Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

At trial in 1798, Samuel was described as "about 12 years of age", which would put his date of birth at about 1786.

Name: Samuel James
Baptism Date: 27 Jun 1784
Baptism Place: Theydon Garnon, All Saints, Essex, England
Father: Samuel James
Mother: Elisabeth James

Samuel was a convict. He appeared on 29 November 1797 at Lent Assizes, Essex, England, and was charged on the oath of Samuel Miller of having, on 26th November 1797, 'broken his Bereau (sic) and stolen thereout Six Shillings his property and a Note of the Bank of England of the Value of Ten Pounds'.

The Indictment read as follows:

"the Jurors for our Lord the King upon their Oath present that Samuel James the Younger late of the Parish of Theydon Garnon in the County of Essex Labourer on the twenty sixth day of November in the thirty eighth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third King of Great Britain with force and arms at the parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid in the dwelling house of Samuel Miller feloniously did steal, take and carry away one piece of Silver Coin of this realm called an half Crown of the value of Two Shillings and sixpence three pieces of Silver Coin of this realm called Shillings of the value of three shillings and one piece of Silver Coin of this realm called a sixpence of the value of sixpence of the Monies of Samuel Miller and one Bank Note for the payment of Ten Pounds and of the value of Ten Pounds the said note at the time of committing the felony aforesaid being the property of the said Samuel Miller and the sum of Ten Pounds payable and secured thereby being then due and unsatisfied against the form of Statute in such Case made and provided and against the peace of our said Lord the King his Crown and dignity."

Samuel was confined on Prison Hulk "Stanislaus", England, between 12 October 1797 and 31 December 1797.

He was tried at Lent Assizes, Chelmsford, Essex, England, Monday, 5 March 1798 at the age of 18. He pleaded guilty to the charge and had no goods to return. He was originally sentenced "to be hanged by the neck until he be dead" but this was later commuted to transportation for seven years.

Samuel James arrived in New South Wales as a convict aboard the ship Perseus on August 4 1802. The ship sailed from Spithead, England, on Friday, 12 February 1802. The master of the ship was John Davidson.

"On the 28th ult. Samuel James, was committed to our gaol, by the Rev. Thomas Abdy. Abdy, charged with stealing a bank note of 10 pounds and 6 s. out of his bureau, which he broke open".

"... and Samuel James, a boy of about 12 years of age, for stealing a ten pound note from a farmer, near Epping, left for execution".

"... received sentence of death; as did Samuel James, a boy of about twelve years of age, for stealing a 10 pound note from a farmer, near Epping, with whom he lived servant."

The ship Perseus arrived in NSW 4 Aug 1802

In the 1806 General Muster Samuel was a labourer at Parramatta.

Samuel James of the parish of St John Parramatta and Ann Bean were married in this church by banns this twenty eight day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and eight by me James Mileham J.P.
Samuel made his X mark and Ann signed the register
in the presence of Benjamin Jacobs and Ann Brient who both made their X marks

"PUBLIC NOTICE
SECRETARY'S OFFICE
23d June 1810
The Persons whose Names are inserted underneath, and who arrived in this Colony in the several recited ships under which their Names respectively appear, have obtained Certificates from His Excellency the GOVERNOR, of their being restored to all the Rights of Free Subjects in consequence of their Terms of Transportation being expired; they are therefore henceforth to be respected accordingly.
By Command of His Excellency.
JOHN THOMAS CAMPBELL, Secretary...
Perseus, 1802...
Samuel James..."

In the General Muster, Land & Stock Muster - September to November 1818 - Samuel was shown as having 80 acres of land and four head of cattle.

Samuel received a grant of land as follows:
"Unto Samuel James His Heirs and Assigns to Have and to Hold For Ever Eighty acres of land - lying and situate in the District of Castle Hill - Bounded on the East by Williams, Fishburn and Tiernan farms bearing North twenty five degrees East thirty seven Chains - on the North by a line West twenty five degrees North twenty four chains - on the West by a line South twenty five degrees West to James farm - and on the South by that and Bradley's farms to Bean's North Corner - Conditioned not to sell or alienate the same for the space of Five years from the Date hereof and to Cultivate Eighteen Acres within the said period - and reserving to Government the Right of Making a Public Road through the same - and also reserving for the use of the Crown such Timber as may be deemed fit for Naval purposes - Quit Rent One Shilling.
In Testimony this 13th day of January 1818
signed L. Macquarie
Witnessed by John Watts H. Macquarie."

In the 1822 General Muster, Samuel was listed as a Constable of Parramatta.

A Memorial to Sir Thomas Brisbane on 3rd September 1823 stated that Samuel had 20 acres cleared and cultivated, 40 acres of pasture, and that a substantial dwelling house had been erected. Samuel was asking for his family to be victualled from Government Stores so was apparently finding it difficult to support them from their own farming.
In a further Memorial to the Governor dated 7th August 1824 it is stated that Samuel had been free for 19 years, had been a District Constable in the Baulkham Hills area for seven years, was in ill health and had nine children under 16 years living at home. He had, by diligent work, cleared and cultivated 20 acres of land; however, a fire earlier in the year had damaged property and implements. He was seeking a further grant of land as pasture for his cattle. It is doubtful that this grant was granted.

In the 1825 General Muster Samuel was listed as a constable of Pennant Hills.

James, Samuel, 44, free by servitude, Perseus, 7 years, Protestant, constable, Baulkham Hills
James, Ann, 38, came free, Buffalo, 1801, Protestant
James, John, 12, born in the colony
James, Samuel (Jun), 10, born in the colony
James, Lucy, 6, born in the colony
James, Sarah, 4, born in the colony
James, Jane, 2, born in the colony

He and Ann Bean signed a deed of gift as follows:
BOOK 579 No. 202
DEED OF GIFT
COLONY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Know all men by these presents that I, Samuel James of Baulkham Hills, in the colony of New South Wales, farmer, and my wife, Ann James, have for and in considerations of the natural love and affection which we have and bear for our son John James of Baulkham Hills, in the colony of New South Wales aforesaid, and by these presents do give and assign and set over unto the said John James our son, all that cottage and premises in which I now reside together with the land and tenements thereunto appertaining and belonging to the farm containing about 50 acres or thereabouts bounded on the east by William Fishburns and Tiernans Farms, bearing north 20 degrees east, 37 chains on the north by a mile west 25 degrees north, 24 chains on the west by a line south 20 degrees west to Jones farm and on the south by Bradley's farms, to have and to hold the same to and for the use of said John James our son, on certain proviso and provisos forever. That is to say my son John James is bound unto us both that upon taking possession of the said land and premises, he the said John James is bound to provide a sufficient maintenance and support in a respectable manner as long as we both live. Reserving for our joint use the cottage we now reside in and at our demise to be interred in a decent manner carried in an undertakers hearse to the grave.
But it is expressly to be understood that the said farm is not to be mortgaged aliened or sold on any pretence without the consent of the present proprietor, in that case made and provided and then at the demise of the said John James to revert in his will and last testament to such person as the said John James may think proper to leave the aforesaid land by and with the consent of such members of the family as shall approve the same.
In witness whereof we have both hereunto set our hand and seal this 16th day of July in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
Louise Henry Campbell
James James
Samuel James
Ann James.

Samuel James of Baulkham Hills
Died 6 Mar 1855 and buried 8 Mar 1855 aged 71 years, a farmer

Samuel James
BIRTH unknown
Essex, England
DEATH 6 Mar 1855
Parramatta, City of Parramatta Council, New South Wales, Australia
BURIAL
St. John's Cemetery
Parramatta, City of Parramatta Council, New South Wales, Australia
MEMORIAL ID 83167678

Sacred
to the Memory of
SAMUEL JAMES
Died March 5 1855
Aged 71 years
O think who is on this stone you look
Tis written in the Holy Book
That Christ in mercy shed his blood
To bring poor sinners back to God
Burial register:
Samuel James. Baulkham Hills. 6-3-1855. 8-3-1855. Farmer