William Read (c. 1756–?)
William Read (c.1756- ) and Edward Elliott were found guilty on 18 August 1783 at Croydon, Surrey, of stealing clothing, food, household items and 10 shillings. Sentenced to 7 years transportation, the men were sent to the Ceres hulk in 1785. Discharged to the Scarborough in February 1787, they arrived in Sydney in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.
As William Reed he married Ann Fortescue on 16 October 1790; they had at least two children Sarah (b.1791) and Elizabeth (b.1795). The couple have not been traced in later records and possibly returned to England.
* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 300
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Read, Ann (wife)
- Elliott, Edward (criminal associate)
Citation details
'Read, William (c. 1756–?)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/read-william-31102/text38473, accessed 28 April 2025.