Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
William Sidebottom was transported on the Medway, departing 28th Jul 1825 and arriving 14th Dec 1825 with 173 passengers.
Built in Rochester, England in 1810. 435 tons. The 'Medway' was also used as a convict Hulk ship off Bermuda
Medway (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/5, Page Number 288 |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
William served a 7 year sentence at Van Diemens Land. 4.5 years of the sentence was spent on Maria Island. He was granted a Ticket of Leave in 1835, and on the 2nd of January 1836, granted a Conditional Pardon. He became friends with John Mills, moving together to Melbourne in June 1837. They married sisters, John to Hannah Hale and William to Emma Hale. They both became publicans and did very well in business. John opened Melbourne's first brewery. (His child was the fifth to be born in Melbourne). William had business dealings with John and Eliza Batman and also John Fawkner, Melbourne's founding fathers. William and John Mills were pioneers of early Victoria. They were buried together in the same vault at Old Melbourne Cemetary. (Now under Queen Victoria Market).
William was 25 years old on arrival in VDL. He was transported for 'stealing a watch and keys from a Mr Howard'. William’s parent’s were Thomas Langford and Mary Sidebottom. When William was arrested he gave his mother’s maiden name, Sidebottom as his surname, after that he continued to use Sidebottom until he died. William was single, 5’4 ¼” tall, dark brown eyes, brown hair. 1830: Sent to Maria Island. 1832-33 Muster: Assigned to Mr John Brown 1835: TOL 2/1/1836: CP 27/7/1839: Free Pardon. William then moved to Launceston and became active in the liquor industry. He moved to Melbourne in 1837 and became one of its earliest settlers. William became successful, he had land dealings and hotels. William owned four or five hotels and was a licensee operating at the first race meeting at Flemington racecourse. William enticed his siblings to come to Melbourne and join him. He offered to pay for the passage of each of his sibling’s families and helped them to get established on arrival. His father and all but one of his siblings arrived in Victoria. 1849: William died.