William PALMER was born in Cambridgeshire, England in 1831. On 19 Mar 1851 in Cambridge, England, William Palmer and William Gentle were put on trial for breaking and entering the house of Sarah Rick, widow of Harlton, and stealing from her stays and pocket money to the value of upwards of twenty pounds. Palmer and Gentle were placed aboard the "Ascendent" bound for Bermuda.

In Bermuda they were transfered to the convict hulk "Comormendal" at Ireland Island. Palmer and Gentle survived for nine and a half years in Bermuda before being placed aboard the "Medway" in April 1861 for transferrence back to England. On 30 September, 1861 they were at Chatham. (Palmer was convict # 4002 and Gentle was convict # 4008).

William Palmer (convict # 6401) was placed aboard the "Norwood" and arrived at the Swan River Colony 9 June 1862. He was granted his Ticket of Leave on 23 September 1862 and his Conditional Pardon was granted on 14 Jun 1864 at York Western Australia. In one register entry, William Palmer is recorded as having a wife in England but shipping records do not show that she ever came to the colony.

William was a cook and labourer in the York area and he died in Western Australia in 1892.