William Edward Neale, Convict "Surprize" 1794

From: Flynn, Michael. Settlers and seditionists: the people of the convict ship Surprize 1794. Sydney: Angela Lind, 1994

In the 2nd Regiment prior to 1793, William was court martialled ‎(possibly for desertion)‎ and held in Savoy Prison until 20 Jan 1794, then transported to NSW on the ship 'Surprize'. On the voyage he was released and allowed to serve as a private in the NSW Corps.

On 2 Jun 1794 Neale claimed that he had been asked to join a mutiny and escape. One of the accused, Palmer, then claimed that Neale's statement was false and had been extracted after he was threatened with a savage flogging and chained to the deck in double irons with his co-accused, exposed to the elements for several days.

By 1796 William Neale was living with Sarah Townsend. They are recorded living in Sydney district in 1801 and by 1806 were living at Parramatta, with four children ‎(3 male, 1 female, all designated illegitimate by Marsden)‎.

Neale was described in 1808 as a baker by trade, aged 45 years 6 months, with 27 years 90 days army service, born Billesdon, Leicestershire, 5'9" tall with grey eyes, dark brown hair, and a long dark-complexioned visage. In 1809 he was stationed at the Hawkesbury, but moved to Sydney in July of that year.

The couple were belatedly married at St Philips Sydney on 19 Mar 1810; he signed his name to the register and she made her X mark. Thomas and Mary Day witnessed the ceremony.

When the NSW Corps returned to England, Neale obtained a discharge from the army in April 1810 in order to remain in the colony. He was ordered an 80 acre land grant in the Airds district in Mar 1811 and was mustered as a landholder there in 1814, living with Sarah Townsend and three children.

In 1816 he was issued with government cattle, to be paid for on credit. By 1822 he is described as a labourer in the same district ‎(and he appears to have owned 50 hogs)‎.

For the 1828 census William Neale was described as a Protestant tenant farmer holding 10 acres ‎(8 of them cultivated)‎ in the Illawarra district aged 64 with his wife Sarah, a Protestant aged 51.

He was buried by a Wesleyan minister on 7 Jun 1840 and described as a baker aged 76