Edmund,

It didn't happen very often, as the journey back to England (or Ireland, or Scotland) was long and expensive. Many folk took themselves a new wife or husband by whom they had a family - they probably knew there was a very slender chance that the first spouse would find out. Transportation gave many a chance to re-invent themselves long before the term became fashionable.

I have several convicts in my ancestry so I am a fair dinkum Ozzie.

Cheers
JennieG