Samuel Macey alias Banstone was born in Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire, in 1790 and married Charlotte Whitaker in 1809. His alias was not due to shady dealings, because his family had been using Banstone as an alternate name for generations.

Samuel was an agricultural worker. In 1830, he got caught up in the Swing Riots, which were an attempt to destroy new forms of agricultural machinery that were putting people out of work. He was convicted and sentenced to transportation, and arrived in Tasmania in May 1831, leaving behind Charlotte and their nine children.

Samuel received a pardon in 1836, but I find no documentary trail until the 1871 UK census, which shows him back in Fonthill Gifford, aged 82, living with his brother John, aged 78. Despite their age, they were both described as labourers.  Samuel's daughter Charlotte and his son Henry were still living in the village too, but his wife had died in 1851.

It was apparently unusual for transportees to go home, but Samuel managed it.

I feel there’s room for a graphic novel in here somewhere, but haven’t quite got it sussed out yet.

Samuel Macey was my great-great-grandfather’s brother. 

Next, Louisa Ryan, the first white woman in the Cariboo.