Joseph arrived on the Duke of Portland in July 1807. Joseph was a soldier of the 1st Kings Dragoons Guards and the 83rd Regiment of Foot when he was put on trial for desertion in Nottingham in 1804. He was sentenced to 14 years.
In 1812 Joseph married Mary Ann Rogers (no relation to the John Rogers mentioned on this website) at Windsor, NSW. Mary had also been a convict, sentenced to life for stealing a chook and some money. She arrived in November 1808 on the "Speke"'. Mary died in 1862 at Freeman's Reach.
I have yet to find the exact location of Joseph's land grant. Some documents refer to it being in North Richmond but we do know he spent time farming in Kurrajong. Certainly the Davis family spent much time with the family of fellow Kurrajong convicts David Hawkins and Job Wilson as they all inter married.
As you can see below, the families were intertwined by marriage.
Joseph and Mary had nine children. You can read about their sons in this article. Their descendant, Malcolm Turnbull was Australia's Prime Minister from 2015 to 2018.
1. William 1809 to 1935.
2. John 1810 to 1872. Married Eleanor Hawkins. (daughter of David Hawkins and Jane Cowling of Kurrajong). They had 12 children. One son, Thomas, drowned in the Hawkesbury River. For descendant information, please visit my other website The Hawkins Family of Kurrajong.
3. Joseph 1812 to 1899. Married Elizabeth Simpson in 1837. A newspaper article mentions their 50th wedding anniversary here. Joseph and Elizabeth are buried at St Thomas Cemetery in Sackville.
4. George 1814 to 1895. Married Elizabeth Wilson (daughter of Job Wilson and Elizabeth Rogers of Kurrajong). For descendant information, please refer to the page on this website under the name Elizabeth Wilson
5. James 1817 to 1853. Married Elizabeth Hawkins (daughter of David Hawkins and Jane Cowling of Kurrajong). After James' death, Elizabeth married Angus Cameron in 1859. For descendant information, please visit my other website The Hawkins Family of Kurrajong.
6. Sarah 1822 to 1906. Married William Bligh Turnbull in 1839.
7. Henry 1824 to 1868. Married Louisa Taylor and Mary Ann Edwards.
8. Elizabeth 1828 to ? Married Joshua Bushell.