On 17th October 1831, aged 16 years, William Spatch was sentenced at the York Quarter Sessions to 7 years transportation for stealing copper. William left Portsmouth, England on the 482 ton convict ship "Hercules11" under Captain Vaughn and arrived in New South Wales, Australia on 16th October 1832. The "Hercules"carried 198 male prisoners. William was described as being "5 foot and three quarters of an inch tall: complexion fair to ruddy, hair brown, eyes gray, scar on left cheekbone, nose a little cocked." He was a "well sinker's boy." William was assigned to the property "Melbee" at Dungog, owned by Duncan Forbes McKay. This property is still owned by the McKay family. Joan Elliott a Spatch descendant made a visit to "Melbee " in 1997 and was made most welcome by Bill and Pat McKay. Buildings are still standing on the propetry today which would have been there during William's time there. William Spatch had another 7 years added to his first sentence for an unknown offence after his arrival in Australia. He received his "Ticket of Leave" on 7th November 1839 at Dungog court house. He still had to serve out his time in the Dungog area. His physical description on the TOL was similar to the 1832 shipping records, except he had grown to 5 feet nine inches in height. William remained at "Melbee" as a free labourer until 1847 when he and Ellen Key Page from nearby Thalba eloped to The Glen Innes district. The property "Melbee" is adjacent to "Thalaba" Dungog where the Key family lives so it is not surprising that William knew Ellen Key rather well. Ellen became William Spatch's common law wife as she was still legally married to Thomas Page back in Dungog. Ellen and William's children were all registered with the surname SPATCH. This has caused some problems with records for present day researchers because of the sensitivity of the times. Thomas Oliver Key, the informant on his mother Ellen's death certificate in 1875, gave her official name as PAGE. Also when Ellen and William Spatch's youngest child James died, also in 1875, his name was recorded as James PAGE. William and Ellen's daughter Matilda Ann Spatch married her cousin George Rooke Kay but Matilda Ann PAGE was on the wedding certificate. William Spatch worked as a labourer and shepherd at "Clauvaulx" and Wellington Grove, then moved to "Plain View" Stonehenge to live with Ellen's father James Key. William purchased a horse team and became a carrier, taking wool for shipping to the sea port of Grafton and bringing food and supplies back to Glen Innes on the return trip. Whilst in Grafton in 1861, William employed 16 year old Alfred Kerr as his assistant on the waggon. When William became ill with cancer early in 1864, Alfred ran the carrying business and married William and Ellen's daughter Mary Ann Spatch on 3rd July 1864. William Spatch died on 20th December 1864 and is buried in a corner of "Plain View", Stonehenge. Alfred and Mary Ann remained with Ellen, the Spatch children and James Key.