Ellen Parker

221

D Wong on 3rd July 2018

Ellen Parker was born at Shoreham - she was transported for 'Stealing a pair of half boots'. She had 9 previous convictions. Ellen was 5'2" tall, fair complexion, brown hair, light blue eyes, literate, unmarried with 1 child, 2 years on the town, P. W. and 5 dots on left hand, HP on left arm, J. ? on right arm. 31/1/1849: Permission to marry James Goldsworthy (Sir Charles Forbes 1830 - now free) - No registration found. 10/2/1849 From the Hobarton Gluardian - Edited.. Ellen Parker was charged by Joseph Hands, a constable with misconduct, in using bad language, and refusing to go to the factory after a sentence being passed upon her of three months. This woman was very violent in the court - the Magistrate thought she was drunk. Ellen fell over in the witness box and was carried out of the court by 3 constables. Later in her cell she appeared as if she had been in a drinking fit. 17/2/1849 Habarton Guardian, Hobart: SUDDEN DEATH.__Our readers may recollect the report given from the police of Wednesday, the 7th instant, in the case of Ellen Parker, recently sentenced to nine months for contempt of court, and abusive language. Her conduct on the occasion was represented as most violent__and it certainly was, but the poor woman having now "passed that bourne when no travellers returns" it is evident, ad Dr. Bright informed the Police Magistrate in the Police Office on Wednesday, during gthe examination of Russell, that the unfortunate female was seriously suffering from violent mental excitement, and that this affecting disease preying on a deranged constitution, occasioned the unhappy girls premature death, which occured on the morning of the 14the inst. 15/2/1849 The Britannia and Trades' Advocate, Hobart: INQUEST. An inquest was held on Tuesday last on the body of Ellen Parker, late inmate at the Female Factory. Esther N'Intyre sworn : — It is my duty to assist in giving the women their meals. I saw deceased in her room yesterday morning apparently quite well. I served her with her dinner about half-past twelve. She was looking out of the bars over the door, "when I took it her she thanked me. When I returned in about ten minutes she was lying on her face on tho floor. saw the side of her ear was black. I was frightened and called out for help. I opened the door of the next apartment and let out Mary Ann Little and sent for Mr-. Livingstone. She had refused to go into the cell on Sunday. There was no violence used to put her in it. To Mis. Hutchinson who coaxed her in, she said she wanted to go into a dungeon where she could not see anything. The deceased was a woman of very violent temper. Mrs. Livingstone superintended the No. 2 range of separate cells. Mary Ann Little sworn: — I was in the next cell to Ellen Parker. Yesterday she spoke to me in "a very childish' manner and was checked by Mrs. Livingston. About 12 o'clock she nsked me if I had my dinner. Soon after M'Intyre called out that Parker was dead and opened the door of my cell. She was laying on her face on the floor. I tried to lift her, hut could not. Her pulse beat a little. I was frightened and did not hear 'any noise in her cell. Other evidence was taken corroborating the above. Doctor Seccombe stated that he had made a post mortem examination. There was no mark of violence. " I should say that she died of apoplexy- There was every appearance of her having been in a fit. Violent excitement will produce them." It appeared from other evidence that the deceased had received permission to marry, and that she had since received a long sentence to the Factory, which preyed on her mind. Verdict died from natural causes whilst in a fit of apoplexy. The inquest was held before A. B. Jones. Esq., und a jury consisting of Messrs. Dudgeon (Foreman), Prentis, Kidler, Feuton, Graham, Birch, and Teague.

26

Susan Robinson on 3rd July 2018

Inquest held 13/ 02 /1849 Into Death Finding 'Seizure'