« Reply #64 on: Saturday 05 April 08 12:13 BST (UK) »
My 3xGt Grandfather George SMITH (b1811) was found guilty at Aylesbury Quarter Sessions of stealing a horse on 15th October 1844 and transported as an "Exile" on board the Maitland. He arrived at Williamstown on 9th November 1846 and apparently settled there initially.
He appears to have been quite skilled, working as both plumber/ glazier and painter/ engraver as well as being taught the trade of Tinman whilst incarcerated in Pentonville.
George had a wife and four sons back in England, but I've found no trace of him returning once his sentence (10 years) had been served. In fact, upon being sentenced to transportation to Australia, he turned to the judge and said "thankyou sir- I have been there before and shall be glad to get out of this country", so it would seem that he wouldn't have wanted to come back anyway!
Unfortunately, the trail has now run cold and with a name like George Smith I wouldn't imagine it'd be easy to find out what happened to him once he arrived in Victoria. His trade might narrow the search down a bit though, as there can't have been that many plumbers/ painters in Williamstown in the 1840s.
Does anyone have any suggestions how I can find out more about George? He may even have remarried and had more children out there, but again with a name like Smith, it wouldn't be easy to determine this.
Bkm:- MARKS, SMITH, FRENCH, DUNKLEY, COLLYER, HALL, KING, RIDGWAY, SHILLINGFORD, ILLING, HOGG
Yks:- HARE, PARKER, GALLOWAY, HAMMOND, DAWSON, De LAINE, DELANEY, EDMONDSON, BOTTOMLEY, WALMSLEY, SCORAH, MURGATROYD, BROWNBRIDGE, RINGROSE, JOWETT, BARRATT, RENNISON, GADIE, CROSSLAND, KENDALL, SIMPSON, RAW
Dby:- SADLER, BENT, HITCHCOCK, CLARKE, GRACE, SELLARS, WIBBERLEY, SALT, DAKIN, HOLLOWAY
Lei:- BENT, SPENCER
Sts:- UDALE, MARKS, SELLARS
Nth:- ADDINGTON, SURRIDGE, SEAL
Off:- DELANEY
Ang/ Zet:- GADIE
