Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Elizabeth Wreay was transported on the Brothers, departing 20th Nov 1823 and arriving 5th Apr 1824 with 91 passengers.
Brothers (generic)References
| Primary Source | Cumberland Pacquet, and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser - Monday 21 October 1822 |
| 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 |
Claims
"My 5x great aunt- from a Traveller family from Northumberland, who settled in Cumbria."
Photos
No photos have been added for Elizabeth Wreay.
Convict Notes
"Cumberland Sessions. The sessions for this county commenced at Penrith this Tuesday last (15/10/1822)...Elizabeth Reay alias Wreay, for stealing a pair of shoes at Edenhall- to be transported 7 years. There were also 3 indictments against this person..." Part of a large Traveller family, originally from Northumberland, the Reays had settled near to Penrith in Cumberland. Elizabeth had been caught stealing a pair of shoes from Edenhall village and at the October Quarter Sessions at Penrith in 1822 was sentenced to seven years transportation. . Elizabeth had been pregnant and gave birth in jail at Carlisle Castle. She travelled with her baby, Martha. She was in trouble, whilst onboard the ship, Brothers- being described by the surgeon as both 'bad' and 'mutinous', 'cavorting after hours with the crew and other women'. . After arrival, she was assigned to 'country work' and she was recorded by 1825 as a milker and makes butter. She was described as being 5ft 3, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a brown complexion (olive skinned), she was a Catholic. . Whether fate was telling Elizabeth something, it seems ironic, considering her crime that she ended up marrying a shoemaker, William Grose at Parramatta in 1826. William was almost twenty years her senior and had been convicted back in 1808 and was long since free. In 1829 Elizabeth received her own certificate of freedom. They went on to have nine children together and lived a long and successful life together in Parramatta. Elizabeth died 8 years after her husband at the age of 62 in May 1867 from natural causes at Parramatta. Her family are buried at St John's Cemetery Parramatta. An administrative error in the spelling of her surname at her death means it is not possible to confirm she is also here, though the dates of death are correct so Elizabeth is almost certainly buried here too.
New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Brothers - 1824 Indent No; 1 Name; Elizabeth Wreay Trade or calling; Milks & makes butter Trial where & Date; Penville - About 2 years ago Sentence; 7 years Age; Year of birth; 1805 Native Place; Northumberland Height; 5 ft. 3 1/2 in Eyes; Lt. Brown Hair; Dk. Brown Completion; Brunett Remarks [Behaviour on board ship] Mutinous Additional remarks noted against name; Has one CHILD 1 year old with her mother. Catholic 1829 - 4 Nov. Certificate of Freedom. 29/995. Trade; Farm Servant. Wife of William Groose, Parramatta ----------------
New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, Main Series of Letters Received. Offence; Petty Larceny Age; 18
1828 census at Parramatta. William Grose, age 40, F.S. A. Gambier, 1808, 7 years, protestant, shoemaker. Elizabeth Grose, 22, G. S., Brothers, 1823, 7 years, wife. William Grose, jun., Born in colony, age 8 months. son Martha Ray, age 3 Born in colony, protestant, daughter of Elizth, Parramatta.
Involved in a 'mutiny' with several other female convicts and sailors(who were covorting after hours). Reported by James Hall the ship surgeon.Travelled with a child born in gaol. Married William Grose a shoemaker in Parramatta and had 10 more children. Died in 1867.