William Franks married Ann Callender, daughter of Elizabeth Callender (née Bright). I am grateful to a descendant of John & Harriet Tootell for drawing my attention to William's criminal activities.

Elizabeth Callender had money invested in banks whereby the interest was payable by way of 'interest notes' which could be cashed at the banks. The interest notes were put in the names of three of her daughters, Ann Franks, Harriet Tootell and Mary Easterbrook. Willliam Franks, who was living with his mother-in-law at the time, broke open the box in which the notes were kept and attempted to cash some of them by forging endorsement signatures on their backs.

He was found guilty of forgery at Exeter City Sessions in October 1827 and was sentenced to death in accordance with the law at the time. However, the sentence was later commuted to transportation for life.

William was one of 192 convicts transported on a ship called York which sailed from London on 30th April 1829 and arrived at Van Diemen's Land (as Tasmania was then known) on 28th August 1829.