People Australia

Edward Elliott (c.1756-1822) and William Read were found guilty on 18 August 1783 at Croydon, Surrey, of stealing clothing, food, household items and 10 shillings. Sentenced to 7 years transportation, Elliott was sent to the Ceres hulk in 1785. Discharged to the Scarborough in February 1787, he arrived in Sydney in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.

Elliott married Ann Smith (Mary Ann, 1791) on 11 September 1791; they were still together, childless, in 1814.

Elliott was settled on 30 acres at The Ponds in July 1791 in partnership with Joseph Marshall. In September 1792 the superintendent commented that the two men 'cultivate their ground in a very slovenly manner and are very dilatory'.

Elliott turned from agriculture to sheep farming. Starting with one sheep in 1792, he had 22 in 1796 and 122 in 1797. He had sold his grant to James Thompson by mid 1800 and held a 50 acre farm at Northern Boundary by purchase; he owned 8 pigs and 120 sheep. By 1806 he was running 365 sheep on nearly 84 acres at Seven Hills and employed one free man.

Edward Elliott died at Parramatta on 19 April 1822; his age was given as 70.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 118