William was uneducated and joined the army on 27/9/1839. He was described in Army records as a labourer. His Army number was 1466 and he was drafted to the 65th Regiment as a Private. In the army he spent time in Dublin, Ireland as a Recruitment Officer. In 1846 William was posted to NZ, the family arriving in Auckland on the Sir Robert Peel, in January 1847. They moved to Wellington in July 1847. He was discharged from the army in 1849, and moved to Hawke's Bay in 1852. William and Ann settled on land between Pakowhai and Farndon beside the Tutaekuri River. He sold10 acres of land at Pakowhai back to Mr BOUSFIELD in 1855 and in 1859 bought 4 1/2 acres (now hospital land). William disappeared in 1859 after a drinking spree at Munn's Hotel. 'Fears also are entertained for the safety of William Davis, an old resident in Napier who left the same place in a boat on Friday evening and who has not since been heard of. On pushing off he was observed to be in a helpless state, and several persons persuaded him to put back, but to no avail. His boat was afterwards found on a mudbank without any sign of its late occupant.' [Herald Tribune, 9/7/1859] His body was found on 18th July.

Source: Cherry SWAYN

Died by drowning. William had a brother Arthur. Arthur had two sons: Ron who married Ann TURTLE, and Len who married Vera CREED. [May DAVIS]