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| Richard Spanswick |
| Richard Spanswick b. 11th June 1826 Easton Royal, Wiltshire, England to William Spanswick and Harriet West. One of eight children. At the age of 21 Richard married Jael Pearce and they had two children: John Spanswick and Elizabeth Spanswick b 1847 & 1850 respectively. On the 16th of August 1850 (4 1/2 months before Elizabeth's birth) Richard was charged with felaniously stolen 4 lambs, the property of Robert Lyne, he was found not guilty of this charge. He was also charged with felaniously stolen 1 Ram. 2 Ewes and 6 Lambs, the property of Henry Butcher, for this he received 10 years transportation, in the meantime he was to be confined to a county gaol. Jael must have been devastated she was now to bring up her children alone. Richard must only have done this to provide for his young family - he must have been a desperate man. Richard was sent to Pentonville Prison on the 30th of January 1852. He arrived in Western Australia on the 14th of July 1852, Convict No: 1001 on the "Marion". He received his Ticket of Leave on the 27th of June 1853 obviously proving to be a good man. His Conditional Pardon was granted 8th of March 1856. Richard was described as 5" 8' having Black hair, Dark eyes, a round face, Swarthy complexion and Stout appearance. |
| Richard's Australian Life |
| Having been sent to Australia, forced to leave his family behind, Richard excepted his fate and made the best of his situation. He lived and worked in the York area here he met Mary Fisher daughter of George Fisher and Sarah Jardin. They were married on the 7th of December 1867 Gilgering CE, Beverley. They later moved to the Williams area where they acquired land for farming. |
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| Children of Richard Spanswick & Mary Fisher |
| William Fisher Spanswick b 27.7.1867 York James Spanswick b 7.11.1868 Beverley Sarah Spanswick b 13.3.1871 York Emily Spanswick b 4.3.1873 York Samuel Spanswick b 2.12.1876 Beverley George Spanswick b 26.7.1878 Arthur River Ellen Spanswick b 13.9.1881 Williams Bridge Eliza Spanswick b 9.1.1884 Williams Mary Spanswick b 13.9.1886 Williams Bridge |
| Mary died at the Hospital for the insane, Claremont 1.12.1910 from Heart failure at the age of 61. Richard lived out his life in the Wagin area dying at the age of 96 from Senile Decay and Heart failure, he is in an unmarked grave in the Wagin Cemetery. |
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