William Fuller

William Fuller

There is little evidence of William's early life. The first is a report in the Cambridge Chronicle and Journal in October 1826 of his appearance at Huntingdon Assizes. Described as 'a truculent looking fellow as ever held up a hand at a bar of justice', the prosecution claimed William destroyed an ass owned by Charles Culpin, a blacksmith of St Ives, by a rather gruesome method.

It appears William had taken offence when Charles objected to his swearing near Charles' children and had William taken into custody. After that William had hurled insults at Charles frequently.

In court William claimed innocence, blaming Joseph Harrop. That defence fell through when Joseph's father, who accompanied Joseph in court, testified his son had been in bed by 7.30pm on the evening the offence took place. At that, William broke into tears.

Found guilty, the judge sentenced William to 14 years' transportation. Moved from Huntingdon gaol, William spent several months in either Millbank Prison, London, or a prison hulk in Plymouth. Either way, conditions were atrocious.

William was transported aboard the Guildford. The ship departed London on 22 March 1827 and called in at Plymouth to pick up more transportees. A total of 190 convicts sailed, some aged as young as 14 years. They arrived in New South Wales on 25 July 1827. One prisoner died of dysentery during the four-month voyage.

There are no records of what happened to William once he landed in Australia.