Robert Hyett was born in 1805 in Awre. On 2 June 1817, he was sentenced to 21 days in prison for absconding from service as an apprentice. He then worked as a labourer in Blakeney. On 3 August 1826, at the age of 21, he was sentenced to transportation for life for the theft of three half-crowns and four shillings from Richard Peters, a labourer from St Briavels. After a spell on a hulk, he was transferred to the Andromeda which set sale on 14 Oct 1826 and arrived in Van Diemen’s Land on 23 Feb 1827.
On 13 April 1831, Hyett was granted a ticket of leave. On 12 April 1843, his ticket of leave was cancelled for misconduct. On 12 August 1848, he was granted his ticket of leave again. On 3 July 1852, he was granted a conditional pardon.