James Ruse
James was born in 1759 in Cornwall,
England. He grew up learning the tricks and trade of farming, being a farm hand
for most of his childhood life.
In 1782, at the age of 23, he was tried and sentenced to death for “Burgulariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Thomas Olive about 1 in the night and stealing thereout 2 silver watches and other goods.” Luckily, James avoided the death penalty and instead was sentenced to transportation for seven years. He arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788.
When the sentence had ended in 1789, James applied for a land grant that would allow him to take up farming. Governor Phillip provided James with tools, a shed and a small area of land in Rose Hill, Parramatta. It was in this year that James produced the first successful wheat harvest in New South Wales. Governor Phillip later issued the grant in 1791. This was the first land grant made in the state. In 1790, James married Elizabeth Perry, a fellow convict, and had six children were born to them.
As a successful farmer, James was wiped out by flooding which had been the risk of farming in the Hawkesbury River area having moved there in 1794. Only through the work of his wife was James able to avoid bankruptcy. Later on, James died on the 5th of September, 1837 at the age of 78.
In 1782, at the age of 23, he was tried and sentenced to death for “Burgulariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Thomas Olive about 1 in the night and stealing thereout 2 silver watches and other goods.” Luckily, James avoided the death penalty and instead was sentenced to transportation for seven years. He arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788.
When the sentence had ended in 1789, James applied for a land grant that would allow him to take up farming. Governor Phillip provided James with tools, a shed and a small area of land in Rose Hill, Parramatta. It was in this year that James produced the first successful wheat harvest in New South Wales. Governor Phillip later issued the grant in 1791. This was the first land grant made in the state. In 1790, James married Elizabeth Perry, a fellow convict, and had six children were born to them.
As a successful farmer, James was wiped out by flooding which had been the risk of farming in the Hawkesbury River area having moved there in 1794. Only through the work of his wife was James able to avoid bankruptcy. Later on, James died on the 5th of September, 1837 at the age of 78.
For more information please visit the following websites:
http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/RuseJames
http://firstfleetfellowship.org.au/stories/james-ruse/
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ruse-james-2616
http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/RuseJames
http://firstfleetfellowship.org.au/stories/james-ruse/
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ruse-james-2616