Cornishman Samuel Carvosso, with Louisa and four children, arrived in South Australia, in February 1849. An 'Old Colonist', this historical biography reveals Samuel's life, personality, and motivation within the business, Wesleyan, and political life of the early years of Adelaide. An extensive appendix includes:

family trees Samuel's contemporaries and extended family intersecting his life insightful fragments about the women in Samuel's wife Louisa, and their daughters.