Elizabeth Leach (abt. 1791 - 1857)

Born about 1791 in England

Descendants

Died 9 May 1857 at about age 66 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Elizabeth Leach came free to the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

Elizabeth was born in 1791 in England. Known as "Elizabeth Leach" in the Colony records, it is unknown if this was her married name or maiden name.

She arrived as a "free woman" [i.e., Not a convict, sentenced to transportation] in the Colony of New South Wales in January of 1814 on board the Kangaroo. Marked as "CF" or "Came Free" on the list of passengers disembarked from "Kangaroo" at Sydney with the surname Leach, marked as wife of John Wood.

The Kangaroo was part of a new scheme to bring some wives and families of the convicts out to the colony.^[1]

No record of a marriage to John Wood alias John Leech has been found and it is unclear if they were ever married or just co-habited and produced children together. Elizabeth had three children to John Leach:

1. Eliza Leach
2. Esther Leach
3. John Leach

In the 1825 census Elizabeth Leech was recorded as the wife of John Woods.^[2]

At one point, Elizabeth took up with James Graham, another convict who had came out on the same ship as John Wood. They had two children:

1. James Graham
2. Louisa Graham

In the 1828 census Elizabeth was a laundress living in Daring Harbour with her two daughters.^[3]

James Graham and his son were also listed as living at the residence of Elizabeth Leach.^[4]

She died on May 09, 1857 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

She passed away in 1857 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She was buried at Camperdown Cemetery on 11 May 1857. ^[5]

Elizabeth's probate was settled in 1857. The executor was her son James Leach^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/kangaroo1814.html
2. ↑ 1825 Census: "New South Wales, Census and Population Books, 1811-1825"
   State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; Population musters, Dependent settlements; Series: NRS 1261; Reel: 1254
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8813 #30144 (accessed 27 March 2022)
   Elizabeth Leech in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
3. ↑ 1828 Census: "1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy)"
   State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; 1828 Census: Alphabetical Return; Series Number: NRS 1272; Reel: 2554
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1224 #47429 (accessed 27 March 2022)
   Elizath Leach in New South Wales, Australia.
4. ↑ 1828 Census: "1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy)"
   State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; 1828 Census: Alphabetical Return; Series Number: NRS 1272; Reel: 2554
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1224 #41489 (accessed 27 March 2022)
   James Graham in New South Wales, Australia.
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 October 2020), memorial page for Elizabeth Leach (1811–9 May 1857), Find A Grave: Memorial #188071321, citing Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209) .
6. ↑ Probate: "New South Wales Will Books 1800-1952"
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 27 March 2022)
   Elizabeth Leach probate in Australasia. Died 12 May 1857. Occupation: Widow.

• Arrival - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, Class: HO 10; Piece: 19: Reel 6044 Item 4/1729 p.11
• Death - New South Wales, Australia, death registration no. 500 (1857), Elizabeth Leach.
• Probate - NSW State Records (NSW State Records), Item number or control symbol: Series 1-3915; Title: Elizabeth Leach - Date of death 12 May 1857, Granted on 23 October 1857.

• Link - https://fortunatusfamilia.com.au/getperson.php?personID=I00923&tree=tree1
• Link - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MWKQ-Z55
• https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search
• Birth - No documentation found.
• Marriage - No documentation found
• Death - LEACH, ELIZABETH - NSW BDM DC 500/1857 - AGE 67 YEARS - DIED SYDNEY and LEACH, ELIZABETH - 5959/1857 V1857 5959 122A - NV - C of E Camperdown, Newtown
• Burial - https://www.austcemindex.com - Leach, Elizabeth - birth - 1811? - Death - 9 May 1857 - Age 46 - Camperdown Cemetery NSW BN05987
• Link - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MWKQ-Z55
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188071321/elizabeth-leach : accessed 15 July 2022), memorial page for Elizabeth Leach (1811–9 May 1857), Find a Grave Memorial ID 188071321, citing Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209)