Ellen Storrs

48

Naomi Parsons on 19th January 2026

The Storrs family lived at Melling, a Lune Valley village near Lancaster. Documents show the family were in poverty and had been removed from nearby parishes for becoming a burden on the ratepayers. Times were clearly hard enough for Mary, age 52 and her adult children Ellen (Eleanor), 30 and Edward, 18 who stole milk. All three were arrested and sent to the Quarter Sessions at Lancaster Castle in October 1800. Found guilty, the family were each sentenced to 7 years transportation. The family awaited the long journey to the south coast in the gaol at Lancaster Castle. Ellen was sent first in May 1801 along with two young Manchester women; she was given £2 and 13 shillings to buy clothes and provisions for her new life and was put aboard the Nile, a ship which travelled in convoy with two other male convict ships. Next to go was Mary in September 1802, she was sent along with a number of other prisoners and put aboard the Glatton which transported both male and female convicts, her journey to Australia via Rio de Janeiro also took six months, arriving in March 1803. Edward was the last to leave Lancaster. In April 1803, he was sent to the prison hulks moored at Woolwich where he was held onboard the Retribution. A different turn of fate though meant he was offered a pardon in January 1804 on condition he served in the army. In Australia, Ellen soon found herself pregnant to free convict John Gost/Guest (ship- William & Ann), having a child she named after her brother, Edward. No marriage took place between Ellen and John as John died either shortly before or after Edward's birth. By 1805, Ellen, now a washerwoman had begun a common law relationship with John Holmes (ship- Gorgon), a carpenter and now free, former convict who she raised her son with. She received her certificate of freedom in Feb 1811. The years passed, relatively peacefully but by 1815 John and Ellen had separated and he had sold his house and livestock on Upper Castlereagh Street to her. In January 1826, Ellen posted in the paper that John was trying to sell the house and livestock which was legally hers and that she would take anyone to court who tried to buy her property. Ellen died the same year, aged 58 in November 1826.

105

Denis Pember on 8th March 2016

In the colony, Ellen had a de facto relationship with John Gost or Goss (Convict, William and Ann, 1791). They had a son, Edward Stores born in 1803. Then in about 1805 she commenced a relationship with John Holmes (Convict, Gorgon, 1791). The couple appear not to have had any children, but do appear in several musters... 1806... [A4171] Allen Stowers, Nile, ticket of leave, Protestant, with John Holmes, carpenter. [A1882] Holmes, John, carpenter, self employed, free by servitude. 1822... John Holmes, free by servitude, Gorgon, 7 years Eleanor Stores, free by servitude, Nile, 7 years, wife. Edward Holmes, 20, born in the colony, son. Then in 1825, she is with her sister Mary... Storrs, Ellen, free by servitude, Nile, 1801, 7 years, washerwoman, Sydney. Storrs, Edward, 20, born in the colony, son of Ellen Storrs, Sydney. Storrs, Mary, free by servitude, Glatton, 1803, 7 years, wife of George Gambling, Sydney. Gambling, George, free by servitude, Barwell, 1798, 14 years, landholder, Sydney.

105

Denis Pember on 8th March 2016

Ellen and Mary Stores, described as "singlwomen" and Edward Stores described as a labourer were all convicted for the same crime at Melling Parish, Lancaster at the Michaelmas Sessions of 1800. It is assumed here that they were siblings. Transcript of Lancaster Quarter sessions: Mary Storrs, Ellen Storrs and Edward Storrs of Melling parish, Lancashire Michaelmas Sessions 1800... Drawing indictment for stealing milk... Whereas Ellen Storrs, late of the parish of Melling, in the said county, singlewoman, hath at this sessions been convicted of felony, this court doth therefore order and adjudge that the said Ellen Storrs shall be sent and transported to some part beyond the shore for the space of seven years... Whereas Mary Storrs, late of the parish of Melling, in the said county, singlwoman, hath this session been convicted of felony...seven years... Whereas Edward Storrs, late of the parish of Melling, in the said county, labourer, hath at this session been convicted of felony...seven years. ... the prosecution of Mary Storrs, Ellen Storrs and Edward Storrs at this session for felony for doing which this shall be said receivers warrant.