Elizabeth Yates

44

John McGowan on 22nd January 2023

The contribution on 6 June 2019 from Linsay Watt is correct - see Scotsman 24 March 1847 p 4 on 'High Court of Justiciary'. The case was Legally reported in Arkley (1849) Reports of Cases before the High Court and Circuit Courts of Justiciary in Scotland, during the Years 1846-7-8, pp 238-241 for Case No. 50 dated 20 March 1847 HMA -V- Elizabeth Yates. During her March 1847 trial it was disclosed that she had been employed at a pottery works in Leith, but discharged, whereby she became extreme destitute. She has gone to Blackburn (West Lothian) to obtain assistance from her father (unnamed and not disclosed). On 4 February 1847 she and her sister called at Leith Police Station and admitted the murder of her child - She had 'stripped the child and held it under the water til dead, then threw it in'. The dead child was recovered at Blyth's Bridge, Union Canal by Leith Criminal Officer James Grant and Sheriff Officer George Ferguson. Although found guilty of murder and sentence to death on 10 April 1847, the Jury recommended Mercy and was subsequently transported for life. See also McGowan, John (2022) Policing the Metropolis of Scotland, 1833-1861 (Edinburgh City Archives) Volume 1, pp 1500-1501

33

Don Weston on 18th July 2021

Ticket of Leave 15Aug 1854. Certificate of Pardon received 12 Dec 1865. Conditional Pardon 7 Apr 1868. Died 15 Mar 1892 Hobart age 69.

33

Don Weston on 18th July 2021

Un-named Male (AOT 300475) Born Hobart 9 Oct 1855 (RGD33 REG 622) Un-named Male (AOT 300472) (William) Born Hobart 2 Apr 1862 (RGD33 REG 5157) Un-named Male (AOT 300478) (Joseph) Born Hobart 23 Oct 1864 (RGD33 REG 7289)

174

Iris Dunne on 7th June 2019

Conduct Record: Tried 17 March 1847 for Child murder, Single, aged 24, Height 4/11, Trade: Laundress & Housemaid, Conditional Pardon approved 7 April 1868 https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON41-1-17$init=CON41-1-17p173 Description List: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON19-1-6$init=CON19-1-6P127 Indent: Aged 24, Trade: Plain Laundress & House Servant, Tried 19 March 1847, Single, Presbyterian, Can read & write, Offence: Found drowning a child 10 years old...discovered by the Canal man, father of child - William McIntyre https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON15-1-4$init=CON15-1-4P324 https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON15-1-4$init=CON15-1-4P325 Marriage Permissions date 18 September 1849 to Henry Weston from the ship Bangalore 1848 https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON52-1-3$init=CON52-1-3p174 Birth of Henry Weston 26 August 1851 - Parents Henry Weston & Elizabeth Yates https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-4$init=RGD33-1-4-p401 Birth of Phoebe Weston 19 June 1853 in Hobart - Parents Henry Weston & Elizabeth Yates https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-4$init=RGD33-1-4-p582 Birth of Samuel Edmund Weston 9 September 1857 in Hobart - Parents Henry Weston & Elizabeth Yates https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-7$init=RGD33-1-7p19 Birth of John Weston 14 November 1859 in Hobart - Parents Henry Weston & Elizabeth Yates https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-7$init=RGD33-1-7p260

4

Lindsay Watt on 6th June 2019

Betsy Yates was convicted on the20th March 1847 of drowning her 9 month old son, Murdoch Macintyre. She was sentenced to hang, but was commuted to transportation for life. You can access the press report of her trial in the Scotsman archives, which you can access free through the national library of Scotland. I'm researching this case and will write it up. If you have any info email me at lmwhome@gmail.com