at Woolwich & hulk CEYLON at Sheerness River Medway Kent & arrived in NSW as a convict on 16 12 1810 after a voyage of 6.5months on INDIAN. He returned to England, where he was recaptured at Middlesex. He was tried for escaping & returning to UK at Old Bailey in 1812, sentenced again to hanging reprieved to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 2 1814 after a voyage of 6months on GENERAL HEWETT. This Website records he was a tanner in 1815; however, Smees marriage records show he was a farmer when he married Jane (Ruth) in 1815. In 1816 he was a labourer & ran away from authorities-he had dark complexion a little pock marked dark brown hair hazel eyes. [Some details taken from both arrivals on this Website] 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.

Level 48

jennifer burgess on 28th July 2022

Jane married William Dyer 1822. On 1828 census with William at Wallis Plains. No children