Night Of Notables

By Shadow_Ace

  • Birth

    Born on the 9th of August 1759 at Launceston, Cornwall, England.

  • First Marriage

    I married Susannah Norcott in Cornwall, England in 1779. We had one daughter, Elizabeth (1779−1779) and one son, Richard (1780−1842).

  • Cornwall Assizes

    In 1782, I was tried at the Cornwall Assizes and sentenced to death for "seriously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Thomas Olive.” I then stole 2 silver watches and other goods.

  • Arrives in Australia on the First Fleet

    I was then reprieved and sentenced to transportation for seven years. I was then sent onto the Scarbrough ship, one of the First Fleet boats, and arrived in Australia on 22 January 1788.

  • First Successful Corn Harvest

    In 1789, I produced the first successful corn harvest in New South Wales. That harvest failed to yield sufficient corn to make flour for the colony, but I produced enough seeds for the next year's crop, which was successful. Because of the food supply that the colony needed, Governor Phillip rewarded me for my success with the first land grant made in New South Wales, along with a gift of pigs and chickens.

  • Second Marriage

    After being transported for my crime and creating a new life in New South Wales, I married fellow convict Elizabeth Parry (1769 – 27 May 1836) on 5 September 1790. We had five children together – Rebecah (1791−1792), James (1793−1866), Elizabeth (1794−1875), Susannah (1796 – 1872), and Mary (1798−1871). We raised seven children, two of whom were adopted.

  • Delcare self-sufficient

    In February 1791, I declared to the authorities that I was self-sufficient, and two months later, in March, I was granted a further 30 acres.

  • First land grant in the colony

    I was expected to harvest about 290 litres to the acre. After my sentence expired in 1792, the title of my land was deeded to me, the first land grant in the colony. In 1793, I sold my land to Dr. John Harris of the New South Wales Corps for 40 pounds. The property is now the Experiment Farm Cottage Museum of the National Trust of Australia.

  • Later Life

    Later, however, he was wiped out by flooding, which was always the risk of farming in the Hawkesbury, and had to find work as a seaman. He was heavily in debt and only the hard work of his wife saved him from bankruptcy. From 1828, he was employed as an overseer by a landowner at Minto, south of Sydney.

  • Death

    He died at Campbelltown on 5 September 1837.