People Australia

Edward Stepney, also known as Edward Stepley (1855- )

Birth: 5 July 1855, Adelaide, South Australia, son of Edward Stepley or Stepney, cook, and Elizabeth, née Steward. Never Married. Death: 20 August 1892 at Narrandera, New South Wales. Cause of death: phthisis.

• in October 1861, with another boy, is sent to the Destitute Asylum after being found guilty of stealing items from a foundry.
• was made a ward of the state in Victoria in ????
• in January 1871 was charged with assault and robbery in Melbourne.
• Stepney absconded, with another boy, from the Reformatory ship Sir Harry Smith on 15 October 1872 in Victoria, where he was serving a five-year sentence. He had been committed on 13 January 1871. He was described as being 5 feet 4 inches (162.6cms) tall, with a coloured complexion, and black eyes and hair. The boys took a ship's boat and landed at Fisherman's Bend. (Victoria Police Gazette, 22 October 1872, p 276)
• on 14 January 1875 Stepney was charged with absconding from the hired service of John McNiff, of Redesdale, on 11 January. He was described as being 20 years old, an 'African half-caste', 5 feet 6 inches (167.6 cms) tall, with black curly hair, no beard or whiskers, thin build and had an erect gait. (Victoria Police Gazette, 19 January 1875, p 10)
• in January 1880 he was committed for trial on charge of shooting at William Viant, who was abusing Stepney's stepsister; he was later acquitted of the charge. He gave his religion as 'Roman Catholic' and his occupation as 'bushman' on his arrest form.
• on 26 June 1883 he was sentenced to three months imprisonment at Hay gaol on charge of vagrancy. He was released on 25 September 1883.
• his occupation was given as labourer on his death certifiicate.