John was a convict, sentenced at Durham in april 1817 for larceny to seven years transportation. He came on the "Lady Castlereagh", arriving in Port Jackson on the 30th April 1818. This was the first ship to be fitted out with three distinct compartments, separated by open iron railings. This separated juveniles from hardened offenders, and allowed a freer flow of air. This reform then became the standard for convict transports. The "Lady Castlereagh" was then hired by Governor Macquarie to proceed to Hobart taking a ship load of convicts south. The ship was wrecked on the return voyage, having taken troops to India . (Bateson pages 69,202-203.)  

He was a 24 year old waterman from Lincolshire, 5'6" tall, with flaxen hair, blue eyes, and a yellow complexion. his behaviour in the colony was good, with only two offences recorded against him,once for being absent from his lodgings at night, and the second on December 1 1826after his freedom , for fighting and affraying Goulburn Street, for which he was bound over to keep the peace for three months.  

John and Mary began their married life in Launceston, where their first three children were born, returning to Glenorchy in time for the birth of their fourth child in 1830, where John worked as a sawyer.  

In 1838 John applied to the caveat board for the ratification of his title to 5 acres 6 perches of land in the parish of Glenorchy, part of the 60 acres originally granted to Thomas O'Brien. O'Brien had conveyed the land to Smith on 10 April 1823 just after his marriage to Mary Ann (Hobart Town Gazette 2-3-1838)  

In 1839 John Smith of Glenorchy applied fo a grant of land in the Huon area, and a grant of 100 acres was made to him at Castle Forbes Bay in 1841. They moved there in time for the birth of Thomas in May of that year.