'Joseph Eyles the convict' was convicted of the theft of 40 lbs of roofing lead from the house of William Fitzhugh Esq., of the Parish of Millbrook, Southampton, Hampshire England and sentenced to 7 years transportation.
Joseph under his family name of Joseph "Isles", aged 23, was "Committed October 12th [1796], by R.V. Sadlier, Esq. charged on oath with feloniously stolen, taken, and carried away a quantity of lead, the property of William Fitzhugh, Esq. in the parish of Millbrook."
Information has now been found which identifies 'Joseph Isles' as the eldest son of Thomas and Frances Isles of the Parish of Millbrook, who was christened in the Holy Rood Church, Southampton Hampshire England in December 1771.
The current connection of the birth of a son, Joseph Eyles,Esq. born to Sir Joseph Eyles and Mary Dudley of Marlborough Wiltshire England as our ancestor "Joseph Eyles the Convict" is proved to be a false line as Joseph Eyles, Esq. son of Sir Joseph Eyles, is recorded in the 'Hampshire Chronicle' as having died at East Meon England on Saturday March 11th.1815. He obviously never made it to New South Wales.
There are many records (including court papers) which make a firm connection between Joseph Isles (later named Eyles) and the Isles family of the Parish of Millbrook, Southampton, Hampshire England which continues in the records back to the 1600s under various spellings of Isles, Iles and Ayles.
Good luck with your research and I hope that this information is as valuable to all of you as it has been to me. Regards to all Eyles, Isles, Iles and Ayles relatives.
Glen (ne Eyles)