A Brief Bio of Elizabeth (Perry) Ruse
- Amanda Gabb
Elizabeth Perry, also recorded as Parry, was born around 1768 in England. At her trial at the Old Bailey in October 1787, it was stated that she had come to London from the country looking for work in "the milk business." To date we have not found any documents linking her to her original county, nor linking her to her parents. Elizabeth was sentenced to transportation for seven years for stealing clothes said to have belonged to her landlady, however throughout her trial she maintained her innocence and stating that they were her own.
Elizabeth arrived in New South Wales in June 1790, aboard the Lady Juliana. This was the first ship to arrive in New South Wales after the first fleet. Unlike other ships of the second fleet, the convicts aboard the Lady Juliana arrived in good condition, due to their captain giving all convicts free access to the deck, ensuring the ship was kept clean and regularly fumigated, and taking time whilst stopping at ports allowing good access to fresh food, and to take on extra provisions.
In July 1790, Elizabeth was amongst a group of convicts sent to work at Rose Hill. This is where she met James Ruse. On 5 September 1790, despite James Ruse having a wife back home in England, James and Elizabeth were married at St John's Parramatta.
In November 1790, Watkin Tench recorded a conversation he had with James Ruse, part of which James stated in respect to farming at Experiment Farm: "I have no person to help me, at present, but my wife, who I married in this country: she is industrious."
A determined and hardworking woman, Elizabeth proved to be the backbone of the family. In James Ruse's absence in the early 1800s she is recorded as farming in her own right and conducting business as a carrier between Sydney and the Hawkesbury. Whilst not explicit, the records imply that James and Elizabeth were separated, coming back together later in life. In later years Elizabeth worked alongside James Ruse when he was the overseer at Denham Court.
Elizabeth was the mother of seven children.
Children of Elizabeth Perry & James Ruse:
Rebecah Ruse: 1791-1792
James Ruse Jnr: born in 1793
Elizabeth Ruse: 1794-1875 (first white child born at the Hawkesbury)
Susannah Ruse: 1796-1872
Mary Ruse: 1798-1871
Children of Elizabeth Perry & James Kiss:
Ann Ruse Kiss: born around 1802
William Kiss: 1806-1853
Elizabeth Jnr, Susannah, Ann, and William went on to have their own children, making Elizabeth a grandmother. Her dedication to her children and grandchildren is shown with Elizabeth recorded as her granddaughter Mary Ann Harrigan's godmother in 1825, and on the 1828 census she was recorded as caring for her grandson Thomas Reid.
She passed away on 27 May, 1836 and is buried at St John the Evangelist Catholic graveyard, Campbelltown. James Ruse was buried with her the following year, and daughter Mary share's her parent's grave, being interred into their plot in 1871.
References:
Edwell, P. 2016. Lady Juliana, Dictionary of Sydney, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/lady_juliana, viewed 14 May 2023.
Gabb, A. 2019. The 2019 Ruse-Kiss DNA Project. Via this page. Viewed 14 May 2023.
NSW State Archives, Fitzgerald, Richard of Windsor - Ruse, James and Elizabeth Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814 Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1109 | Date: 25 Jan 1813-25 Jan 1813.
Ruse Huntington, J. 2002, 'My Mother Reread Me Tenderley, The Life of James Ruse', 2nd ed. Valiant Efforts, Australia.
- Amanda Gabb
Elizabeth Perry, also recorded as Parry, was born around 1768 in England. At her trial at the Old Bailey in October 1787, it was stated that she had come to London from the country looking for work in "the milk business." To date we have not found any documents linking her to her original county, nor linking her to her parents. Elizabeth was sentenced to transportation for seven years for stealing clothes said to have belonged to her landlady, however throughout her trial she maintained her innocence and stating that they were her own.
Elizabeth arrived in New South Wales in June 1790, aboard the Lady Juliana. This was the first ship to arrive in New South Wales after the first fleet. Unlike other ships of the second fleet, the convicts aboard the Lady Juliana arrived in good condition, due to their captain giving all convicts free access to the deck, ensuring the ship was kept clean and regularly fumigated, and taking time whilst stopping at ports allowing good access to fresh food, and to take on extra provisions.
In July 1790, Elizabeth was amongst a group of convicts sent to work at Rose Hill. This is where she met James Ruse. On 5 September 1790, despite James Ruse having a wife back home in England, James and Elizabeth were married at St John's Parramatta.
In November 1790, Watkin Tench recorded a conversation he had with James Ruse, part of which James stated in respect to farming at Experiment Farm: "I have no person to help me, at present, but my wife, who I married in this country: she is industrious."
A determined and hardworking woman, Elizabeth proved to be the backbone of the family. In James Ruse's absence in the early 1800s she is recorded as farming in her own right and conducting business as a carrier between Sydney and the Hawkesbury. Whilst not explicit, the records imply that James and Elizabeth were separated, coming back together later in life. In later years Elizabeth worked alongside James Ruse when he was the overseer at Denham Court.
Elizabeth was the mother of seven children.
Children of Elizabeth Perry & James Ruse:
Rebecah Ruse: 1791-1792
James Ruse Jnr: born in 1793
Elizabeth Ruse: 1794-1875 (first white child born at the Hawkesbury)
Susannah Ruse: 1796-1872
Mary Ruse: 1798-1871
Children of Elizabeth Perry & James Kiss:
Ann Ruse Kiss: born around 1802
William Kiss: 1806-1853
Elizabeth Jnr, Susannah, Ann, and William went on to have their own children, making Elizabeth a grandmother. Her dedication to her children and grandchildren is shown with Elizabeth recorded as her granddaughter Mary Ann Harrigan's godmother in 1825, and on the 1828 census she was recorded as caring for her grandson Thomas Reid.
She passed away on 27 May, 1836 and is buried at St John the Evangelist Catholic graveyard, Campbelltown. James Ruse was buried with her the following year, and daughter Mary share's her parent's grave, being interred into their plot in 1871.
References:
Edwell, P. 2016. Lady Juliana, Dictionary of Sydney, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/lady_juliana, viewed 14 May 2023.
Gabb, A. 2019. The 2019 Ruse-Kiss DNA Project. Via this page. Viewed 14 May 2023.
NSW State Archives, Fitzgerald, Richard of Windsor - Ruse, James and Elizabeth Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814 Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1109 | Date: 25 Jan 1813-25 Jan 1813.
Ruse Huntington, J. 2002, 'My Mother Reread Me Tenderley, The Life of James Ruse', 2nd ed. Valiant Efforts, Australia.
A Brief Bio of Elizabeth (Perry) Ruse
- Amanda Gabb
Elizabeth Perry, also recorded as Parry, was born around 1768 in England. At her trial at the Old Bailey in October 1787, it was stated that she had come to London from the country looking for work in "the milk business." To date we have not found any documents linking her to her original county, nor linking her to her parents. Elizabeth was sentenced to transportation for seven years for stealing clothes said to have belonged to her landlady, however throughout her trial she maintained her innocence and stating that they were her own.
Elizabeth arrived in New South Wales in June 1790, aboard the Lady Juliana. This was the first ship to arrive in New South Wales after the first fleet. Unlike other ships of the second fleet, the convicts aboard the Lady Juliana arrived in good condition, due to their captain giving all convicts free access to the deck, ensuring the ship was kept clean and regularly fumigated, and taking time whilst stopping at ports allowing good access to fresh food, and to take on extra provisions.
In July 1790, Elizabeth was amongst a group of convicts sent to work at Rose Hill. This is where she met James Ruse. On 5 September 1790, despite James Ruse having a wife back home in England, James and Elizabeth were married at St John's Parramatta.
In November 1790, Watkin Tench recorded a conversation he had with James Ruse, part of which James stated in respect to farming at Experiment Farm: "I have no person to help me, at present, but my wife, who I married in this country: she is industrious."
A determined and hardworking woman, Elizabeth proved to be the backbone of the family. In James Ruse's absence in the early 1800s she is recorded as farming in her own right and conducting business as a carrier between Sydney and the Hawkesbury. Whilst not explicit, the records imply that James and Elizabeth were separated, coming back together later in life. In later years Elizabeth worked alongside James Ruse when he was the overseer at Denham Court.
Elizabeth was the mother of seven children.
Children of Elizabeth Perry & James Ruse:
Rebecah Ruse: 1791-1792
James Ruse Jnr: born in 1793
Elizabeth Ruse: 1794-1875 (first white child born at the Hawkesbury)
Susannah Ruse: 1796-1872
Mary Ruse: 1798-1871
Children of Elizabeth Perry & James Kiss:
Ann Ruse Kiss: born around 1802
William Kiss: 1806-1853
Elizabeth Jnr, Susannah, Ann, and William went on to have their own children, making Elizabeth a grandmother. Her dedication to her children and grandchildren is shown with Elizabeth recorded as her granddaughter Mary Ann Harrigan's godmother in 1825, and on the 1828 census she was recorded as caring for her grandson Thomas Reid.
She passed away on 27 May, 1836 and is buried at St John the Evangelist Catholic graveyard, Campbelltown. James Ruse was buried with her the following year, and daughter Mary share's her parent's grave, being interred into their plot in 1871.
References:
Edwell, P. 2016. Lady Juliana, Dictionary of Sydney, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/lady_juliana, viewed 14 May 2023.
Gabb, A. 2019. The 2019 Ruse-Kiss DNA Project. Via this page. Viewed 14 May 2023.
NSW State Archives, Fitzgerald, Richard of Windsor - Ruse, James and Elizabeth Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814 Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1109 | Date: 25 Jan 1813-25 Jan 1813.
Ruse Huntington, J. 2002, 'My Mother Reread Me Tenderley, The Life of James Ruse', 2nd ed. Valiant Efforts, Australia.
- Amanda Gabb
Elizabeth Perry, also recorded as Parry, was born around 1768 in England. At her trial at the Old Bailey in October 1787, it was stated that she had come to London from the country looking for work in "the milk business." To date we have not found any documents linking her to her original county, nor linking her to her parents. Elizabeth was sentenced to transportation for seven years for stealing clothes said to have belonged to her landlady, however throughout her trial she maintained her innocence and stating that they were her own.
Elizabeth arrived in New South Wales in June 1790, aboard the Lady Juliana. This was the first ship to arrive in New South Wales after the first fleet. Unlike other ships of the second fleet, the convicts aboard the Lady Juliana arrived in good condition, due to their captain giving all convicts free access to the deck, ensuring the ship was kept clean and regularly fumigated, and taking time whilst stopping at ports allowing good access to fresh food, and to take on extra provisions.
In July 1790, Elizabeth was amongst a group of convicts sent to work at Rose Hill. This is where she met James Ruse. On 5 September 1790, despite James Ruse having a wife back home in England, James and Elizabeth were married at St John's Parramatta.
In November 1790, Watkin Tench recorded a conversation he had with James Ruse, part of which James stated in respect to farming at Experiment Farm: "I have no person to help me, at present, but my wife, who I married in this country: she is industrious."
A determined and hardworking woman, Elizabeth proved to be the backbone of the family. In James Ruse's absence in the early 1800s she is recorded as farming in her own right and conducting business as a carrier between Sydney and the Hawkesbury. Whilst not explicit, the records imply that James and Elizabeth were separated, coming back together later in life. In later years Elizabeth worked alongside James Ruse when he was the overseer at Denham Court.
Elizabeth was the mother of seven children.
Children of Elizabeth Perry & James Ruse:
Rebecah Ruse: 1791-1792
James Ruse Jnr: born in 1793
Elizabeth Ruse: 1794-1875 (first white child born at the Hawkesbury)
Susannah Ruse: 1796-1872
Mary Ruse: 1798-1871
Children of Elizabeth Perry & James Kiss:
Ann Ruse Kiss: born around 1802
William Kiss: 1806-1853
Elizabeth Jnr, Susannah, Ann, and William went on to have their own children, making Elizabeth a grandmother. Her dedication to her children and grandchildren is shown with Elizabeth recorded as her granddaughter Mary Ann Harrigan's godmother in 1825, and on the 1828 census she was recorded as caring for her grandson Thomas Reid.
She passed away on 27 May, 1836 and is buried at St John the Evangelist Catholic graveyard, Campbelltown. James Ruse was buried with her the following year, and daughter Mary share's her parent's grave, being interred into their plot in 1871.
References:
Edwell, P. 2016. Lady Juliana, Dictionary of Sydney, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/lady_juliana, viewed 14 May 2023.
Gabb, A. 2019. The 2019 Ruse-Kiss DNA Project. Via this page. Viewed 14 May 2023.
NSW State Archives, Fitzgerald, Richard of Windsor - Ruse, James and Elizabeth Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814 Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1109 | Date: 25 Jan 1813-25 Jan 1813.
Ruse Huntington, J. 2002, 'My Mother Reread Me Tenderley, The Life of James Ruse', 2nd ed. Valiant Efforts, Australia.
Inscription
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
ELIZABETH RUSE
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 27 DAY OF MAY
1836
AGED 67 YEARS
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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Geneanet Community Trees Index
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Hampshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1536-1812
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England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980
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England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
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New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Marriages, 1790-1966
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