Elizabeth was convicted using the name Lowden. There are newspaper reports she may also have been known as Robertson. Born Elizabeth Watson it appears from her convict documentation she also used the name Wilson. it is probable Elizabeth skipped bail in Dundee Christmas / New Year 1816-17 following involvement in the Dundee food riots. The other member of the group of 4 'ringleaders' arrested who also skipped bail was a rope making apprentice called David Ramsay! They married, but David was convicted of a separate offence and transported. Elizabeth took matters into her own hands to effect a reunion with David. After passing badly forged notes in 4 shops she was apprehended. Held in gaol presumably with her young child Janet she appeared before the equivalent of a Supreme or High Court at Perth, Scotland. Called the Court of Justiciary,Elizabeth Louden was convicted on 20 April 1824, -uttering forged notes-reported she said she committed the crime so she could join her husband in New South Wales. Her husband, David Ramsay,from Dundee was a convict transported in 1821, [Claudine]. David worked in Hobart as a rope and sailmaker. Elizabeth arrived in Hobart on the Henry, 1825, with 79 female prisoners (with 10 children). In 1826, Lieut. Gov. Arthur granted land for a Melville street ropewalk. Elizabeth had a daughter, Janet, who accompanied her mum on the Henry.

Assigned to Rev. W. Bedford,Elizabeth had recorded offences:

• 15 4 1825- refusing return to service after 3 months unwell in female factory
• 18 1 1826- Impertinence to the Rev.,B threat to abscond
• 13 2 1826- Absent from Divine service, late back, insolent to the Rev on Sunday 22 January.

A daughter, Harriett Hill Ramsay,was born 12 June 1829. In 1830 David and Elizabeth are on top of the world, (Hobart at least) with a new baby they celebrate “St George’s Day”, recorded by the Courier 1.5.30 “David Ramsay, the sail-maker, whose house next to the aerial monastery at Knocklofty is situated on the highest point about Hobart town, according to his accustomed want and usage, hoisted at an early hour his Royal George from his chimney top, and instead of twining ropes and sewing main-sails, occupied himself in firing off some pounds of Dalton and Harvey's treble best in honour of the day, an example which was very generally followed throughout the lower regions of this infant cityl... From the newspapers we know at “Contentment Cottage” there was a cow, the ropewalk made ‘ropes and hawsers 160 yards in length and upwards of 3 inches in diameter’, flexible fencing for paddocks; the sailmaking business made knapsacks, tents, and marquees. They also operated a general store and boarding house. Mother in law arrived Fame Hobart, March 1831. Elizabeth Ramsay was granted Certificate of Freedom April 30. 1831. She had died by May 1834. [convict 7 years Henry, 1925] d.o.b. 22. 2. 1792 at Dundee, a.k.a Weston

Daughter Janet [aged 15] married Charles McShane, son of [Minerva 1818 convict], Michael McShane, at St Josephs’ pro-cathedral, October 6th 1834. [a room above Edward Curr's store].

Janet Ramsay, daughter of convict Elizabeth Lowden, was the mother of 6 children. Janet died in “childbed”1847. 3 of her children survived to adulthood.

Janet’s surviving daughter, Elizabeth married John Francis Gormley, Hobart born son of [Minerva convict 1818] Patrick Gormley and Rosina Murray.

Daughter Harriet married Robert Smith, of the police, 13th January 1845, (Church of England rites).

David Ramsay remarried in November 1834, Dinah Bates, an assisted immigrant from the ship Strathfieldsay. He and Dinah had a large family and moved to Victoria October 1848.

Sources

Australian Convict Transportation Registers – Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868
Name Elizabeth Lowden [Elizabeth Ramsay]
Vessel Henry
Convicted Date 20 Apr. 1824
Voyage Date 30 Sep. 1824
Colony Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)
Place of Conviction Perth, Perthshire, Scotland