William Dexter

56

Wendy Smith on 29th May 2019

Described in Government Gazette as having absconded from A. B. Spark, Queanbeyan since March 25 1839. Described as follows: Dexter William, Prince George, 20, Leicester, bricklayer (indifferent), 5 feet 6 inches, fair ruddy and freckled complexion; light red hair, light hazel eyes, eyebrows light, W x D A x B woman's bust Punch inside lower right arm, woman's bust A S F D Thomas Pywell inside lower left arm.

William Dexter was 17 on arrival in NSW, he was transported for stealing 17 1/2 sovereigns from a dwelling house. William then got on the ship "Corwell" as a steward and went to China the same year. He got back to England and was recognised in Leicester and transported back to VDL this time on the "Susan" in 1842. William was single, could read and write, protestant, 5'8' tall, light red hair, light hazel eyes, light brows, fair ruddy and freckled complexion, WxD AxS woman's bust, punch inside lower right arm, woman's bust AS FD Thomas Pywell inside lower left arm. His father was William, mother Mary, 3 brother: William, Joseph & Edward, 1 sister Mary all at his native place of Leicester. His conduct record is a long list of abscondings, foul language, awol's etc., he spent a lot of time in chains doing hard labour. 223/2/1853: Robbery by a Servant - A man named William Dexter, a pass holder servant of Mr. Patterson, of Bothwell, was sent down to town on Saturday by his master to receive a horse, harness, and chaise-cart from Mr Butler, of Collins-street, and was to return on Sunday night. Not returning in accordance with this arrangement, Mr Patterson came down to town and reported the circumstance to Chief District Constable Brown, who, on making inquiries in town, traced the property, which Dexter (an ingenious fellow, who once made his escape to England, and was sent back to this colony), had disposed of for one hundred guineas, the worth of the whole being twice that amount. The offender, who had been out to New Norfolk yesterday with a number of his friends, was waited upon on his arrival in Bridgewater this morning, and is now in custody. 23/2/1853: Suspected Burglars - William Dexter and Thomas Smith, prisoners of the Crown, were charged yesterday at the Police Court by DC Propsting, on suspicion of a burglary on the night of Sunday, at the premises of Mr Haines "Maypole Inn" New Town and remanded for examination on Friday next - No evidence - Discharged on the 21/11/1856. 20/2/1855: TOL 29/09/1857: CP 12/5/1857: Married Mary Josephine Berney (Free) B1837, in Hamilton, Tas. Mary Priscilla b 1859 Maria B1864 d 1864. 1864: William died at Fingal, Tas. Mary remarried in 1864 to Charles Wells, 2 children, Benjamin 1865 and male Wells 1871.