Thanks for the reply, Aussie Pom.
You're right, it is possible that James returned to England after he served his sentence...then married and later returned to Australia when the gold rush started.
I do now have doubts that James was the John Wilds who was sentenced in 1838. Its a bit hard to believe a court would get someone's name wrong. Its more believable that their name was spelt incorrectly once they reached Australia. If something can be found for Benjamin Wilds and Lucy Kemp, that might help. I realise that some records are not accurate. Example, my grandmother's death certificate shows her father being a Jolly (it was in fact Harvey) - her aunt had been married to a Jolly...so Lucy Kemp might have been a relative of Ann Kemp, and Benjamin Wilds might have been another relative to James...next of kin at time of death?
I have just had a break-thru (just before I posted this message...lucky I did one more search!)...I found when James & Ann came to Australia!
Ship Lady McDonald, July 1852:
WILD JAMES 34
WILD CLARA 2
WILD ANN 31
WILD JAMES 11
I know information can get distorted over the years as its passed down the generations, so I'm not discounting the notion that it was James' father or brother who was the convict in the family.
I did find on another topic some info on James Wiles the convict:
1823 19 Jul Convicted at Huntingdon 1823 Age 35years
1823 Sentence Life transportation
1824 Jul 17 convict landed from the "Countess of Harcourt" (3) and forwarded to Minto for distribution
1824 Sep 3 & 10 prisoner assigned Richard Kemp, George St Prisoners Barracks Sept. 10 John Gaggin, George St
1824 Ticket of Leave #38/768
1825 Mar 8 Servant of William Elderkine, tailor. Petition for free passage for his wife Isabella and five children
1825 Jul 19 convict who has money lodged in the Savings Bank of New South Wales
1844 Conditional Pardon #761
It also said the last child was born around 1818 and that they had 6 children (yet only 5 came with her). I wonder, could this be James Wilds' parents?
I'm glad there's so much stuff online these days and I look forward to delving right into it once the World Cup is over! And hopefully someday we can put this one to bed

cheers,
Darren