James Austin

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Maureen Withey on 17th February 2023

James Austin may not have married, but after his death, his will was disputed by a lady named Hannah Garrett. Her lawyer had this notice published in the newspaper: AS Agent for Hannah Garratt of Roseneath Ferry, I the undersigned hereby give notice to the public, that all the Horses, Brood Mares, Horned Cattle, Sheep, and all other personal effects belonging to her by virtue of the Will of the late Mr. James Austin, are with certain real estates on lease only to Messrs. Austin's of Glenarchy, and that such personal effects are only subject to be sold to liquidate and discharge the debts of the late James Austin, and that trustees are now appointed to the said Hannah Garratt's Estates, and a bill in Equity will be forthwith filed in the Supreme Court of Van Diemen's Land, praying for a discovery of the full particulars of all the real and personal property so bequeathed by the said Jas Austin, the same not having been fully inserted and described in the Lease, (or by any Schedule attached thereto) so granted to the said Messrs. Austin's, which said Lease the said Hannah Garratt at the time of signing, did not understand or receive a proper explanation of its nature, or of such necessary essentials, restrictions and clauses as have been omitted in the said Lease. J. HOLLAND. April 11, 1833.

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Maureen Withey on 16th February 2023

Hulk Records. Portsmouth. HO-9-8_1. page 49/52 Received five from Somerset, 28 Feb. James Austin, age 24, Larceny, tried at Somerset, 13 Jan 1802, BS 7 years. Calcutta.

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Maureen Withey on 13th February 2023

Tasmanian Records. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-1_0006 Per Calcutta, James Austin, Convicted at Somersetshire Sessions of Peace, tried 13 Jan 1802, 7 years.

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Eric Harry Daly on 31st December 2012

James Austin, landowner and ferry proprietor, was baptized on 13 August 1776 at Baltonsborough, Somerset, England, son of John Austin and his wife Sarah. He was a farm labourer at Baltonsborough when he and John Earle were convicted of stealing beehives and honey and each sentenced to transportation for seven years. On regaining his freedom, Austin was granted thirty acres (12 ha) on the River Derwent where by 1819 he had a flock of 700 sheep and was employing eight convict servants. In partnership with Earle, Austin also established a very useful ferry across the river. Awake to the benefits of their monopoly, the partners opened a quay-side inn, the comforts and setting of which greatly impressed Governor Lachlan Macquarie who stayed there in 1821 and named it Roseneath. In the same year they judiciously took a licence to run an inn on the opposite bank of the Derwent and thus faced the traveller with a predicament which the land commissioners were later to advance successfully as an argument for a bridge to replace the ferry: 'if he steers clear of Scylla, Charybdis in all probability engulphs him, one night's charges there, deprives him of at least as much as the Ferry', charges for which they considered a serious drain on the colonial economy. With one of their punts able to carry a flock of 300 sheep or five loaded carts at once, Austin's ferry service was an important link in communications with the interior until the completion of the Bridgewater causeway in 1836, and reaped an annual profit to the enterprising partners of £2000. With the proceeds Austin improved his farm and by 1823 claimed to have the largest orchard in the colony as well as considerable livestock which earned him further grants. In 1831 he owned nearly 3000 acres (1214 ha) by grant and purchase, and had built three large stone houses and all their accompanying farm buildings. By these large investments in the colony, his allowance of free ferry passage to government officers, and ready help in the construction of the New Norfolk road, he won high credit with the colonial administration. His reputation encouraged Andrew Bent, then in trouble for libel, to hope that by taking cover under Austin's proprietorship and publishing licence he might continue his attacks on the Arthur administration in the Colonial Times. As Austin, for all his virtues of industry, was almost illiterate, it required little sagacity for the government to see through this scheme, and his friendly efforts for Bent were frustrated by the refusal of his licence. 'Wealthy but eccentric', Austin never married, but before his death at Roseneath on 28 December 1831 his generosity had helped to establish in the colony several of his nephews, including James and Thomas Austin, who emigrated from Somerset in 1825 and later played a prominent part in the breeding of stud merino sheep in Victoria and New South Wales.