My understanding is that partners of those who were transported were free to marry again after 7 years and it was common practice for those left behind to state that they were widowed in Census Returns if they had not remarried.

As for what happened to Elijah I do not know. I have looked at 1851 Census returns and have yet to spot him but have found some of those who were sentenced at the same time either in a prison or a convict hulk moored near a port. It is possible that he was already on ship but I do to think all of the ships lists have been transcribed.

Mike