On the 4th August, 1838 aged 15, John Eli Goodyer was tried by theWarwick Assize Court for Highway Robbery on Tothem Common and sentencedto transportation for life. He departed London on the "Egyptian" 28thMarch 1838 and arrived in Launceston 16th August, 1839 (convict number29787). He stated that he was un-married. John received a bad reportfrom the gaol in England, but a good report from the Hulk and Surgeon onthe "Egyptian", who stated that he had a fine disposition. John wasfirst at George Town, then Westbury, where the only punishment recordedagainst him was on the 3rd November 1843, when the Magistrate Ashburnersentenced John to 36 lashes for misconduct. The punishment inflictedwould have been imposed by Mayor Willian Page Ashburner, Justice of thePeace for Westbury, who owned the Silwood Estate in the Westbury areawhere John worked after his ticket of leave. He then went to WilliamChapman's Farm at North Esk Creek, John never went to Port Arthur. Anote from the Hobart Town Gazette made reference to John on the 4thSeptember 1844 that he was a Pass Holder engaged in private service toWilliam Blair of North Esk.
On 3rd November 1846 at the Holy Trinity Church of England in Launceston,John married William Chapman's daughter Susan. The census of 1 Jan 1848states that John Eli Goodyer with his wife and one daughter under two,were living in a wooden house on the property of William Chapman, NorthEsk Creek. The family's religious denomonation was Church of England.Their neighbours included William Blair, William Whittle and David McGowan, owner of "Ravenswood". John Eli received a conditional pardon on20th May 1851.
In 1852 when their father William died. Susan and her brother Thomas had60 acres of land divided between them. William's eldest son Jamesinherited forty acres. Thomas sold his land in 1888.
John Goodgyer was a happily married man, who loved all his children andthey loved him. His sons Henri and John who farmed at Bangor, oftenhitched up the buggy and went to Ravenswood for weekends where John wouldplay horsey with Daisey and Agatha and his son John (Uncle Jack) wouldsing "Two Little Girls in Blue".
Susan died 13th May 1908 and John on 25th May 1908 at Ravenswood. Theyhad 13 children and had reared five grand-children. On their deaths theyhad eighty-five grand-children. They lived at Ravenswood for over sixtyyears. Both John and Susan are buried in the Cypress Street Church ofEngland Elphin Cemetery in Launceston.