Wilson, William
DESCRIPTION
NameWilson, WilliamConvictTransported 1813 'Fortune' for horse stealing - LifeBiographyWilliam Wilson was from Langston, Hampshire. In 1812, when he was about 30 years old, he was tried at Southampton Assizes for stealing a horse, bridle and saddle, the property of Richard Matthews, at Boarhunt.
The case was reported in the Hampshire Chronicle, Mon Mar 2 1812. 'William Wilson, aged 30, for stealing a horse, bridle, and saddle, the property of Richard Matthews, at Boarhuut. The prosecutor, who has a son living at that place, went thither on the first of July* lie turned his horse into the yard; the_ next morning he missed it, and did not see it again till October, when he found it in possession of Mr. Greentree, who, it appeared, had it from the prisoner, in exchange for another horse, on the 2nd, July. The prisoner was apprehended at a public house about half a mile out of Petersfield. In his defence he said that he had received the horse to sell for one Rainbow.'
William was sentenced to death, commuted to life.
On arrival in New South Wales aboard Fortune in 1813, William was assigned to Colonel George Johnston of Rum Rebellion fame, whom he worked for, for the next ten years.
Johnston was no stranger to convicts. He arrived in New South Wales with the First Fleet as part of the military contingent. On board he began a relationship with 15-year-old convict, Esther Abraham, with whom he had a family of seven.
William petitioned for a Conditional Pardon in 1821. This was supported by George Johnston who in his letter to the Governor NSW Lachlan Macquarie, wrote -
‘The petitioner has been in my service during the above stated
period & for the past five years has had charge of my stock at Illawarra , in which he has conducted himself as an honest & faithful servant’.
Johnston’s stock at the Illawarra were on Macquarie Gift, a 1500-acre land grant issued to Johnston, by Macquarie, in 1817. William’s convict records state he was a horse dealer in Hampshire. He would have been skilled at evaluating and managing stock, a skill put to good use by Johnston.
William received an Absolute Pardon in 1821. Colonel Johnston died just two years later. William continued to work for his son David, who managed the now named, Johnston’s Meadows Estate at Albion Park. He remained here, and worked as overseer for David Johnston for the rest of his life.
Many of Shellharbour’s early European settlers worked for William Wilson on the Johnston’s Meadows Estate, including John Green, who carted wheat from the estate to Brown’s Mill at Dapto, and to Wollongong Harbour to backload ships from Sydney. Fellow convicts John Hockey, John Howes and Edward Swan, all worked for Johnston on the estate at the same time. In 1835, William was himself, assigned a convict labourer.
Six years later, the 1841 Census records William as a married man living in a wood house owned by Johnston with two others; a married female a single female (sic). No definitive marriage record for William can be found, though his wife was probably fellow convict Elizabeth Perkins (nee Overett).
Elizabeth was transported in 1812 for stealing three dollars. She married convict Peter Perkins and had a son, Peter Jnr, born 1826. Her husband died in Sydney in 1833. Elizabeth Perkins then married a William Wilson at Dapto in 1837. He would have been about 54 years old, Elizabeth 48, and Peter Jnr 15.
William Wilson died at Johnston’s Meadows in 1852. His death notice stated -
‘At Johnston’s Meadows (Illawarra) on the 22nd ultimo,
William Wilson in the 76th year of his age. One of the first who took stock
with his master to the district in 1817. An old and faithful servant,
having lived in the service of Mr D. Johnston 37 years’.
The Sydney Morning Herald 5 October 1852
The case was reported in the Hampshire Chronicle, Mon Mar 2 1812. 'William Wilson, aged 30, for stealing a horse, bridle, and saddle, the property of Richard Matthews, at Boarhuut. The prosecutor, who has a son living at that place, went thither on the first of July* lie turned his horse into the yard; the_ next morning he missed it, and did not see it again till October, when he found it in possession of Mr. Greentree, who, it appeared, had it from the prisoner, in exchange for another horse, on the 2nd, July. The prisoner was apprehended at a public house about half a mile out of Petersfield. In his defence he said that he had received the horse to sell for one Rainbow.'
William was sentenced to death, commuted to life.
On arrival in New South Wales aboard Fortune in 1813, William was assigned to Colonel George Johnston of Rum Rebellion fame, whom he worked for, for the next ten years.
Johnston was no stranger to convicts. He arrived in New South Wales with the First Fleet as part of the military contingent. On board he began a relationship with 15-year-old convict, Esther Abraham, with whom he had a family of seven.
William petitioned for a Conditional Pardon in 1821. This was supported by George Johnston who in his letter to the Governor NSW Lachlan Macquarie, wrote -
‘The petitioner has been in my service during the above stated
period & for the past five years has had charge of my stock at Illawarra , in which he has conducted himself as an honest & faithful servant’.
Johnston’s stock at the Illawarra were on Macquarie Gift, a 1500-acre land grant issued to Johnston, by Macquarie, in 1817. William’s convict records state he was a horse dealer in Hampshire. He would have been skilled at evaluating and managing stock, a skill put to good use by Johnston.
William received an Absolute Pardon in 1821. Colonel Johnston died just two years later. William continued to work for his son David, who managed the now named, Johnston’s Meadows Estate at Albion Park. He remained here, and worked as overseer for David Johnston for the rest of his life.
Many of Shellharbour’s early European settlers worked for William Wilson on the Johnston’s Meadows Estate, including John Green, who carted wheat from the estate to Brown’s Mill at Dapto, and to Wollongong Harbour to backload ships from Sydney. Fellow convicts John Hockey, John Howes and Edward Swan, all worked for Johnston on the estate at the same time. In 1835, William was himself, assigned a convict labourer.
Six years later, the 1841 Census records William as a married man living in a wood house owned by Johnston with two others; a married female a single female (sic). No definitive marriage record for William can be found, though his wife was probably fellow convict Elizabeth Perkins (nee Overett).
Elizabeth was transported in 1812 for stealing three dollars. She married convict Peter Perkins and had a son, Peter Jnr, born 1826. Her husband died in Sydney in 1833. Elizabeth Perkins then married a William Wilson at Dapto in 1837. He would have been about 54 years old, Elizabeth 48, and Peter Jnr 15.
William Wilson died at Johnston’s Meadows in 1852. His death notice stated -
‘At Johnston’s Meadows (Illawarra) on the 22nd ultimo,
William Wilson in the 76th year of his age. One of the first who took stock
with his master to the district in 1817. An old and faithful servant,
having lived in the service of Mr D. Johnston 37 years’.
The Sydney Morning Herald 5 October 1852
CONNECTIONS
Wilson, William. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 23/10/2026, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/18193