William Rees (1813-1910), a farm servant, was found guilty on 13 March 1834 at the Pembroke Assizes, Wales, of stealing money. Sentenced to life transportation he arrived at Sydney aboard the Bengal Merchant in January 1835. According to convict records he was single, aged 22, had no education, and was Protestant. He was 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a ruddy complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes.
Rees was granted a ticket of leave on 18 March 1845 and a conditional pardon on 13 August 1849. In 1845 he applied for permission to marry Mary Fitzpatrick who had come 'free' to the colony. The couple were married on 28 April 1845 in Sydney; they had three children.
William Rees died in Cooma, New South Wales.
'Rees, William (1813–1910)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/rees-william-33876/text42437, accessed 4 June 2025.
21 November,
1910
(aged ~ 97)
Cooma,
New South Wales,
Australia
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Crime: theft
Sentence: life
Court: Pembrokeshire
Trial Date: 13 March 1834
(1834)
Occupation: farm labourer
Children: Yes (3)