A Woman’s Lot:
The Life &
Transportation
of Eliza Dorey
David Ibberson
June 2014
On the 28th November 1852, the ship The Duchess of Northumberland sailed from Woolwich, carrying female convicts to Van Diemen’s Land, now Tasmania. One of the convicts, a local Box girl, Eliza Dore, faced a lifetime in a strange land parted from her family and the country of her birth. This is Eliza’s story.
Box Charity School on top floor of Springfield House (CMP)
Early Days
Eliza was born about 1829 in Atworth to Richard and Harriet Dore. Richard, an agricultural labourer, was born in Box but married an Atworth girl and started his married life there. Eliza was the third child of this union. By 1832 the family were back in Box.
Nothing is known of Eliza’s early life but, given that she was literate, she must have received some formal education, probably at the Box Charity School. Box Charity School was on the top floor of the Box Workhouse.
The 1841 census records the family living in Ditterage, Eliza was now twelve years old. Having reached the age of twelve, Eliza would have been expected to seek employment, which often meant leaving home and going into service as a house servant; there were few other opportunities open to her. Hers was to be a life of toil, being at the beck and call of your master or mistress from dawn to dusk with little time for leisure. Marriage was the only way out, but even then, life could be hard with endless pregnancies and all the risks that involved.
Eliza was born about 1829 in Atworth to Richard and Harriet Dore. Richard, an agricultural labourer, was born in Box but married an Atworth girl and started his married life there. Eliza was the third child of this union. By 1832 the family were back in Box.
Nothing is known of Eliza’s early life but, given that she was literate, she must have received some formal education, probably at the Box Charity School. Box Charity School was on the top floor of the Box Workhouse.
The 1841 census records the family living in Ditterage, Eliza was now twelve years old. Having reached the age of twelve, Eliza would have been expected to seek employment, which often meant leaving home and going into service as a house servant; there were few other opportunities open to her. Hers was to be a life of toil, being at the beck and call of your master or mistress from dawn to dusk with little time for leisure. Marriage was the only way out, but even then, life could be hard with endless pregnancies and all the risks that involved.
In Service
In 1851 we find Eliza, now 21years old, employed as a servant by Thomas Sharp. The census of that year records him as a victualler living at The Rook, Marshfield. The Rook was a house on The Rocks Estate, so Eliza was not that far from her childhood home. A victualler is often used to describe someone involved in the sale of alcohol. Indeed, by 1861, Thomas was the landlord of the Hunters Hall Inn (see photos below courtesy David Ibberson) - now a private house sited where the Fosse Way appears to divide either side of Colerne Airfield just past the Shire Stones - as well as a farmer.
Given the proximity of the Rooks to Hunters Hall, it is possible that in 1851 he was already working at the Inn. Both the Rooks and the Inn formed part of the Rocks Estate owned by the Horlocks, but soon to be purchased by the Taylors. This Inn apparently attracted visitors from far and wide by hosting dubious sporting events such as cock fighting. It closed about 1880. By 1851 Richard Dore had also changed his occupation to that of carter and was now living, with his family, at Box Quarries.
In 1851 we find Eliza, now 21years old, employed as a servant by Thomas Sharp. The census of that year records him as a victualler living at The Rook, Marshfield. The Rook was a house on The Rocks Estate, so Eliza was not that far from her childhood home. A victualler is often used to describe someone involved in the sale of alcohol. Indeed, by 1861, Thomas was the landlord of the Hunters Hall Inn (see photos below courtesy David Ibberson) - now a private house sited where the Fosse Way appears to divide either side of Colerne Airfield just past the Shire Stones - as well as a farmer.
Given the proximity of the Rooks to Hunters Hall, it is possible that in 1851 he was already working at the Inn. Both the Rooks and the Inn formed part of the Rocks Estate owned by the Horlocks, but soon to be purchased by the Taylors. This Inn apparently attracted visitors from far and wide by hosting dubious sporting events such as cock fighting. It closed about 1880. By 1851 Richard Dore had also changed his occupation to that of carter and was now living, with his family, at Box Quarries.
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Enter Abel Ovens
Whilst Eliza was in Marshfield, one Abel Ovens, a Seend man, was living and working in Newport, Monmouthshire. The 1851 census records him as an outdoor servant lodging with his employer, a contractor, named Moses Scard. Curiously, living in the same house were five other Seend men all employed by Moses and a 14 year old servant girl from Melksham. So, for whatever reason, Moses appeared to recruit workers in Wiltshire.
Little is known about Abel. However, it does appear that he was known in Box and district and from letters written later by the great and good of Box and was viewed as a bad lot. He, it seems, was every parent’s nightmare but, whatever her parents' views, Eliza left Marshfield and joined Abel in Newport where they lived together as man and wife.
Living in Newport
Inevitably, Eliza became pregnant and on the 1st December 1851 she gave birth to a baby girl. At this point Abel could have done the decent thing and married Eliza, allowing them to be at least socially acceptable. As it was, on the 14th January 1852, the baby was found, apparently drowned, in a local mill pond.
Shortly afterwards, Eliza and Abel were arrested and charged with wilful murder. The pair were brought to trial, found guilty and sentenced to death. Their case was reported in the press, notably The Times, which triggered something of an outcry prompting the worthies of Newport and Box to write seeking clemency for Eliza.
Abel, it was suggested, had a bad influence on her so there was very little support for him. Dr Joseph Gladstone MRCS, one time medical officer for the poor of Box and Ditteridge, wrote that he knew Eliza and her family well and vouched for their good character.
Whilst Eliza was in Marshfield, one Abel Ovens, a Seend man, was living and working in Newport, Monmouthshire. The 1851 census records him as an outdoor servant lodging with his employer, a contractor, named Moses Scard. Curiously, living in the same house were five other Seend men all employed by Moses and a 14 year old servant girl from Melksham. So, for whatever reason, Moses appeared to recruit workers in Wiltshire.
Little is known about Abel. However, it does appear that he was known in Box and district and from letters written later by the great and good of Box and was viewed as a bad lot. He, it seems, was every parent’s nightmare but, whatever her parents' views, Eliza left Marshfield and joined Abel in Newport where they lived together as man and wife.
Living in Newport
Inevitably, Eliza became pregnant and on the 1st December 1851 she gave birth to a baby girl. At this point Abel could have done the decent thing and married Eliza, allowing them to be at least socially acceptable. As it was, on the 14th January 1852, the baby was found, apparently drowned, in a local mill pond.
Shortly afterwards, Eliza and Abel were arrested and charged with wilful murder. The pair were brought to trial, found guilty and sentenced to death. Their case was reported in the press, notably The Times, which triggered something of an outcry prompting the worthies of Newport and Box to write seeking clemency for Eliza.
Abel, it was suggested, had a bad influence on her so there was very little support for him. Dr Joseph Gladstone MRCS, one time medical officer for the poor of Box and Ditteridge, wrote that he knew Eliza and her family well and vouched for their good character.
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Similar sentiments were expressed by the Rev Dr Horlock, Vicar of Box and Dr Joseph Nash MD of The Wilderness, Box. It was Dr Nash who, on the 18th March shortly before the trial, recorded on the death certificate of Eliza’s mother, Harriet, that she had died of apoplexy.
The efforts of petitioners were successful and Eliza’s sentence was commuted to transportation for life. Abel meanwhile went to the gallows at 9am on the 16th April 1852 in Monmouth Jail, protesting his innocence. Conclusion After a long voyage, Eliza landed in Tasmania on April 14th 1853 to start a new life. She went on to marry George Files and have a family, before dying aged 47 years. Eliza is buried in Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania. |
William Calcraft, Abel's executioner
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Footnote
Whilst researching an article about the Rev Horlock I stumbled across the story of Eliza Dore written by a descendent, Barry Files, in Australia. The story is both educational and sad, since it records a time when women had few rights and were at the mercy of a heavily biased and judgemental society.
Sources
I would urge readers to google Eliza Dore Atworth and click on Eliza Dore Female Convicts and read Barry’s text in full at: http://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/convicts/ElizaDore.pdf
Whilst researching an article about the Rev Horlock I stumbled across the story of Eliza Dore written by a descendent, Barry Files, in Australia. The story is both educational and sad, since it records a time when women had few rights and were at the mercy of a heavily biased and judgemental society.
Sources
I would urge readers to google Eliza Dore Atworth and click on Eliza Dore Female Convicts and read Barry’s text in full at: http://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/convicts/ElizaDore.pdf