Ellen Thomson



The only woman ever hanged in Queensland









      

 




      

Ellen, 11 years of age and her sister Mary,
      9, arrived in Australia on the 6th of April 1858 on board the
      ship "Joshua". The ship's manifest lists their widowed
      mother Mary Lynch as a native of County Cork, Ireland. They would
      join her sister residing in Goulburn, N.S.W.




      

During the Palmer River gold rush in the
      early 1870's, Ellen was known to be in Cooktown, widow of William
      Wood, and struggling to support her children.




      

Arriving in Port Douglas about 1878, Ellen
      commenced work as housekeeper to William Thomson who had selected
      a farm on the Mossman River. Ellen and Billy Thomson married
      in November of 1880 after the birth of a daughter, Helen.




      

By 1886 life was difficult. The marriage
      was strained, the children sent away.




      

The friendship of Ellen with a young marine
      deserter on the adjoining "Bonnie Doon" selection caused
      conflict.




      

 




      

That conflict would explode into murder
      and the execution of Ellen Thomson and John Harrison at Boggo
      Road Gaol, Brisbane on the 13th of June 1887.




      

On the eve of execution, Harrison confessed
      he alone shot and killed William Thomson in self-defence.




      










      

The admission came too late - the double
      execution proceeded!




      

The name of Ellen Thomson was written into
      history as the only woman ever hanged in Queensland.