John Boxall was born in Blakeney in 1786. In 1800, at the age of 14, he enlisted with the Royal Marines and at 16, he joined the 90th Foot Soldiers, 2nd Battalion. After spending 6 years with this regiment overseas he was discharged in 1816 due to a “Malformation”. He then returned to Blakeney where he worked as a labourer.
On 15 April 1817, at the age of 31, he was convicted of breaking into a waggon belonging to George Playne while it travelled from Minchinhampton to Bristol and stealing a quantity of woollen cloth while it was in Thornbury. He was sentenced to be transported for 7 years. After a spell on the hulk, the Justitia, he was transferred to the Batavia which set sail for New South Wales on 1 November 1817 and arrived on 5 April 1818.
Boxall obtained his certificate of freedom on 15 April 1824 and died in Sydney on 15 June 1839.