John STEVENS

Born about 1812 if his age at death is correct, I have at last realised that the 1848 census shows him to have probably arrived in Van Diemen's land as a convict, as he is neither native born, nor came free. He was a carpenter and builder in Bothwell.
Checking convicts of that name into Van Diemen's Land, it is possible that he arrived on Bardaster in January 1836.
John Stevens per Bardaster 13 Jan 1836 was convicted of Larceny at Middlesex Quarter Sessions on 18 May 1835 and sentenced to 7 years. His Gaol report was "Not known" and  Hulk Report "Good". The surgeon's report was also "Good", suggesting that he may not have been a hardened criminal.
He was married with one child and stated his offence "pledging tools, the property of Mr Mann, Paddington. His convict record shows that his "wife Charlotte was with her mother Susan Jerome at Chelsea".
I had a look at familysearch.com and found Charlotte Jarram married to John Stevens on 28 Jul 1834 at St. Mary, Battersea, in Surrey. A son, John George Stevens was born on 28 April 1835 and christened at St Luke's, Chelsea on 11 Oct 1835. Family search also shows that the child died in November 1836.
John Stevens received his Ticket of Leave on 3 March 1841 and his Free Certificate No. 377 in 1842.
Once in VDL, his conduct record mentions Bothwell and names associated with that area, so we must now hope to find some information to directly connect this convict and the man who married a widow, Elizabeth GEARD nee Schumack, in 1842.
They had three children, as well as her son by her previous marriage. In 1867 he built the Sunday School which is now used by the CWA in Bothwell.
The Mercury  newspaper Tuesday 18 August 1868 p 1 Family Notices
STEVENS.-On the 16th August, at Bothwell, William Stevens, aged 23 years and 10 months, only son of Mr. John Stevens, carpenter and builder, much respected by all who knew him. The funeral will move from his parents' residence on Friday next at 2 p.m. Friends accept this notice.

John Stevens died in 1890.

The Mercury Tuesday 22 July 1890 p 3 Article

TASMANIAN TELEGRAMS

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

SUICIDE AT BOTHWELL

BOTHWELL, MONDAY.

John Stevens, a very old and respected resident of Bothwell, died this morning from the effects of a self-inflicted wound in his throat, which he most determinedly inflicted with a razor on Friday last. Deceased had been drinking rather heavily of late, which is said to be the cause of his committing so rash on act. Mr Coroner Langdon will hold an inquest to-morrow. The inquest does not reveal any more. 
We can only speculate on what drove him to this end? Perhaps he was suffering from a painful terminal illness?