Samuel BRITTON arrived in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) as a convict via the Gilmore on 22 March 1832. He had been convicted at the Old Bailey in London almost a year beforehand, on 7 April 1831, for stealing a cask of white lead from a cart (he claimed it had fallen off and he was replacing it - it fell off the back of a cart, M'lud !).

Samuel's convict record shows two minor offences in VDL, drinking on a Sunday and using indecent language, for both of which he was admonished. On 25 October 1836 he was given permission to marry another convict, Ann WESTWOOD, which he did on 22 November following at New Norfolk. Both made their marks in the register. Ann and her sister Pricilla [sic] had been tried at Worcestershire on 20 February 1834:

for stealing fourteen yards of ribbon of the value of eight shillings, the goods of Isaac PARKINSON gardener, and found guilty, [to] be sentenced as follows:

The said Ann WESTWOOD to be transported to such of His Majesty's plantations beyond the seas as His Majesty with the advice of his Privy Council shall think fit for the term of 7 years, to be completed from the time of her conviction on the said 12th Feb 1834.

The said Pricilla WESTWOOD to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour in the house of correction for 6 calendar months, to be completed from the time of her conviction on the said 12th Feb 1834.

Ordered that the said Ann WESTWOOD who has also been tried for stealing two pieces of printed cotton of the value of ten shillings, and sixteen yards of printed cotton of the value of ten shillings, the goods of Samuel COOK, and found guilty to be transported for a further term of 7 years, to be completed from the expiration of the term mentioned above.

Samuel and Ann raised a family of seven children in Hobart:

1. Priscilla, b. 8 Oct 1835, m. 8 Apr 1850 Hobart, to Charles POPE;
m. 1882 Sydney, to James BENTON
2. Thomas, b. 16 Jul 1837, d. 14 Mar 1838
3. John, b. 10 Dec 1838
4. William, b. 6 Jul 1841
5. Samuel, b. 6 Jul 1841, m. 1865 Sydney, to Mary MORAN
6. George, b. 20 Jan 1844
7. Eliza, b. 4 Jul 1845, m. 18 Apr 1864 Hobart to William WILLIAMS;
m. 6 Mar 1879 Sydney, to Joseph BENHAM

Samuel's occupation was given as labourer at each of these events. He died at the general hospital in Hobart on 18 September 1864 (the cause being given as Epilepsia) after being admitted a week before. His age was given as 56 years, and his birthplace as England. The burial register gave his age as 64 years; the hospital death book stated 54, and his place of birth as Bedford (this is the only reference I have found to a specific place in England).