By the time George was 6 years old his father was listed as a drunkard and had deserted the family and his mother was in Darlinghurst goal. George, with his brothers and sisters, was admitted to the Benevolent Society in Sydney on 21 February 1878. On 25 June 1878 George and Margaret (Alice) were discharged from the Sydney Asylum Benevolent Society back into the care of their mother Catherine Wylie but this was short lived. On 21 August 1878 they were sent to the Randwick Children¹s Asylum for Destitute Children, George is said to be 4 1/2 but he would have been 6. George spent 6 years at Randwick and learned to read and write. When he was 12 years old he was discharged to a Boarding Out Officer, Mr Maxted, on 18 December 1884. George was then boarded out to a Mr McMahon, in the South Coast District, where he lost an eye in a fight with another boy and bullock whips. He was taken to Moorecliffe Hospital Sydney for treatment. On recovery he was sent to a Cottage Home at Mittagong. About 1888-89 he was sent from the State Children¹s Relief Department (SCR) to a farmer, Mr Hart. On 27 July 1889 he and another boy named Jamison who had been in hospital with him, ran away from Mr Hart taking with them possessions whips and other articles. He was arrested by Constable Miles at Wollongong on 15 August 1889, charged with being a vagrant with no fixed place of abode and complaints from Mr Hart about his conduct. He was admitted to the detention ship "The Vernon" on Sydney Harbour for 9 months (until he is over 18) and a situation was procured for him in April 1890 . The entry sheet says he is "much disfigured by the loss of an eye". On 23 October 1899 he married Hannah (Johanna) Schubert and they lived at 34 Pyrmont Bridge Rd Sydney. George was a dealer in Oysters and Hannah home duties. The Marriage was dissolved by Decree of the Supreme Court of NSW on 17 December 1912. George then married Elizabeth Eva Schubert on 7 January 1913 and living at 77 O'Connell Street Newtown. George's occupation was listed as Tailor. They had 9 children: Mona, George, Alfred, Joseph, Kathleen, Hazel Margaret, Joyce Lillian and Arthur (twins), and Alick. George died at the Western Suburbs Hospital at Lidcome (or Croydon) on 28 April 1936 of Cardiac failure and is buried at Rookwood Roman Catholic Cemetery.