William married in 1828 to Lucy Braithing. He left from a Sussex port on the ship 'Caroline', with his wife Lucy aged 18 and their baby son William, who died at sea and was buried off Rio. This was the only death on the voyage out. They subsequently raised six children. In 1837 William was working at 'Strelley' for Harris who was a surgeon and agriculturist. William was given a grant of land north of Guildford, where he farmed the land, built a house and raised a family. In 1841 William was working for a Mr Moore at Oakover, running his horse mill. In 1847 he was probably working for Joshua Gregory. In 1849 he was admitted to the Colonial Hospital with a broken thigh. His employer, William Brockman was reprimanded for lack of attention given to William. He was away when Lucy became ill. Realising that she did not have long to live she appealed to the Viveash family for help. They cared for her and Harriet, and Sarah went to live with the Gull family in Guildford. It was here that Sarah was burned to death when her crinoline caught fire. She was buried in the old cemetery in now the Guildford Grammar school grounds. Lucy died on 1 June 1859 and was buried in St Mary's Cemetery, Middle Swan - cause of death tuberculosis. William Bashford wandered into the bush at Dandaragan in 1865 and no trace of him was ever found. He was in the employ of Mr Brockman as a hut-keeper at a sheep station and was aged 70 years.