Elizabeth (Barber) Brown (abt. 1757)

Born about 1757 in England [uncertain]

Wife of Thomas Brown — married 17 Feb 1788 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Elizabeth (Barber) Brown was a convict on the First Fleet.

ELIZABETH BARBER, HENRY BANTUM, ELIZABETH BRADY, ELIZABETH ROSE, Violent Theft > robbery, Theft > receiving, 11th September 1782.

521. ELIZABETH BARBER , HENRY BANTUM , otherwise TENTON , ELIZABETH BRADY , and ELIZABETH ROSE were indicted for feloniously assaulting John Price , in the house of William Woodley on the 13th of July last, and taking from his person and against his will, one silver watch, value 40 s. half a guinea and 6 s. 6 d. in monies numbered, his property ; and William Woodley was indicted for feloniously receiving the said watch at the house aforesaid, knowing it to have been stolen .

Elizabeth Barber was sentenced to death at the Old Bailey in London on 11th September 1782 with two female companions, (one male involved was sentenced to 7 years transportation to Africa) for an assault against a man she had picked up in an alehouse in Chick Lane, and theft of a watch and money. She said he was much “in liquor" and she offered him a bed upstairs belonging to a friend where he could sleep it off. He said she asked him to lie with her, “but I did not chuse it”. She said he offered her half a crown to do so. He said he tried to leave, but she kept her hand on the door handle. She said he hit her with a poker, and staggered into a cupboard which fell down and broke a lot of dishes. He said they demanded money for the broken crockery, then fell on him and took his watch and money. The Old Bailey trial can be seen here.^[1]

The women were reprieved to transportation to America for 7 years on 12th September 1783. Elizabeth was sent from Newgate to the Mercury transport on 30 March 1784. She was captured in Torbay Harbour on 13th April by HMS Helena when escaping after the convicts had mutinied. Committed to jail at Exeter on the 16th, she was among the 66 escapers remanded to their former orders without trial by the Special Commission on 24 May, and was one of the seven women sent to the Dunkirk hulk at the end of June, aged 26. At the end of October 1786 she was behaving “better than formerly”.^[2]

Discharged on 11 March 1787 to Friendship, Elizabeth had an unhappy voyage, in and out of irons for drunken abuse of the marines, hands tied behind her back, and briefly gagged. She was in leg irons from 1st to 13th August, her letter to Major Ross complaining of her treatment considered “fixious” as Lieutenant Ralph Clark wrote. In mid-October she was again in leg irons for fighting with Elizabeth Dudgeon. On the 28th all the women on Friendship were transferred to other ships to make room for stock bought at the Cape. Elizabeth went to the Prince of Wales.^[2] Her age 30 and occupation Book Stitcher was recorded in Ralph Clark's Journal in 1787.^[3]

At Sydney Cove Elizabeth married Thomas/John Brown (Scarborough 1788) on 17th February 1788, both signing the register. he signing as Thos Brown. They were married by Richard Johnson, Chaplain, and witnesses were James Branagan, and Samuel Barnes.^[4][5]

A son Thomas was baptised on 23 November, and died on 5th of April 1789. A second son, David, born on 29th January 1790, died the next day. A daughter Elizabeth was baptised on 19th June 1791, and in December 1791 mother and child were living with Thomas Brown on his farm near Parramatta.

No more trace of Elizabeth has been found in colonial records.

Sources

1. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 12 August 2023), September 1782, trial of ELIZABETH BARBER HENRY BANTUM , otherwise TENTON ELIZABETH BRADY ELIZABETH ROSE William Woodley (t17820911-38). https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17820911-38-defend435&div=t17820911-38#highlight
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Gillen, Mollie, The Founders of Australia : A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet, 1989, pp.22-23.
3. ↑ Cobley, John, The Crimes of the First Fleet Convicts. (originally published 1970), 1989 edition. p.15
4. ↑ St Philip's Church of England, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Marriages; State Library of NSW ref: Reel SAG 90
5. ↑ NSW Government. Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Thomas Browne, and Elizabeth Barber, Marriage. Registration number: 22/1788 Vol 4, District: Sydney, St Phillip's. Accessed 25 Apr 2021. Marriages search page

Family name(s) BARBER

Given name(s) Elizabeth

Alternate name(s)

Sex Female

Occupation Book stitcher

Age when departed England 27

Trial date 16 October 1782

Trial place Old Bailey, London

Crimes Assault and robbery

Value of crimes 46 shillings

Original sentence Death

Transported for 7 years

Ship Friendship

Date left colony -

Date of Death -

• State Records NSW

First name(s) Elizabeth

Last name Barber

Arrival date 26 January 1788

Ship name Friendship

State New South Wales

Country Australia

http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/digitalcontent.aspx?id=12188_4_4003_0017-18

• Marriage Record NSW

First name(s) Elizabeth

Last name Barber

Denomination Church Of England

Marriage date 17th Feb1788

Registration year 1788

Registration district Sydney, St Phillip's

State New South Wales

Country Australia

Spouse's first name(s) Thomas

Spouse's last name Brown

Registration No 22/1788 V178822 4