Thomas Elliott (abt. 1841 - 1902)

Born about 1841 in Dublin, Ireland

Husband of Hannah Harriet Hilton (Greaves) Elliott — married 21 Sep 1870 in Busselton, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 15 May 1902 at about age 61 in Greenbushes, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

Thomas was born in Dublin around 1841, his parents Thomas Elliott and Mary Ann Riley.

He was most likely christened at the church of St Michael and St John, near the river, in April 1841. His godparents were William Elliot and Ann Rorke. The mother's surname is not given.

By Dec 1843, the family had moved to Maidstone, Kent where his sister was born. They were living on Waterloo Lane. The informant is his mother, Mary Ann Elliott, formerly Riley.

By August 1848 the family were living in Southwark, London when Mary Ann was christened in Bermondsey at Our Lady de la Salette and St Joseph. His sister Margaret was christened the next month but died days later. Their address on the burial index is Great Maze Court.

The family are living at 15 Great Maze Court on the 1841 census. Thomas and his parents are born in Ireland. Like his father, Thomas is a basket maker. There are also Mary Ann, Edward and Robert.

Thomas was convicted in August 1855, although I haven't been able to track details on this.

His father was possibly admitted to the Southwark Workhouse in Dec 1855, but there is not enough information to be sure.

Thomas was convicted in June 1865, again no details.

On the 13th September 1858, 17 year old Thomas was taken into custody for a burglary on the 4th at the dwelling place of grocer, Charles Kempsey in London Rd, Bermondsey (Oliver Twist territory). Another boy, John Donovan was also arrested - they were described as smart looking lads in the papers. They were held at Wandsworth before being moved to Newgate.

At the trial on the 20th September at the Old Bailey, Mr Kempsey testified that he had seen both boys before and recognised them. In fact he said Elliott had been in his shop Saturday afternoon buying apples. He heard a noise and came downstairs and saw Donavan cutting a hole in a pane of glass, he saw Elliott in the kitchen at a chest of drawers. He chased both boys into the yard and they threw a cart wheel down. Thomas made no move to defend himself and was given four years penal service. Donovan received 18 months.

Until he was sent to Millbank, Thomas was held in Newgate where the record says he was born in Dublin. He had a scar near his left eye, four letters filled up his left arm. He was received at Millbank on the 4th Nov. His next of kin is his mother whose address is 9 Union Place, Crosby Row, the Borough (apparently Southwark, the address is not far from Great Maze Rd).

He went to Pentonville on the 25th and then to Portland in Dorset on the 8th July 1859. His general record says his conduct was good at Newgate and Millbank, tolerable at Pentonville and indifferent at Portland. His progress at school is fair. In May 1860 he was in trouble for making an obscene comment about one of the assistants. He seems to have been given bread and water for a day, and forfeited 7 days (possibly from parole?) In Feb 1861 he was in trouble for fighting, again bread and water for a day and forfeit three days.

The 1861 census has his family at a different address but there is no change to the next of kin on his prison record.

He was discharge on licence on the 2nd January 1862, so I assume that is parole. He returned to London where he reoffended.

As Alfred Riley, a ruse that fooled no one, he was committed on the 19th April 1862 at Southwark Police Court for stealing two pounds and four shillings 75 from the landlord of the Fox and Hounds, Southwark Bridge Road. He was brought up on the 19th but remanded to the next session, the case for prosecution not being ready. He was convicted on the 19th May at the Surrey sessions in Newington. He received six years penal service.

Even the South London Journal reports that he is Alfred Riley, alias Thomas Elliott!

He was sent to Horsemonger Lane Gaol (Surrey County Gaol) and then received at Millbank on the 26th August. There is a Nil written in the next of kin column. He was received back at Portland on the 24th February 1863, who note he'd been released on the 2nd. Character good.

He was in trouble for fighting on the 20th June, with bread and water, and loss of three days. The register says also, under previous convictions, that he was "once acquitted" but gives no details. His schooling is slim.

His mother most likely died in the Union Workhouse in Southwark in July 1863.

Thomas was sent to Fremantle on the Lord Dalhousie on the 17th Sept 1863, arriving on the 28th December as Alfred Riley convict number 7530. He received his ticket of leave on the 16th Feb 1865.

He married Hannah Greave in Sept 1870 in Busselton. She was the mother two girls, Mary Jane and Rachel. Thomas gave both girls his name and they were raised as his daughters. Indeed when Ellen married she was described as the third daughter of Thomas Elliott.

They had Ellen in 1871 at Wonnerup.

Thomas received his certificate freedom in Jun 1871 at the Vasse. He is listed as opening a sawpit in Busselton in the Bic Dictionary but there is no year.

Anne Elizabeth (Hannah) was born in 1873 at the Vasse. Emma was born in Busselton in 1875.

According to research done by Merle Storey (published in an article on Hannah's life in The Western Ancestory), Thomas was charged with minor offences but one in 1877 saw him receive 8 months.

Thomas Jnr was born in Busselton in 1878. George was born in Dec 1880. Margaret in 1883. Rose in 1885. All in Busselton.

On the 3rd August 1888, Alfred Riley (aka Thomas) was charged with stealing from a cash box at the Rose Hotel in Bunbury. At the Bunbury Quarter sessions on the 17th October he was found guilty and given two years hard labour. One of his witnesses was Rachel Elliott. (Southern Times, 23rd Oct)

May was born in 1889, two months after he was gaoled.

Hannah supported the family by taking in washing. She also applied for outdoor poor relief during the trial.

After his release, Thomas must have returned to Busselton, because there is an unnamed Elliot registered there in 1891.

According to Merle, whenever the Catholic priest came, Thomas would take him to the local and by the time he was ready to leave, he would have no time for the Elliott children. Several times the Anglican minister would call soon after and Hannah would gather whichever children were around to have them christened.

The family then may have moved to Bunbury as a series of event happen there. At some time they moved to Greenbushes where Thomas worked a tin mine with one of his sons. Rose and May attended the Greenbushes school.

The Bunbury Herald says that in May 1902 Thomas was seized with a fit from which he never recovered. The West Australian article seems to be the one below:

Greenbushes, May 16. An old and respected resident, -named Thomas Elliott, died at noon, yesterday. He had lived here for eleven years, and was one of the leading mine-owners in the district. The cause of death was bronchitis, resulting in pneumonia. The funeral took place to-day, the deceased being buried at Bunbury. The deceased who was 66 years of age, has left a widow. eight daughters, and two sons.

However, the death certificate says chronic intestinal nephritis and uraemia, which lasted five days.

He died on the 15th May at the Bunbury End, which I think was also called South Greenbushes. The certificate also says that he was buried in the Bunbury Cemetery on the 16th. His body, it seems, was taken there by train.

The informant is son-in-law George Peters who manages to miss Margaret out, give the wrong age for his wedding BUT given his parents correctly, including his father's occupation, and gives his birthplace as Dublin.

ELLIOTT. Thomas, b. 1841 (Ireland), d. 15. 5.1902 (Greenbushes) . m. 21.9.1870 (Busselton) Hannah Harriet Hilton GREAVES b. 1846 d. 19.4.1920. she arr. 12.6.1864 per Strathmore. Chd . Rachel b. c.1869 (Bunbury) d. 1910, Hannah, Thomas, George. Emma, Rose, May. Busselton, opened a sawpit. Greenbushes , tin miner . Lit. RC.^[1]

Sources

Birth registrations on the pioneer index Marriage and death certificate Merle Storey article, The Western Ancestor UK census Prison and convict records Church records Numerous UK and WA newspapers

1. ↑ The Bicentennial dictionary of Western Australians, pre-1829-1888. [compiled by Rica Erickson], https://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au/bicentennial-dictionary