William BRANSON, my Great-Great Grandfather, was (shame, shame) a Sheep Stealer. He redeemed himself however, by rescuing a Warder and receiving his Free Pardon earlier than was expected. He was in a small boat that went up the Swan River to work on the Giuldford Bridge, when the other three convicts who were on the boat, feigned illness, overpowered the Warder and took the boat. William refused to go with them, untied the warder, then climbed up the cliff-face that they were left on, and went for help. He was commended by the Comptroller General of the time. Sadly, although he owned many farms, which later his children worked and owned, William died a pauper in the Mt. Eliza Old Man's Depot which was a pauper's home for the convicts.