Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Elizabeth Matthews was transported on the Kitty, departing 31st Dec 1791 and arriving 18th Nov 1792 with 32 passengers.
The 'Kitty' merchant built ship at Sunderland in 1787. In 1790 she carried slaves from the Gold Coast to Jamaica. Then in 1792 she transported convicts and goods from England to New South Wales, Australia. Voyage to Australia: After leaving England in March 1792 she sprung a leak and had to return to Spithead for repairs, departing again in April. 8 of the 10 male prisoners escaped. Only 30 female convicts, 3 died during the voyage. Carried supplies of stores and provisions for the Colony.
Kitty (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 173 (87) |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
Anothere Reference is: Pamela Statham 'A Colonial Regiment-New Sources Relating to the New South Wales Corps-1789-1810'
Another Reference is:
Family connections for Elizabeth (Matthews) are: Some amendments added Sep 2025. MATTHEWS maybe related: A Ann (Matthews), third child of 7 born to Mathew (Matthews born 1730) & Ann (Smith born 1735), was born on 11 4 1762 at Enfield London. She was tried for breaking entering & stealing, on 7 10 1791, table spoons etc of John Lewis (Andre) at Old Bailey on 17/26 10 1791, sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & hulks & arrived in NSW as a convict on 18 11 1792 after a voyage of 10.5months on KITTY; she was 5'4" fair complexion-pockmarked light brown hair. She was Free by Servitude by 1809. She associated with John (Wood) & produced 5children. She died on 24 12 1819 age57 & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney. [Some details taken from this website] John (Wood) was tried at Yorkshire West Riding Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship ALBERMARLE. He was Free by Servitude by 1798. [Some details taken from this website: where 6John (Wood)s are shown in this Fleet.] B Elizabeth (Matthews) was born about 1763. She was tried w/1other for stealing a watch, on 12 6 1791, of James (Blake) at Old Bailey on 20 7 1791, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 18 11 1792 after a voyage of 10.5months on KITTYalso. She married firstly Michael (Doyle) on 18 6 1793 at St Johns CofE Parramatta-although Smees records show her arriving in 1793 on BELLONA.>>> [Some details taken from this website] Michael (Doyle) was tried w/4others for stealing a wooden boat, on 20 1 1787, of Thomas (Williams) at Old Bailey (Justice Hall) on 21 2 1787, sentenced to 7years, held probably at London or Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW a convict on 9 7 1791 after a journey of 7months on Fleet ship ALBEMARLE. [Some details taken from this website] .. >>>Elizabeth (Matthews) was named Elizabeth (Matthews/Doyle) when she associated secondly with Charles (Grimes his second relationship). She was Free by Servitude by 1800. [Noted an Elizabeth (Matthews 1793 KITTY is recorded as dying on 15 9 1793 & buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta-due to the incorrect arrival date shown for KITTY, this person could be the person who arrived on BELLONA 1793-or vice versa] She produced 1known child in her lifetime. Charles (Grimes) became a surveyor. He arrived in NSW on 21 9 1791 after a voyage of 8months on HMS GORGON. He had a first relationship with Elizabeth (Walker/Allen).>>> [Elizabeth (Walker aka Allen) was tried at Surrey Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 10 1792 after a voyage of 4months on ROYAL ADMIRAL.] [Noted an Elizabeth (Allen) is recorded as dyimg on 7 2 1803 & buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney] [Some details taken from this website] [Charles (Grimes) & Elizabeth (Walker/Allen) produced 1child:] [1.John (Grimes) was born on 4 6 1796 & baptised on 25 6 1796 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was a master mariner when he married firstly Mary Ann (Atkinson) on 2 8 1825 at St James CofE Sydney.>>>] [..Mary Ann (Atkinson) was born about 1801. She arrived free in 1824 on LANG.] .. [>>>John (Grimes) had a second relationship with Mary (Morrison). He died on 25 5 1828 age32- father of 2known children.] [..Mary Hyndes (Morrison) was born on 12 3 1804 seemingly in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) & baptised on 10 6 1810 age10 w/Charlotte at St Phillips CofE Sydney.] [..Details of Mary Hyndes (Morrison)s family are given just below.] .. [..John (Grimes) & Mary (Morrison) produced 2children:] [..1.Catherine (Grimes) was born on 9 8 1825 in Sydney & baptised on 9 2 1827 age18m at St Marys RC Sydney.] {..2.James (Grimes) was born on 15 7 1826 at Parramatta & baptised on 1 8 1826 at St Marys RC Sydney. [a James (Grimes) who came free is recorded as off stores in Hobart Town on 2 10 1818] .. >>>Charles (Grimes) was sent to Norfolk Island on 11 11 1791 as Deputy Surveyor. He surveyed the island, particularly the lands taken up by soldiers for personal use. After 1792 he purchased 60acres on Norfolk Island for 47lb. He releasd,in 1794, his survey map of settlers lots in area from Sydney Bay to Phillipsburg. He may have been the surveyor & Surveyor General who measured new farms at Hawkesbury about 1800-2. He produced 2known children in his lifetime. Elizabeth (Matthews) & Charles (Grimes) produced 1child: 1.George (Grimes) was born in 1800 & baptised on 20 4 1800 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 21 12 1854 age about54. MORRISON George (Morrison) was born about 1771. He married Mary (???). He enlisted in NSW Corps on 3 9 1796 in UK as Corporal. He arrived in NSW as a soldier with his wife on 20 11 1800 after a voyage of 9months on ROYAL ADMIRAL; he was detached to (Abbot)s company then Johnston)s company as private. He was sent with (Johnston)s company to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) in 1803. In 1805 he was at Headquarters (Sydney?) until 1807 when he was at South Head. He was moved from (Johnston)s company to (Steele)s company in 1808 & was promoted to corporal on 25 7 1808. In 1809 he was transferred to 5Company & in 1810 to Veterans company. He was still a private with Veterans Co when he died in 18 2 1813 age41 at Windsor & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor. Mary (???) arrived in NSW with her husband on 20 11 1800 after a voyage of 9months on ROYAL ADMIRAL. George (Morrison) & Mary (???) produced 5children: 1.William (Morrison) was born on 16 9 1801 & baptised on 3 1 1802 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 2.Mary Hyndes (Morrison) was born on 12 3 1804 seemingly in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) & baptised on 10 6 1810 age10 w/Charlotte at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She had a first relationship with John (Grimes his second relationship).>>> ..John (Grimes) was born on 4 6 1796 & baptised on 25 6 1796 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was a master mariner when he married firstly Mary Ann (Atkinson) on 2 8 1825 at St James CofE Sydney. He died on 25 5 1828 age32- father of 2known children.] ..Details of John (Grimes)s family are given just above. .. >>>Mary (Robinson) married secondly George (Glew) nailer on 13 3 1826 at St James CofE Sydney. George (Glew) was born about 1803. He was tried at Derby Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW on 19 10 1819 after a voyage of 4.5months on ATLAS. He was a nailer in 1826 [Some details taken from this Website] .. 3.Charlotte (Morrison) was born on 18 1 1807 & baptised on 10 6 1810 age3 w/Mary Hyndes at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She died on 8 2 1811 age4 & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 4.George (Morrison) was born on 13 10 1809 & baptised on 5 11 1809 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 5.Ann (Morrison) was born in 1810. She died on 18 4 1810 age <4m & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney. References: 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. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land'
Old Bailey Online ANN PEARSON. ELIZABETH MATTHEWS. Theft; pocketpicking. 20th July 1791 Text type Trial account Defendants ANN PEARSON, ELIZABETH MATTHEWS Offences Theft > Pocketpicking Session Date 20th July 1791 Reference Number t17910720-26 Verdicts Guilty Punishments Transportation 295. ANN PEARSON and ELIZABETH MATTHEWS were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 12th of June , one watch, with an inside and outside case, made of silver, value 40 s. one steel watch chain, value 3 d. one metal watch key, value 1 d. one guinea and half a crown in money, the property and money of James Blake , privily from his person . (The witnesses examined separate.) JAMES BLAKE sworn. I am a Taylor . Are you a single man? - No. On Sunday, the 12th of June, about eleven o'clock at night, I was rather in liquor, but I was sober enough to know what I was about. Going along Barbican three girls were standing together, and the middle one, Ann Pearson , took me by the arm, and we walked till we came to the end of a court. I cannot say the other prisoner was one of the three. When we came to the end of the court, she persuaded me to go up the court with her; I think it is Fig-tree-court ; being rather in liquor, I gave way to her persuasions; I had not been there long before I found myself robbed of my watch and money. Did you go into a room with her? - No, I did not, I only went into the court. Was any other girl in the court? - Not in my company, my Lord. What sort of watch was it? - It was a silver watch, with a steel chain, a metal key; I lost besides a guinea and a half crown; I did not perceive her take these things, I missed the things before I left her; my watch was in my fob, and the guinea and half crown in my pocket. I had a pair of nankeen breeches on. Was these breeches down at all? - They were not. When did you last see your watch? - I felt it in my pocket a quarter of an hour before I missed it. Have you ever recovered it? - It is in the constable's possession. When did you last see your money? - I felt it in my pocket in a quarter of an hour before I lost it. Was that all the money you had? - No, it was not, I had a guinea and 2 s. besides, which I lost also, but this guinea and 2 s. when I came to the watch-house, I found was put into my coat pocket, by some means or other. When you missed this money and watch, had you left the woman or the court? - Neither, I stopped her at the instant. Was any other woman near her? - There was another woman came up the court, that she spoke to, but I did not know who it was. Was she within her reach? - Yes, she was. Was the prisoner at the bar the other woman? - I cannot say that. Did you see her give any thing to the other woman? - I did not. You did not feel the money go at any time? - I did not. Was the money in a purse? - It was not. Now we all know that at this time breeches are made pretty tight, could it be possible so any person to take your watch and money out of your pocket, and you not feel it? - So it was, I did not. Then you was tolerably drunk? - I was the worse for liquor. Prisoner Pearson. As you was so drunk, how can you know I was the woman? - I am quite sure of it, I was sober enough for that. HUGH ANDERSON sworn. I am a watch-maker, on the 12th of July (I am constable of the ward) the prosecutor brings Ann Pearson by the arm to the watch-house door, and said he had been robbed about eleven o'clock by that woman and two more in company; I searched her, and found there was no watch. When I got into Bridgewater-gardens I saw Elizabeth Matthews sitting. What distance is between the two places? - About two hundred yards. As soon as she saw me and the watchman, she got up, and ran; she had got a young fellow with her that she lives with. I went after her, and putting my arms round her to stop her from going into a house where she was running to, I put my hand upon the watch; I had just before seen her with Ann Pearson and another. I brought her to the watch-house, and the prosecutor owned the watch, and told the name and number: this might be a quarter of an hour after the man was robbed. (The watch produced, and deposed to by the maker's name and number.) EDMUND HAMILTON sworn, The watchman, confirmed the above account. PRISONER PEARSON's DEFENCE. The prosecutor was in liquor, and he asked me to give way to his wishes; I said no, not without money; and as I was a loose woman of the town he gave me the watch to keep, and after he had to say to me he wanted it again, and in that scuffle I dropped it. Prosecutor. I did not give her the watch, I gave her money. Anderson. I saw a guinea and a half in his pocket. Prisoner Matthews. I found the watch, it was a moonlight night. ANN PEARSON , ELIZABETH MATTHEWS , GUILTY . Transported for seven years . Tried by the London Jury before Mr. RECORDER.