Benjamin Smith, my great-great-great-grandfather, was born on 17 March 1808 in Dagenham, Essex, England. In his early life, he received a seven-year sentence for stealing a pitchfork from his employer at Elmdon, Essex. In July 1842, after transportation aboard the Candahar, Benjamin arrived in Hobart, Tasmania, and was sent to serve a sixteen-month probation period at the Jericho Probation Station.

On 6 December 1843, Benjamin was hired by George Green Sherwin from Bothwell, a small town in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, to work as a labourer on his farm, Sherwood. After completing his sentence, Benjamin’s application to bring his wife Ann and their five children - Sarah, James, Benjamin, Zacharias, and Hannah - to join him in Tasmania was approved. In August 1849, William Jardine arrived, carrying his family, and their long-awaited reunion was complete.

This family journey ignited my passion for researching Bothwell and its 19th-century residents, helping me piece together my ancestors’ lives. This work culminated in the creation of a dedicated website to preserve and share our heritage.

On 17 March 2007, Benjamin’s 199th birthday, the Bothwell Town Hall was filled with 165 of his descendants, gathered for a memorable Smith Family Reunion. It was a truly special moment to stand before my relatives and recount our Smith family history.