William Evans (2) was born in 1824 in East Dean and worked as a farm labourer. On 3 July 1838, at the age of 14, he was sentenced to 6 months in prison and twice whipped for stealing a pair of trousers. In October 1845, at the age of 21, he was transported for 7 years for stealing a bar of iron and twelve scissors valued at 5 shillings from the Forest of Dean Coal Mining Company. After a spell on a hulk, he was transferred to the Joseph Somes which set sail for Tasmania on 22 December 1845 and arrived in Tasmania on 19 May 1846.
He was given his ticket of leave on 24 Dec 1849. He married Sarah Reavely on 29 December 1851 and had twelve children. Sarah was sentenced to transported for 15 years for arson in July 1849.