Ellen Hanley (c.1826-1893), the daughter of Richard and Bridget Hanley, was sentenced to 7 years transportation on 6 November 1843 at Limerick City, Limerick, Ireland, for stealing a frock and petticoat. She was on the town and had been convicted and sentenced previously but had 'got off through my father who is with the police'. The ship's surgeon described her as 'unruly but not badly disposed'. She arrived at Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), in July 1844 aboard the Greenlaw.
Hanley's conduct record noted that she was Catholic, could read, and was unmarried. Her occupation was given as housemaid, her age as 18 and she was described as being 62 cms (5 feet 2 inches) tall, with blue eyes and black hair. She had two large scars on her forehead and was pockpitted.
Convict Record
Hanley married John Roberts on 3 June 1850 at St John's Church, Launceston, both signing with a mark; they had at least two children.
Ellen Roberts died (as Nellie Roberts) at Beechworth Gaol, Victoria, on 28 May 1895. Her age was given as 65, her occupation as domestic servant and her cause of death was given as acute softening of the brain. She had previously been imprisoned for vagrancy at Wangaratta.
'Roberts, Ellen (Nellie) (c. 1826–1893)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/roberts-ellen-nellie-31567/text39035, accessed 5 November 2024.
28 May,
1893
(aged ~ 67)
Beechworth,
Victoria,
Australia
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.
Crime: theft
Sentence: 7 years
Court: Limerick (Ireland)
Trial Date: 6 November 1843
(1843)
Occupation: domestic servant