Elizabeth Rymes

  Noted events in her life were:

• source. Mary-Ann Cook & Marion Purnell where it is noted:
At the October 1789 Old Bailey sessions, Elizabeth was convicted for stealing and pawning bedclothes from lodgings in Spitalfields which she shared with her lover, intending, she protested, to restore them. She was sentenced to 7 years at the Old Bailey and transported on the ship 'Neptune' in 1790.
Old Bailey transcript 28 Oct 1789:

JOHN MOORE and ELIZABETH RYMES were indicted for stealing, on the 11th of September last, one woollen blanket, value 3 s. and one linen sheet, value 4 s. the property of Richard Williams, in a lodging room.
witnesses examined separate.) WILLIAMS sworn.
I am wife of Richard Williams; I let a ready furnished lodging to the woman prisoner; a room on the first floor; Moore was not with her; he came the same night. he paid three shillings a week; they were there rather better than three weeks; I took them to be man and wife; but I since find they are not; the room joining their room, was stripped: I made a great outcry, and sent for an officer: I missed a bed-gown, a sheet, and a blanket: the duplicates were found in the woman's pocket; I saw them taken out by the officer.
MARY JOLLY sworn.
I know both the prisoners very well, by seeing them at our shop; a blanket and a sheet were pledged at our house; I did not take them in; I do not know who brought them.
JOHN ELLINGHAM sworn.
I am a carpenter; I went to apprehend the prisoners, by information; I took the prisoners the 12th of September, at No. 5, Rose-lane, Spital-fields; I searched her, and found eleven duplicates on her; and two of which led to the discovery, one of a blanket and the other on a sheet.
THOMAS HUCKWELL sworn.
I am a constable: on the 12th of September, I took the woman, and found on her these duplicates.
Jolly. These are our duplicates; my master's name is printed upon them.
JOHN LODWICH sworn.
I went with the constable to find out the prisoners: the woman was at home; she said to Mrs. Williams, you need not turn down the bed, there is a blanket and a sheet missing; she said they were pawned; and I saw eleven duplicates taken out of her pocket.
PRISONER RYMES's DEFENCE.
I proposed to get the things out; I did not mean to let the things lay in.
PRISONER MOORE's DEFENCE.
I went out about eleven in the forenoon, with intent to get some work; I had been out of work for a long time; I went and got a job; and with the money, I had intention to get out the sheet and blanket, and pay the rent, which was not due for fifteen hours.
How came she to pass as your wife? - She is not so by law, Sir, but we cohabit together.
JOHN MOORE, NOT GUILTY.
ELIZABETH RYMES, GUILTY,
Transported for seven years.
Tried by the London Jury before Mr. Justice HEATH.
At the time of Matthew's death in 1817, the family was living on a 15 acre rented farm at Sackville Reach. The original grant was sold in 1820. In January 1825, Elizabeth addressed a memorial to the Governor asking for the 15 acres she had been occupying for some years to be granted to her; she stated that she had reared a large family to 'habits if Industry'. The land was eventually granted to her and later passed to her children.
The 1841 census records Patrick McGahey occupying a wooden house at Knight's Retreat at Cumberland Reach on the banks of the Hawkesbury, where he lived with his wife Elizabeth on the farm of her son Matthew. Elizabeth died there and was buried in a family cemetery on the property.
Elizabeth was buried in a family plot in the 15 acre farm that she and her husband Patrick were living on. A headstone was later erected by her grandchildren. This farm is still in the possession of a descendant, Mr Bert Everingham, although the headstone has since vanished, and the site of the cemetery is marked by a shed.

Elizabeth married Matthew James Everingham on 13 Mar 1791. (Matthew James Everingham was born in 1768 in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Norfolk England, christened on 22 Jun 1768 in Bloomsbury, London, Middlesex England and died on 25 Dec 1817 in Wilberforce, County of Cumberland, NSW Australia.)

Elizabeth next married Patrick McGahy on 20 Aug 1827 in Wilberforce, County of Cumberland, NSW Australia. (Patrick McGahy was born circa 1780 in Ireland UK.)