Elizabeth Pulley

Elizabeth was born to Tobias and Alice Pulley of Felthorpe, Norfolk, and baptised on 21 Feb 1762 in St Margaret's church, the only girl of four children.

[3] On 13 July 1780 Elizabeth, then a resident in Drayton, was sentenced in the Norfolk Quarter Sessions to be sent to the Wymondham bridewell and whipped in the market place.

On Christmas Eve 1782, Elizabeth was charged with breaking into the Hethersett shop of Mrs Minns and stealing 2 cheeses, 4 Bacons, butter, raisons, flour and two rolls of cloth.

After four years in Norwich Castle prison, Elizabeth was taken on a three-day coach journey to Plymouth harbour, in readiness to board a convict ship that would transport her to New South Wales.

[6] On 13 May 1787 a flotilla of eleven ships under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, known as the First Fleet, departed Portsmouth and headed for the first port of call, Santa Cruz on Tenerife Island.

[7] Elizabeth and other female convicts were transferred to the Prince of Wales in Cape Town to make space for sheep for the rest of the journey to Botany Bay.

As Anthony and Elizabeth had only met on 6 February it is claimed by the family that Robert Rope was 'the first European child conceived and born in the colony'.

Elizabeth and Anthony were dedicated crop farmers who experienced more than their share of personal hardships, flooded farms and lawsuits, but the family endured and successfully nurtured their children and many grandchildren.

Elizabeth was the emotional and financial stalwart of the family, and she worked hard as a farmer at Anthony's side; a strong determined woman.

One of their grandsons, Toby Ryan became an elected representative of the Nepean district the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (1860–72) and wrote a book about his colonial experiences Reminiscences of Australia.