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Elizabeth (Perry) Ruse (abt. 1766 - 1836)

Elizabeth Ruse formerly Perry aka Parry
Born about in Englandmap [uncertain]
Daughter of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Wife of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Wife of — married 5 Sep 1790 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australiamap
Descendants descendants
Mother of , , , , , and
Died at about age 70 in Minto, New South Wales, Australiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 3 May 2014
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Biography

Elizabeth (Perry) Ruse was a convict on the Second Fleet.
Cross of St George
Elizabeth (Perry) Ruse was born in England.
Elizabeth (Perry) Ruse was a Farmer.
Elizabeth (Perry) Ruse was a carrier.

Elizabeth Perry was born about 1766 in England. She was known as Elizabeth "Parry" when she was convicted in 1787, but her name in colonial records was spelled "Perry".

She was recorded as Elizabeth "Parry" when she appeared at the Old Bailey Sessions of 24th October 1787 in London. She was convicted for stealing one bombazeen gown and petticoat, value 15 s. a cloak, value 6 s. a silk handkerchief, value 5 s. a pair of silk shoes, value 1 s. a pair of cloth shoes, value 1 s. a pair of pumps, value 2 s. two caps, value 4 s. a linen apron, value 1 s. a muslin neckcloth, value 1 s. two guineas and one half guinea, four half-crowns and three shillings in monies from the dwelling-house of Abraham Attewell. Abraham Attewell's wife Susannah testified that

"the prisoner came to me as a person that was out of place, a country girl just came to town, she desired employment in the milk business, she said she had no friends nor no money; for that reason I took her, she was from Tuesday to Saturday; she was very sick, she said all the time she was with me, she was in great pain in her side and bowels; on Saturday morning she was very bad indeed, she cried very much, I got her bled, and gave her three-pence to pay for it; I left her in my house when I went out, nobody was with her, it was about a quarter before one when I left my house; I returned about half past three, and I was informed she was gone, and I ran to my box, and found my box open, and all my property gone, which was my cow-keeper's money, I lost three pounds and upwards in money; there were two guineas in gold, half a guinea, four half crowns; and the rest in silver"

Elizabeth strongly maintained her innocence, claiming the clothes found on her were her own, and that Mrs Attewell had recently borrowed money. The jury found her guilty of stealing the clothes to the value of 39 shillings (keeping the value less than 40 shillings avoided the death penalty). Elizabeth was sentenced to transportation for seven years. The Old Bailey trial can be seen here.[1]

She was held in Newgate until 15 April 1789 when she was sent on board the Lady Juliana transport, age given as 21.[2] The Lady Juliana left England in June 1789, and arrived at Sydney Cove on 3 June, 1790.

Marriage: Elizabeth married James Ruse (1759-abt.1837) on 5 September 1790 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. They were married by Rev. Richard Johnson and registered at St Johns Church of England, Parramatta. James signed the register; Elizabeth made her mark. Witnesses were Edward Smith, and John Dawson.[3][4]

Elizabeth was granted an absolute pardon in July 1792 as reward for good conduct and industry. In October 1793 Ruse sold Experiment Farm and in January 1794 he and his wife moved to the Hawkesbury district with the first group of settlers there. He was granted 30 acres there on the east bank of the Hawkesbury River at its junction with South Creek. In June 1797 Ruse received a further grant of 40 acres nearby at Pitt Town Lagoon and in March 1798 sold his original grant for 300 pounds.[2]

Elizabeth had children with James Ruse:

Elizabeth had children with James Kiss:[5]

Elizabeth's marriage with James Ruse appears to have broken down by 1801. James does not appear in the 1806 muster, whereas Elizabeth is listed as a landholder and employer in her own right. She was holding 15 acres by purchase from Richards in the Hawkesbury district, 10 sown in wheat and 5 maize. She owned 7 pigs and supported 4 children and 3 free workers.[2]

In January 1807 and 1808 Elizabeth signed two addresses to Governor Bligh from the Hawkesbury settlers. In 1811[6] Elizabeth had her own carrier business which she was still operating in 1819.[7] In 1820 she supplied grain to public stores in her own name. In the same year James Ruse was described as a tenant on 45 acres. [2] They were back together by 1822 when Elizabeth was recorded as the wife of James Ruse, "dealer" in the district of Windsor. [8]

In the 1825 muster they were James Ruse, landholder in the district of Windsor; and Elizabeth Perry, "wife of James Rouse", in the district of Windsor. [9]

In the 1828 census they were listed as: James Ruse 68, free, Scarborough, 1788, 7 years, Protestant, with his wife Elizabeth Ruse, 57, free by servitude, Lady Juliana, 1790, 7 years. Thomas Reid, Elizabeth’s grandson was noted as living with them as Elizabeth’s son on the Australian version[10] and as “living with James Ruse” on the British version.[11] Furthermore, James Ruse was recorded as overseer to Capt. Brooks, Denham Court, Lower Minto. There was also listed in the census Mary Ruse, 36, born in the colony, Catholic, housekeeper, D Newman at Airds.[12]

Death: Elizabeth Ruse died on 27 May 1836 at Minto, New South Wales. Her husband James Ruse died the following year on 5 September 1837. They are buried at St Johns Cemetery, Campbelltown.[13].

The inscription on her grave reads:

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
ELIZABETH RUSE
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 27 DAY OF MAY
1836
AGED 67 YEARS

Research Notes

  • There is no evidence that she was born in Kingsclere, Hampshire, England.
  • Autosomal DNA, Y-chromosome testing and mitochondrial DNA testing have confirmed that James Ruse was not the biological father of James Kiss’s children (Ann Kiss and William (James) Kiss), and that Elizabeth Perry was indeed the biological mother of both children. [5]

Sources

  1. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 11 May 2022), October 1787, trial of ELIZABETH PARRY (t17871024-20).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Michael Flynn, The Second Fleet: Britain's Grim Convict Armada of 1790 (1993), pp 476-77.
  3. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Marriages, 1790-1966 for James Ruse, Vol 01, Baptisms, 1790-1825; Marriages, 1789-1823; Burials, 1790-1825 https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/60735/images/44132_1831101454_0699-00012?pId=27137
  4. ↑ New South Wales Australia Marriages:] Registration number 92/1790 V179092 3A Groom's Family Name RUSE Groom's Given Name(s) JAMES Bride's Family Name(s) PERRY Bride's Given Name(s) ELIZABETH District CB
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gabb, A. 2019. The 2019 Ruse-Kiss DNA Project. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0kdNtpUsvC77vpa2Q11SxUjLVcvWY1BxioAjzJCwcvkiZDshQAiAZ37T4rhQRJnV8l&id=519919595135077&mibextid=qC1gEa
  6. ↑ Ref: Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814 Series: NRS 2659 | Item no: 5/1106 | Date: 23 Oct 1811-23 Oct 1811.
  7. ↑ Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 13 February 1819, p. 2, via Trove
  8. ↑ The 1822 muster has James Ruse, dealer in the district of Windsor, and Elizabeth Perry, servant, "J Rouse", in the district of Windsor, cited in Baxter, Carol. General Muster and Land and Stock Muster of New South Wales 1822 / Edited by Carol J. Baxter. Sydney: ABGR in Association with the Society of Australian Genealogists, 1988, pp. 378, 417
  9. ↑ Baxter, Carol. General Muster List of New South Wales 1823, 1824, 1825 / Edited by Carol J. Baxter. Sydney: Australian Biographical & Genealogical Record for the Society of Australian Genealogists, 1999, pp.452, 500.
  10. ↑ State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; 1828 Census: Alphabetical Return; Series Number: NRS 1272; Reel: 2555
  11. ↑ Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 21-28); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England.
  12. ↑ 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy) for James Ruse, (NRS 1272) 1828 Census: Alphabetical Return Surnames L-T https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/1224/images/41711_330418-00382?pId=19061
  13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182566689/elizabeth-ruse : accessed 12 May 2022), memorial page for Elizabeth Perry Ruse (unknown–27 May 1836), Find a Grave Memorial ID 182566689, citing St John's Catholic Church Cemetery, Campbelltown, Campbelltown City, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209) .

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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Elizabeth by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Elizabeth:

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Rejected matches › Elizabeth Perry (1767-) › Elizabeth Perry (1766-)

Elizabeth is 22 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 21 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 15 degrees from Maggie Beer, 42 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 28 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 25 degrees from Michael Chow, 26 degrees from Ree Drummond, 20 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 23 degrees from Matty Matheson, 27 degrees from Martha Stewart, 34 degrees from Danny Trejo and 33 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.

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Categories: Society of Australian Genealogists, 2023 Challenge | Old Bailey | Lady Juliana, Arrived 3 Jun 1790 | Campbelltown, New South Wales | St John the Evangelist's Catholic Church Cemetery, Campbelltown, New South Wales | Second Fleet