I am descended from Eliza DRISCOLL born about 1831 in County Cork, Ireland. Her father's name was Dennis DRISCOLL. She moved to England at a young age where she lived at King John's Court, Limehouse. She was married to Thomas Grady on the 9th July 1848 at the Virginia Street Chapel, Stepney, Middlesex.
Eliza & Thomas immigrated to Adelaide, South Australia aboard either "Horatio" 1849 or "Orator" 1851. They came to the Colony of Victoria in about 1857. On the 21st November 1859 she appeared in the Buninyong court of petty sessions on a charge of assault against Elizabeth Ball, the case was adjourned until the 26th instant. She appeared in the court of petty sessions at Ballarat on Saturday the 17th August 1861 due to a complaint by William Moynihan that she did use obscene and abusive language within the hearing of persons passing in the public street. The case was discharged. On the 19th November 1861 she was charged by Constable Gorman for using abusive language in a public place. The case was heard in the court of petty sessions at Ballarat on Saturday the 21st November 1861. She made no appearance in court that day. On the 20th January 1869 she was convicted for being an habitual drunkard and sentenced to four months imprisonment at H. M. Prison Pentridge. At the time she was described as: "Height-5 feet 11 inches; Weight-10 st. 5lb; Complexion-blond; Hair-brown; Eyes-grey; Nose-broad; Mouth-large; Chin-long; Eyebrows-light; Visage-broad; Forehead-high; Peculiar marks-Scar on right side of forehead."
Upon her release from H.M. Prison Pentridge in April 1869, she began working as a servant for a Mrs Trainor. There followed an unfortunate incident where she was falsely accused by Mrs Trainor of stealing ten shillings. She resumed drinking excessively and began working as a prostitute. The events and circumstances surrounding her death are vague, but she was last seen under the influence of alcohol by Mary Randle on the 10th May 1869. A few days later her body was discovered floating in the Yarra river near the Falls Bridge on the 17th May 1869. The verdict of the inquest held by Richard Youl, Coroner on the 18th May 1869 was that her death was caused by drowning, probably suicidal. She was buried on the 19th May 1869 at the Melbourne Cemetery.
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