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Edward Abraham Yates (1839-1910)

Edward was born early 1839 in Lancashire to James Yates and Sarah Salter. He was baptised into the Church of England on 26 May at St Johns (reference; reference; reference; reference; reference). According to the 1841 census Edward was two years old, living at Newton Street, Preston with his parents and siblings William and Ann.

When Edward was about 15 years old in November 1854 he enlisted into the British Army.

Edward was a Crimean veteran, having served as a labourer soldier of the 63rd Regiment of Foot (reference). During his service, he fought at Sebastopol (reference). The Crimean War lasted from 1854 to 1856 and was fought by Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia against Russia (reference). The war began when Russia invaded Turkish land, and Britain and France wanted to aid the Ottoman Empire in resisting Russia's expansion (reference). On 14 September 1854, the Allies landed on the northwest coast of the Crimea at Calamita Bay (reference). By 18 September, the Allies marched on Sevastopol and were blocked by Russians, leading to the Alma battle at the River Alma on 20 September (reference). They then marched onto Sebastopol, a city, which's bombardment started on 17 October (reference). On 5 November at Inkerman, the Russians attacked again, another battle Edward fought in (reference).

Edward would have begun his involvement in the Crimean War as a reinforcement sent out on the Great Britain March of 1855. He also took part in the Seige of Sebastopol.

After the Crimean War ended in 1856, Edward ended up at Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada by 1861 with his regiment. A year later, the regiment had moved onto West Canada.

Edward journey to Bunbury began when he was caught deserting his post and was Court Martialled (reference). He was tried and sentenced on 10 September 1862 in London, Ontaria, Canada to ten years' transportation to Australia (reference; reference). According to the Yates family legend, Edward claimed it was not dissertation but striking a superior officer that saw him transported to Australia. It is unclear what happened, as no historical documents have been found to support this.

Before heading to Australia, Edward was sent back to England on the North American in June 1863, first calling in at Lough Foyle in Ireland before sailing onto Liverpool. Edward then arrived at Millbank prison at Westminister, London, England on 20 June 1863. He was then sent onto Pentonville Prison then Chatham Prison in Kent, where the ship, Racehorse collected him for his transportation to Australia.

His convict number was 8470 (reference; reference). His next of kin was his father, James Yates, who lived at 44 Aberdeen Street, Preston (reference). According to the Convict Department Register, he was 26 years of age when he was convicted, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with light brown hair, hazel eyes, an oval face, dark skin, and middling stout (reference). He also had a union jack tattoo and could read and write (reference; reference). Edward was described to be of very good character in the register (reference). Edward arrived in Australia on the Racehorse on 10 August 1865 (reference). 

Edward was granted his Ticket of Leave on 9 June 1867 (reference). A year later he married Margaret Connelly (1847-1894) in Picton on 22 October 1868 (reference; reference). They had four children, Edward Abraham James (1869-1951), Sarah Hannah (1871-1958), Patrick Connelly (1876-1924) and William Thomas (1874-1943) (reference; reference). Margaret arrived in Western Australia on 14 January 1868 on the Tartar from Ireland. 

Edward was granted his Certificate of Freedom on 17 September 1872 in Bunbury (reference). He worked in Bunbury as a general servant (reference).

Despite being sent to Australia as a convict for deserting his position, Edward played an active role in the war veteran community of Western Australia (reference). 

In the last years of his life, Edward lived at Ninth-avenue in Maylands, Perth (reference). Edward died on 29 November 1910 in Maylands, Western Australia (reference). He was buried in the Anglican portion of the Karrakatta Cemetery in Western Australia on 1 December (reference; reference; reference).

Many thanks to Fiona Carroll, Edward Yates great great granddaughter, for the family stories and research.

John Youard (1839-1903)

YOUARD, John (1839-08/10/1903) (reference). He was an expiree which means he was a convict who completed his sentence. John arrived in Australia on 01/01/1858 on the Nile. He married Hareha Jones (1838-) in Perth on 07/04/1860. She arrived on 06/04/1859 on the Hamilla Mitchell. Their children were Fanny Haria (1860-), Clara Martha (1865-), Mary Frances (1867-), Charlotte, John Angell (1876-) and an unknown son born in 1881 in Geraldton. John worked in Perth as a painter from 1863 to 1869 and in Geraldton on Marine Terrace from 1869 to 1875. John travelled to England with his wife and returned to Western Australia on 16/08/1876 on the Daylight, with John serving as constable and Hareha as a matron on the ship. His wife visited Bunbury on 18/02/1883 on the Hacedon.