Hi all, I’m hoping someone out there can clear up some questions about my ancestor William (or Samuel or John) Bowden Anson (or Hanson). The name variations make him hard to track down for sure. There are 2 possible birth times - around 1767, or around 1786. I have no record of his parentage. He was born in Staffordshire, England. He was convicted of highway robbery (as Samuel Bowden Hanson) along with 4 others on 24th March 1808 in Surrey, England, and sentenced to death. The story is that this was changed to transportation for life on the eve of the executions. His 4 companions were hanged. I have copies of newspaper reports supporting most of this information. He was described as 5ft 8 inches, of fair complexion, with light brown hair & hazel eyes. He was transported on the ships Admiral Gambier and Eolus & arrived in Sydney 22nd December, 1808. He was released from Sydney Gaol 5th Jan 1810, (as John Anson) on the occasion of Lachlan Macquarie taking charge of the Government. 27th August 1810, (as John Anson) he was sent to Newcastle as a limeburner on the Lady Nelson. 27th Sept 1813, (as Samuel Anson) he returned to Sydney & was recommended for a ticket of leave. 6th November 1813 – He was granted a ticket of leave. “To be struck off the victualling list”. 1814: He married Harriet White in St John’s Church of England, Parramatta. 1st June 1817: He petitioned for mitigation of sentence. 31st January 1818 – He was granted an absolute pardon. 1819: His son Augustus Frederick Bowden Farmer Anson was born. On an unknown date, he was paid 2 pounds from the Police Fund for “services performed in a new discovered country” 5th March 1821, referred to as William Anson of Castlereagh, he was given a grant of 30 acres of land for which he paid fees of a total of 3 pounds & 1 penny. 31st August 1824, His memorial to the Governor requested a grant of land. The previous farm he had rented had failed due to high rent & bad crops. He was then referred to as William Hanson of Evan. He was granted some land but I don’t have details of where. I think he died in Parramatta in 1825 leaving a 6 year old son who was said to be raised by another ex convict, William Clark, on whose farm the Ansons had worked. However, the 1828 Census lists a William Hanson aged 42. This man is working as a groom on a farm in Cabramatta. The Census claims he arrived on the Admiral Gambier in 1807. I hope there is someone out there who can help me to clarify all this. Cheers, Coral Saunders