Francis Reeks was born in 1806 in Woolaston where he worked as a labourer. On 30 January 1831, at the age of 14, he was imprisoned for one month for misdemeanors and failure to attend his service with John Wade. On 9 April 1927, he was sentenced to one year in prison for the theft of a number of harnesses. On 28 March 1833, at the age of 27, he was sentenced to be transported for life for the theft of money. After a spell on a hulk, he was transferred to the Lloyds which set sail for New South Wales on 19 August 1833 and arrived on 18 December 1833.
He was given a ticket of leave on 14 May 1844 and a conditional pardon on 20 December 1848.