Elizabeth Taylor

110

Ron Garbutt on 20th March 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 20 March 2020), May 1828, trial of ELIZABETH TAYLOR (t18280529-187). ELIZABETH TAYLOR, Theft > pocketpicking, 29th May 1828. 1265. ELIZABETH TAYLOR was indicted for stealing, on the 10th of May , 1 handkerchief, value 3s.; 1 pencil-case, value 3s., and 7s. 6d., the property of George Best , from his person . GEORGE BEST. I am waiter at the Woolpack tavern, St. Peter's-alley, Cornhill, but having a bad hand I left, and was at my mother's in Duke-street, Union-street. On the 10th of May, about eight o'clock in the evening, I was coming down George-yard, Whitechapel , on my way home; the prisoner laid hold of my arm three different times, as I wished to shun her; she asked me to go home with her - I said No, I was in a hurry, and did not want to be detained: I got to the end of George-yard, and saw a mob; I turned down a court - she came to me again, pushed me in at a door; and from nine to fifteen of them dragged me in, shut the door, knocked me down, and took away everything I had; they took it forcibly out of my pockets; the door opened into a room; I do not know who shut it - I am quite positive she is one of them, and she took my money out of my waistcoat pocket - I had 7s. 6d. there. I got up as soon as I could, and got out at the door- I went to the patrol, and we took her in about half an hour, going into a pawnbroker's in High-street, Whitechapel; I could not find any of the others. THOMAS YEARLEY . I am a patrol. A few minutes before eight o'clock on the 10th of May, Best applied to me- we found the prisoner in about half an hour, going into a pawnbroker's; I found 6d. in copper on her, but nothing else; Best persisted in her being the girl; he was perfectly sober - he pointed her out to me. Prisoner's Defence. I met him in Whitechapel; he asked where I was going; he followed me to the house, and gave me 6d.; they wanted another 6d. for the room - he would not give it, and went out. GEORGE BEST. I did not go with her, or give her anything. GUILTY . Aged 16. Transported for Life . https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18280529-187

106

Carol Axton-Thompson on 18th December 2012

Tasmanian Archive record definitely states term of sentence as "Life" (link above, page 176). CCC Middlesex 29/05/1828 (case should be Old Bailey online). Single; nursery maid; 16yrs; Protestant; can read; 4'8 1/2"; fair complexion; lt brown hair; blue eyes. Lived with parents, father John Taylor a blacksmith on Bethnal Green Road. Several records of misconduct and punishments. Served time in both Launceston and Cascades Hobart Female Factories. Had her Ticket of Leave by 1836 but suspended in 1837 for 1mth. Received a Conditional Pardon in 1845. Married William (k/a Jeremiah) Smith (convict per Phoenix) on 15/05/1830. Ref. 1415/1830-36/1 Hobart. 3 children of this marriage.

7

Debbie Dixon on 17th December 2012

Elizabeth was transported to Van Diemans Land in 1828. She was possibly born in London. Her trial was held in the Old Bailey. She married another convict Jeremiah William Smith and had three children. Jeremiah and the children went to NSW. Elizabeth came to Victoria around 1847. She married another convict Samuel Bennett and had three children to him, but only two sons survived. They were married in Richmond Vic and later moved to Pound Bend via Mildura Vic where she died aged 75 years.