People Australia

William Joyce was sentenced to 14 years transportation for an unknown crime on 3 August 1789 at Croydon, Surrey. He arrived at Sydney in October 1791 aboard the Albemarle as part of the Third Fleet.

Joyce received a conditional pardon and a 30 acre grant of land at Toongabbie in December 1794 after receiving a broken jaw and other injuries during a brawl at the Toongabbie Farm in July 1794 which involved a soldier from the NSW Corps. Joyce spent two months in hospital as a result of the brawl and commenced proceedings to recover damages of £200. The director of the farm, Thomas Daveny, who had intervened in the fight on the side of the soldier, John Love, was dismissed from his job.

By 1800 Joyce had sown 28 acres of wheat and owned 24 pigs, 6 goats and three sheep. He held 45 acres in 1802. He was living with Sarah Jackson in 1806 and had 105 acres; the couple were still together in 1825 and had one child. Joyce received a beer licence in 1811.

* information from Biographical Database of Australia — https://www.bda-online.org.au — accessed 29 July 2020