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Joseph was transported to Australia on board the Albion, arriving in Port Jackson on 14 February 1827. He had been tried at Stafford on 9 March 1826 on a charge of burglary and was given a sentence of life. He was described as a Labourer and had no previous convictions. Joseph was described on his indent as being 5 feet 41/2 inches tall with ruddy freckled complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. Upon arrival in New South Wales he was assigned to T. Walker, JP, of Concord. In 1837 he held a ticket-of-leave and was working at Patricks Plains (now Singleton). On 1 February 1845 he received a conditional pardon and in 1884-5 he was recorded as living at Redbank, near Inverell, NSW. Joseph was reputed to be the ancestor of T.R. Forster, who donated the mansion Booloominbah to the University of New England in 1938 but research undertaken by family members indicates this is unlikely. Joseph did indeed come from the same area as the other New England Forsters and was probably a kinsman. Although he married, he died without issue. [Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]
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