William Baker

Level 72

Robin Sharkey on 14th July 2026

William Baker, age 25 years was born at Kent, a Blacksmith; Height in feet & inches: 5ft 6in tall; fair sallow complexion; light brown hair; hazel eyes. Tried: 23 Mar 1818 at Kent Assizes, and sentenced to 7 years. Was transported to NSW on convict ship Morley (2), arriving 7 Nov 1818 at Sydney; [per ship indent] Morning Chronicle (London wed 25 March 1818, p.3) “Kent Assizes “Monday the Assizes for this County commenced before … Mr Baron Wood in the Crown Court. .. the Calendar in the [Crown Court] contained 172 prisoners – a number exceeding all former precedent.” (the only cases reported were two in which the sentence was death). Overall, William Baker's ages at different dates were all consistent with his being born in 1793, and being aged 25 on transportation in 1818. He served his 7 years but then committed a theft in 1825 in Sydney, when he was free, and was sent to Port macquarie for 7 years. he stayed on there and married Elizabeth Kaine in 1833. He was still at Port Macquarie in 1838. ******************* 1818 December: Arrival on ‘Morley’. (there is also a William BARKER on ‘Morley’ but tried at Stafford) 1822 At large without permission 1823 - 9 October - Of William Meehan's clearing party at Liverpool -William Baker aged 20, per ship Morley, admitted as a patient in Liverpool hospital on the 9th day of October 1823 from Mr Meehan … with sore throat. Written by G Smith Mon 13 October 1823 – Col. Sec papers, [4/1773], p.14 | Reel No: 6059, letter dated 13 Oct 1822 | Letter 20 Oct 1823, by James Cooper, overseer of Meehan's clearing party, at McQuarie Field near Liverpool “To Hugh McGuire, Constable at Grose Farm “I beg to inform you I received your letter on Saturday morning requesting me to send you every particular that I could respecting William Baker of the party I have charge of who you took from Liverpool hospital. He was drew from the P B Sydney on the 15 July last by Robt Turner at the same time I xxx with him another man of the name of John Skeasdy, I had no Written paper with them but a victualling lade which I delivered when drew the ration for them they was rec’d in lieu of Thomas Franklin who received his certificate the term of his sentence being expired and John Brown per Hebe who absconded on the 8th of July. Robert Turner states to me that when he drew him there was present Mr Hutchinson … “ COLONIAL OFFENCE 1825, AND TRIAL - Stealing clothing and linen – sent to Port Macquarie with 7 years transportation The Sydney Gazette, Thurs 22 Sept 1825, p 3 Police Report, Monday 12 Sept, William Baker and William Johnson, free, charged with stealing wet linen from the wash house of Mr Arthur Hill, Tavern keeper, Hyde Park; both fully committed for trial. Muster, 1825 Sept In Gaol The Sydney Gazette, Mon 12 December 1825, p 3 Supreme Criminal Court - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8. Before the CHIEF JUSTICE. - William Baker and William Johnson were indicted for a burglary in the premises of Mr. Arthur Hill, in Phillip-street, and stealing therefrom a quantity of wearing apparel, table linen, &c. on the 12th of September last. Guilty of the larceny. Remanded. Charged with burglary but convicted of larceny; On returns of prisoners tried and sentenced by the Supreme Court Transported to Port Macquarie for seven years. 24 Dec 1825, ship’s list to Port Macquarie William Baker and William Johnson; Tried burglary, not guilty of burglary but guilty larceny. Sentence: seven years “to take its course”, Port Macquarie. SR NSW - Citation: [X727], p.15 | Start Date: 08/12/1825 Certificate of Freedom number 3415 [Biog Item No. 100137571] (early 1833) 1833, At Port Macquarie Application for Permission to marry: William Baker aged 40, FREE, per Morley 7 yrs Elizabeth REED aged 42,, BOND Per ship ‘Kains’, 7 years Clergyman Rev Cross, at Port Macquarie Remaining at Port Macquarie, William Baker became a sawyer, employed in the timber trade there. It seems he did not actually have a Certificate of Freedom until 1838: 1838 Certificate of Freedom, dated 26 Oct 1838; no 38/0971 William Baker per Morley 1818 45 years, B 1793, Kent. Employed: Blacksmith and Sawyer. Trial date: 9 December 1825. 7 years. Certificate notes in remarks that “Eyes inflamed”