At the age of 17 years Elijah enlisted in the 95th Rifle Brigade Regiment, his commanding officer being Lieut. (later Capt. Molloy). Both fought at the Battle of Waterloo. He served under Molloy for 2 years in Ireland during the rebellion there and came as an indentured servant to John Molloy. Elijah married Ann Wakeham on 11 May 1829 in Hampshire, England shortly before embarking for the Swan River Colony. They accompanied the Bussell's to the Vasse 1834 and arrived on the 'Emily Taylor' to take up land at Port Augusta where he was appointed constable of the district in1835. Later lived at Wonnerup and farmed at Dunsborough. The first school in Newtown was held in his home - his daughters helping teach along with several women from the American whaling ships who stayed with the Dawson's while their husbands were at sea. Ann died on 6 February 1880 and Elijah died 12 May 1885 at Newtown, Western Australia.