Elizabeth Selwyn

54

Phil Hands on 4th August 2017

Tried and convicted in Gloucestershire on 11th January 1791 for burglary and stealing goods to the value of 32 shillings and 6 pence, sentenced to 7 years transportation. Left England on 178th July 1791. Ship:- the 'Pitt' sailed with 352 male and 58 female convicts on board of which 20 males and 5 females died during the voyage and 5 male convicts were reported to have escaped. Arrived on 14th February 1792. On arrival she was assigned to Thomas Rowley, to whom she bore 6 children, the last one, Henry, born in 1806 after the death of Thomas at Petersham, on 27th May. Elizabeth would have been the formative influnece on the children, as Thomas died when they were young. His main contribution may well have to leave them the Sydney properties. One of the provisions of Thomas Rowley's will was that "so long as the said Elizabeth Selwyn shall continue solo and unmarried and does not live in a state of cohabitation with any man then she shall be entitled to and receive one sixth share". In the Calendar of the Prisoners in the County Gaol for the Epiphany Sessions, 11th January, 1791, it is recorded that Elizabeth Selwyn was aged 18 and her companion, who was found not guilty, 16. They were committed for trial by "P. Hawker, Clerk" on 14th December, 1790 on suspicion of stealing – "grand larceny and burglary" - with Elizabeth Selwyn convicted of the lesser crime of grand larceny at the Lent Assizes, 1791. According to the record, she was sentenced "to be transported beyond the seas for seven years." The indictment reads:- "Gloucestershire - The Jurors for our Lord the King upon their Oath present that Elizabeth Selwyn /Guilty of the simple felony only - To be transported beyond the seas for seven years late of the parish of Cherrington in the county of Gloucester spinster and Elizabeth Evans Not guilty late of the same spinster on the fifteenth day of September in the thirtieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third King of Great Britain etc about the hour of one in the Night of the same day at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid being in the Dwelling House of one James Brown there situate one cotton gown of the value of fourteen shillings four yards of striped serge of the value of five shillings two pairs of women's shoes of the value of three shillings one woman's hat of the value of sixpence one serge cloak of the value of three shillings one pair of scissors of the value of sixpence one linen shift of the value of one shilling one holland shirt of the value of two shillings two pairs of stockings of the value of two shillings three linen caps of the value of three shillings and two yards of ribband of the value of sixpence of the goods and chattels of the said James Brown in the said Dwelling House then and there being with force and arms feloniously did steal take and carry away and that the said Elizabeth Selwyn and Elizabeth Evans being so as aforesaid in the said Dwelling House and having committed the Felony aforesaid in manner and form aforesaid They the said Elizabeth Selwyn and Elizabeth Evans afterwards to wit on the same day and year aforesaid about the Hour of two in the Night of the same day with force and Arms at the Parish aforesaid the same Dwelling House then and there feloniously and burglariously did break to get out of the same against the form of the statute in such Case made and provided and against the peace of our said Lord the King his Crown and Dignity.

2

Murray Parsonage on 2nd June 2012

Married Captain Thomas Rowley 1747-1806 Elizabeth died Kingston Farm, Newtown and is buried in the Briggs family vault at Waverley cemetery