Elizabeth King

53

Beth Taylor on 2nd October 2019

KING, Elizabeth (c1787-?) Tried - 16 Sept 1812 Middlesex (Old Bailey) Elizabeth, aged 25, pleaded guilty to stealing a counterpane (quilt) in 1812, before the Court in London. The witness, Mr Carr, a shoemaker from Red Lion Street, Holborn spoke to Elizabeth, who said she was looking for someone and she left after Carr said there was no- one of that name living there. After hearing a door close he ran downstairs and saw Elizabeth with his quilt in her arms. Her defence was that she had been drinking and did not know how she came by it. Elizabeth had been a fancy trimmer in the dressmaking trade and she was sentenced to 7 years transportation to New South Wales. King was first sent to the Colony in 1812 on the Emu and finally reached Sydney in 1814 on the ship Broxbornebury. On her arrival, Elizabeth was housed at the Female Factory at Parramatta. Nothing more is known about her life until March 1821, when Elizabeth was admitted to Sydney Gaol with a sentence of one month for an unknown crime. Elizabeth should have been a free woman in September 1819 and received a Certificate of Freedom, having served her full term as a convict. The only record found for her emancipation was issued in 1828, nine years later and most likely was a replacement copy. Nothing further is known about Elizabeth King and she does not appear to have married or had children. BC: 1787 [Trial] or 1780 [Indent] Sentenced: 16/09/1812 Middlesex [see trial record] to 7 years transportation Crime: Forgery Previous Occupation: Fancy trimmer Age on Convict Indent: 34 Ticket of Leave 939 (indent) 1812 - ELIZABETH KING, Theft > grand larceny, 16th September 1812. 809. ELIZABETH KING was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 18th of August, a counterpane value 2 s. the property of James Carr. JAMES CARR. I am a shoe-maker. I live in Red Lion-street, Holborn. I lost my counterpane on the 18th of August. The prisoner came up and asked for a name I did not know. I told her there was no such person there. She went back. I thought I heard her on the stairs, and I heard a room door shut to. I jumped down stairs. I saw a counterpane on her arm. I looked in the room. I saw the counterpane was gone. I took the counterpane from her. This is the counterpane. It is mine. Prisoner's Defence. I was in liquor. I did not know how I came by that counterpane. GUILTY, aged 25. Transported for Seven Years. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder. (Source: Old Bailey on-line www.oldbaileyonline.org ) ALSO ON SHIP EMU IN 1812 1814 Muster: Eliza Keen (sic) Arrived per Broxbornebury, Status: C (Convict); Occupation/Residence &c: Factory, Mustered at Parramatta; Victualling: On Stores 1821, 7 March – Elizabeth KING per Broxbornebury, was listed in the Entrance Book to Sydney Gaol, sentenced by William Minchin Esq., to one month in gaol “on good allowance (behaviour?)”, dated 07/03/1821. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930. Series 2514; Item 4/6360 ; Roll 850) 1822, 1823-5 Musters: No record found. 1828 Census: No record found. 1828 – Elizabeth KING per Broxbornebury 1814, tried Middlesex GD 16/09/1812, 7 years, received her COF on 10/07/1828. No description given. [Note: why did she need a COF in 1828 as her sentence had expired in 1819? Was this a replacement?] (Source: SRNSW Certificate of Freedom, 28/0649; 4/4294; Reel 983) No record found for marriage or death of Elizabeth King on the NSW BDM records. 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