William was baptised December 23rd 1821 in Barnard
Castle. His father, John, was a dier; his mother was called Margaret (formerly Mason)
William was involved in incidents recorded in the Durham Criminal Registers. In April 1836 he was acquitted of shop breaking and stealing over 13 pounds of tallow in Barnard Castle.
In the 1841 census William is living with his parents and
siblings (brothers Thomas, John, and Robert; sisters Margaret, Mary Ann and Jane). His occupation was given as Coal Miner.
On Oct 16th 1843 he was convicted at the Durham
Michaelmas Sessions of sheep stealing at Bishop Auckland. William was charged together with William Williamson (aged 20) and Mary Liddell (aged 17) with stealing a sheep, the property of James Robson. The trial was reported in the Courant of Friday October 20th 1843. Following the depositions of various witnesses "Mr Granger addressed the jury for the prisoners and the
Chairman having summed up, the jury acquitted Mary Liddell and found Wouldhave
and Williamson guilty, sentencing Wouldhave to be transported for 15 years and
Williamson for 10 years".
William was transported on 25th January 1844 to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania, Australia) on the ship Equestrian. He arrived on 2nd May 1844. He was described as being 5ft 2in tall, with some ability to read and write.
William married twice in Launceston, Tasmania; in 1856 to Mary Murphy, and in 1861 to Elizabeth Mears. He had a son with Mary Murphy baptised on Jan 23rd 1837, but no forename is given.
William's older brother Thomas (born 1817) went to Connecticut, Maine and became a naturalised subject of the USA. His sister Margaret (born 1820) was also convicted at the Durham Sessions. She was found guilty of having stolen a purse containing one sovereign, three shillings and sixpence, from James McNaughton and was sentenced to 4 months hard labour.
