Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed John Williams
Biographies
John Williams was born on 24 November 1810 at Weston Colville, Cambridgeshire, the illegitimate son of Mary Williams. The Williams (aka Willings) family had aristocratic ancestry based around Kempston in Bedfordshire, but their fall down the social scale had begun by the time of John's birth. He married Elizabeth Ashman at Weston Colville on 9 February 1833 and they had three daughters and one son - Louisa Elizabeth (1835), Mary Ann (1837), Esther (1840) and George Charles (1842). John had previously been in trouble for trespass and assault before being convicted of sheep stealing with the sentence of transportation. His wife was in court when the sentence was read. She collapsed and had to be carried from the court. Life was hard enough without losing the family breadwinner.
The three Williams daughters lived out their lives at Weston Colville while George Charles Williams emigrated with his wife and children to Queensland in 1874. By this time, John Williams had been dead for 22 years, but did the family know that?? After his transportation, John's wife, Elizabeth, became housekeeper for Thomas Taylor, eventually becoming known as Elizabeth Taylor, but she and Thomas did not marry until 1865. Perhaps by that time they had heard that John had passed away. Elizabeth had no further children.
I am still trying to find detail of John's life in Tasmania. He served the first period of "probation" on Maria Island, his character being described as "indifferent". After that he was sent to various farmers in different areas of Tasmania. He received his ticket of leave in 1850 and died in 1852 at Impression Bay Hospital, just around the time his sentence was due to expire.
John's transportation was a well kept secret in the family. No member of George Charles Williams' family seemed to know of it.
Submitted by Researcher (Pam Cooper) on 25 July 2018
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There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/13, p.489
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