The Family Project - William Spears 1771-1833

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 William Spears 1771-1833

William Spears was born around July 1771 in Lye, Somerset, England, the son of William and Mary (Whyte) Spears. William a Colonial soldier who joined the 102nd Regiment, New South Wales Corps of Foot, on 4 January 1800 in London. The regiment left Portsmouth, England for New South Wales in 1801, traveling aboard the Convict Transport vessel the "Earl Cornwallis", and arrived at Sydney Cove on 12 June 1801.

Probably a common law relationship. William and Sarah Ann Robinson had both arrived aboard the 'Earl Cornwallis'. Sarah was assigned to William after her arrival on 12 Jun 1801. Whether the relationship began on board, or after arriving is unclear, but Sarah was assigned to William for work. A daughter, Mary, was born to Sarah and William on 6 June 1802. In 1802 William abandoned Sarah when he was posted to Norfolk Island

William Spears per Earl Cornwallis 1801, Mary How/e per Minerva 1800 and William Coleman per Minerva 1800, all arrived on Norfolk Island from Sydney in May 1803 aboard the ship “Buffalo” with the 102nd Regiment. Mary then began cohabiting with William Spears.

Mary How/e and William Spears and one child departed Norfolk Island for Sydney in Feb 1805. William married Mary How on 29 June 1806 at St. Philips Church of England, Sydney,

On March 25, 1810, William was transferred from a Private in the NSW Corp to the 73rd Regiment of Foot, 1st Battalion, aged 37 years with a length of service record of 10 years and 79 days. He was discharged four years later, on March 25, 1814. In February 1815 William was appointed as a police constable in Sydney. In June 1820 he was suspended from duty as district constable for neglect of duty. In July 1820 William was discharged from the 73rd Regiment of Foot, 1st Battalion

In 1825 William was on a list of persons to receive a land grant from the then Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane.  

In November of 1828 William, a sawyer and a timber merchant, and Mary, and all their children, were living in Clarence Street, Sydney. He also declared in the 1828 Census, that his family were Protestant, and that he owned 120 acres of land and 6 head of cattle.

William died on 29 June 1833 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He died just a month short of his 62nd birthday and his Death Record has his age at death as 62 years.

William was buried in the Old Devonshire Street Cemetery in 1833, the Cemetery was resumed around 1900 to make way for what is now Central Railway Station in Sydney. The Re-internment Register Listed William Spears, Eliza Spears, Mary Spears and John Spears as being Re-internment at Rookwood Cemetery

William is my 5th Great Grandfather 





Earl Cornwallis 



                                    Land grant on Brisbane Waters near Gosford NSW

 


Record of death William Spears Aged 62



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