James Ruse

75

iain Frazier on 7th December 2025

Family connections for James (Ruse) are: Updating earlier contributions: RUSE James (Ruse) was born on 9 8 1759 son of Richard (Ruse) & Elizabeth (Curne-died 1766 at South Petherin) at Lawhitton Cornwall & baptised in 1759; he was moved to South Petherwin with his parents in about 1765; he became a farmer. He was employed in South Petherin tending hedges & gardens. He married firstly Susannah (Norcott) in 1779.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] Susannah (Norcott) was born about 1746. She stayed in England when her husband was deported & was assisted by her father in law.>>> James (Ruse) & Susannah (Norcott)produced 2 children: 1.Elizabeth (Ruse) was born in 1779. 2.Richard (Ruse) was born in 1781. .. >>>Susannah (Norcott/Ruse) apparantly had a second relationship which produced a child: [1.??? (???) was baptised in 1787.] .. >>>James (Ruse) was tried for house breaking & stealing 2watches of Thomas (Olive) at Bodmin Assizes Cornwall in 1782, sentenced to death commuted to 7years in Africa. After sentencing he was sent to Wood St Comptor London in 1783. From 1783 to 1785 he required medications-purging salts, bark concoctions, liniments against effects of dank dungeons. He was held on CERES hulk on River Thames from 1785 & CENSOR hulk from 1 6 1786 in preparation for transportation to Africa then Portsmouth Hampshire, but arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a journey of 13months on First Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH. He appears to have been granted 1acre-cleared by Government in recognition of his value as courageous & indurtrious-& a hut in Rose Hill/Parramatta & was recorded with 1.5acres of grain-making him the first farmer to produce grain in Australia-as claimed in his self-authored poem on his gravestone. He married secondly Elizabeth (Perry/Parry) on 5 9 1790 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was granted 30acres on 30 3 1791. In 1792 inspectors found farm very good-11acres cultivated maize 4sows 30fowls. In 1793 he sold 600bushells maize to commissary for 150lb & sold farm Rose Hill to surgeon John (Harris) for 40lb hoping to return to England. [John (Harris) was the partner of Ann (Mash) mentioned on this Website who also married William (Chapman) also mentioned on this Website.] In 1794 he ran out of money-sought & received grant 30acres Hawkesbury. In 1797 he was granted 40acres; and sold property of 30acres Hawkesbury for 300lb-intending to return to England. After 1797 he was charged with running gambling school; and was in court over 165lb debt to Thomas (Smith). In 1802 he sold 20acres Hawkesbury. From 1802-06 he may have worked as a seaman. In 1809 he sold 20acres Hawkesbury. In 1809 he was District constable at Hawkesbury. In 1820 he achieved 130acres by grant 75acres by purchase, held 45acres Windsor 20cleared 3horses 2cows 7hogs & was tenant to W (Baker) for 15acres. He was granted more land for grain & livestock, in Parramatta & Hawkesbury. In 1825 he had 10acres Windsor 10hogs. He sold some land & in 1828 was an overseer for Captain Richard (Brooks) at 'Denham Court' Lower Minto with his wife. He converted to Roman Catholic faith. He died on 5 9 1837 age78 father of perhaps 7children & was buried at Cathoic cemetery Campbelltown. Elizabeth (Perry/Parry) was born about 1769. She was tried-a second trial as earlier trial for similar offence 3months previously was aborted-for theft, on 13 10 1787, of gown etc of Abraham (Attewell) at Old Bailey on 24 10 1787 (quick justice), sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW a a convict on 3 6 1790 after a journey of 12months on LADY JULIANA-a ship with 228females who easily entertained the whole crew & also sailors at Teneriffe stopover. In 1806 she is recorded as living at Hawkesbury with three of her children as landholder with 7hogs 15acres and three free men. In 1828 she was recorded with her husband at 'Denham Court' Lower Minto. She was recorded as a farmer at Hawkesbury also & a carrier. She died in 1836 age about67. [Some details taken from this Website] James (Ruse) & Elizabeth (Perry) produced perhaps 5children: mostly girls 1.Rebecca (Ruse) was born in 1791 & baptised on 28 8 1791 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She died on 9 11 1792 age about1 at Experimental farm & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. 2.James (Ruse) was born on 26 5 1792 & baptised on 9 4 1793 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. Noted a Mary (Ruse) is recorded as born in 1792-not shown in Smees records - could she be Mary (Rose) or (Ross)? 3.Elizabeth (Ruse) was born on 24 12 1794 & baptised on 22 1 1795 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. It may be she who was living with her mother in 1806 at Hawkesbury. She married firstly John (Wells age60) emancipist on 30 3 1812 at St Matthews CofE Windsor-perhaps as restoration for debt owed by her father & perhaps not consummated.>>> ..John (Wells) was born about 1752. He was tried for theft, on 3 9 1788, of muslin of his employers John Richard (Ripley) & Philip (Rivers) at Old Bailey on 10 9 1788 (quick justice), sentenced to 7years, held at London Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyge of 7months on Fkeet ship NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. He died on 4 3 1820 age68 at Windsor & was buried, as (Wells/Wills), at St Matthews CofE Windsor.. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Elizabeth (Ruse/Wells) had a second relationship with Edward (Armfield), produced 11children & married him on 12 7 1822 at St Mathews CofE Windsor. She was recorded in 1828 as (Arnfield) at Windsor with her family. She died on 22 3 1875 age80 at Berrima mother of 11children. ..Edward (Armfield) was born about 1786. He was tried w/1other for shoplifting, on 19 5 1800, & stealing gold ear-rings of Robert (Chandler) at Old Bailey on 28 5 1800 (quick justice), sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 12 6 1801 after a voyage of 10.5months on EARL CORNWALLIS; he was Protestant. He was Free by Servitude by 1813. He owned land in Windsor in 1821. He was recorded in 1822 as a householder & in 1825 as a labourer. He was recorded in 1828 as (Arnfield) as a constable at Windsor with his family; & was recorded in 1829 as a constable. He died on 15 9 1866 age about80 at Berrima. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 4.Susannah (Ruse) was born in 1797. It may be she who was living with her mother in 1806 at Hawkesbury. She married firstly at age about13 Patrick (Harrigaddy) on 1 11 1810 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 6children. She was recorded in 1828 as (Hadgen/Hadigen) with his family at Lower Minto-& a second time as (Harrigan) at Macquarie Plains.>>> ..Patrick (Hargedon/Harrigan/Harrigaddy) was born about 1788. He was tried as a political prisoner at Mayo Ireland, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 27 7 1807 after a voyage of 7months on DUKE OF PORTLAND; he was Catholic. He farmed in the Hawkesbury District in the 1810s-1820s. He was pardoned for his work helping build the Bathurst Road. He was Free by Servitude by 1821. He oved to Lower Minto about 1824. He was a constable at Lower Minto from 1826-1829. He was recorded in 1828 as (Hadgen/Hadigen) with Conditional Pardon labourer with his family at Lower Minto-& a second time with Absolute Pardon as (Harrigan) settler at Macquarie Plains. He died in 1838 age about50 in Liverpool Hospital & was buried, as (Hawdon), on 18 6 1838 at Liverpool Pioneer Memorial Park. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Susannah (Ruse) had a second relationship with Richard (Ryan) & produced a child: she produced 7known children in her lifetime. ..1.??? (Ryan) was born in 1831. .. 5.Mary (Ruse) was born on 22 12 1798 & baptised on 8 1 1799 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. It may be she who was living with her mother in 1806 at Hawkesbury. She, shown as born in 1792, may have marrried firstly John (Crooke/s his first marriage) on 20 3 1815 at St Matthews CofE Windsor.>>> ..John (Crooks) was born in England. He arrived in Australia with his mother in 1807 on YOUNG WILLIAM.>>> ..Details of John (Crooks)s family are given in entry for Joseph (Crook/s DUKE OF PORTLAND 1807) on this Website. .. >>>This Mary (Ruse) may have had a second relationship with David (Noonan) in 1825 & produced 1child. She died about 1872 age about73 mother of 1known child. ..David (Noonan) was born about 1791 & became a quarryman. He was tried at Limerick co. Ireland in 1813, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 6 5 1814 after a voyage of 5months on THREE BEES. He was recorded in 1823 at Bunbury Curran. In 1824 he was recorded farming wheat/maize in the Minto area. He was Free by Servitude by 1825 ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 6a.an Ann (Ruse Kiss) seems to have been born about 1801-not shown in Smees records. .. 6b.James (Ruse Kiss) seems to have been born in 1806 & died in 1853. References: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' Betty L Meckel & Mollie Gillen 'Founders of Australia Biographical Dictionary of First Fleet'

43

Darryl Buley on 22nd April 2023

From the Colonial Secretary's Index: RUSE, James. Per "Scarborough", 1788; settler at Parramatta then Hawkesbury; first ex-convict to seek a grant and take up agriculture 1792 Feb 22-1797 Jun 1 On list of all grants & leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 pp.2, 24, 88) 1809 Aug District Constable. Received rations from the Hawkesbury Stores (Reel 6040; 9/2673 p.83) 1810 Jan Memorial (Fiche 3009; 4/1822 No.287) 1811 Feb 12,15 Purchased goods at an auction by John Howe at Windsor; sold for executors to the estate of the late Andrew Thompson (Reel 6040; ML C197 pp.5,13) 1816 Jan 16 On list of persons to receive grants of land in 1816 (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.26) 1816 Jun 22 On lists of persons to be issued with horned cattle from the Govt Herds (Reel 6038, SZ759 p.212; Reel 6031, 4/7028A p.31) 1816 Jul 20 On return of horned cattle issued from the Govt Herds between 8 May 1814 & 9 Jan 1819 (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.58) 1816 Nov 16 Of the Hawkesbury. On list of persons who came as convicts and who claimed they were free at the last General Muster, without supporting documentation (Reel 6038; SZ759 p.286) 1818 Jan 24 On list of persons for whom land grants ready for delivery (Reel 6038; SZ759 p.428) 1818 Dec 3 Signature in recommendation of Daniel Reed's petition (Fiche 3190; 4/1856 p.224) 1819 Apr 30 On return of persons indebted to Govt for cattle issued from the Govt Herds, to be paid for in cash or grain; listed as Ruce (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.254) 1821 Mar 5 On list of persons for whom grants of land have been handed over to the Surveyor General for delivery, with amount of fees to be charged (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.63) 1821 Mar 24 Store receipts of for wheat (Reel 6051; 4/1748 p.154) 1822 Feb 25-Mar 27 John Crooke convicted by Court of Criminal Jurisdiction of breaking and entering into Ruse's house (Reel 6023; X820 p.39)

75

iain Frazier on 16th December 2019

James (Ruse) was born & baptised in 1759 son of Richard (Ruse) & Elizabeth (Curne) at Lawhitton nr Launceston Cornwall. When he was about 6yrs the family moved to South Petherwin where his mother died in 1766.. In 1779 he married Susannah (Norcott) & produced 2children. In 1780 he is recorded as receiving payment of 10shillings for gardening from the parish overseer. After sentencing he was sent to Wood St Comptor London in 1783. From 1783 to 1785 he required medications-purging salts, bark concoctions, liniments against effects of dank dungeons. Transference to the CERES hulk was in preparation for transportation to Africa, so embarkation on SCARBOROUGH was an indiscrimanate change of the authorities plan. In the meantime Sarah (Norcott) & the chidren received support from the parish & her father in law. In 1787 an illegal child was born. They all remained in the United Kingdom. In 1789 James (Ruse) asked Governor Phillip for land grant for farming & received an allotment at Rose Hill/Parramatta. He was noted as industrious & courageous by Governor Phillip who arranged clearance of 1acre for him plus erection of a hut. His marriage to Elizabeth (Perry/Parry) was his second. They produced 6children. James (Ruse) & Elizabeth (Perry/Parry)s children were: Rebecca (Ruse) was born & baptised at St James Parramatta in 1791. She died in 1792 age about1. James (Ruse) was born in 1792 & baptised at St James Parramatta in 1793 age10months. Elizabeth (Ruse) was born in 1794 & baptised at St James Parramatta in 1795 age4weeks. She died in 1875 age80. She partnered with Edward (Armfield) after her marriage to John (Wells/Wills) and produced children. John (Armfield) Susannah (Ruse) was born about 1797. Mary (Ruse) was born in 1798 & baptised at St Phillips Sydney in 1799 age3weeks. She died in 1871 ag72. Ann (Ruse) was born about 1800. In 1806 Elizabeth (Parry/Perry) is recorded as living at Hawkesbury with three of her children as landholder with 7hogs 15acres and three free men. Recordings for James (Ruse) are: In 1790 he had 1.5acres wheat .5acre maize small kitchen garden. In 1791 he received land grant 30acres. In 1792 inspectors found farm very good-11acres cultivated maize 4sows 30fowls. In 1793 he sold 600bushells maize to commissary for 150lb & sold farm Rose Hill to surgeon John (Harris) for 40lb hoping to return to England. [John (Harris) was the partner of Ann (Mash) mentioned on this Website who also married William (Chapman) also mentioned on this Website.] In 1794 he ran out of money-sought & received grant 30acres Hawkesbury. In 1797 he was granted 40acres; and sold property of 30acres Hawkesbury for 300lb-intending to return to England. After 1797 he was charged with running gambling school; and was in court over 165lb debt to Thomas (Smith). In 1802 he sold 20acres Hawkesbury. From 1802-06 he may have worked as a seaman. In 1809 he sold 20acres Hawkesbury. In 1820 he achieved 130acres by grant 75acres by purchase, held 45acres Windsor 20cleared 3horses 2cows 7hogs & was tenant to W (Baker) for 15acres. In 1825 he had 10acres Windsor 10hogs. In 1828 he was overseer for Captain Richard (Brooks) Lower Minto; and cultivated 4acres 1horse 3cattle. More details for James (Ruse) can be found in a book by J R Israel 'See My Mother Reread (sic) Me Tenderley', a title that has reference to the inscription on his grave, etched by himself apparantly. Edward (Armfield) has an entry on this Website.

75

iain Frazier on 21st September 2019

James Ruse arrived NSW on SCARBOROUGH 1788. James married Elizabeth (Perry) convict 7yrs from LADY JULIANA in 1790 at St Johns Parramatta & produced 5children including Elizabeth born in 1794 & baptised in 1795 at St Johns Parramatta. In 1828 census he is described as age68 overseer/cattleman? to Captain (Brooks) Lower Minto. Elizabeth (Ruse) had married John (Wells/Wills), convict emancipist from NEPTUNE age60, in 1812 at St Matthews Windsor. John died in 1820. Rebecca married Noel (Chapman) convict 7yrs from SPEKE & produced at least 3children Elizabeth (Perry) has an entry in this Website. Noel (Chapman) has an entry in this Website. John (Wells) has an entry on this Website

8

Dain II Ironfoot on 17th September 2016

Originally sentenced to death

105

Denis Pember on 19th April 2016

In July 1789, aware that his term for transportation was up, James asked the governor, Arthur Phillip for a grant of land. An allotment was made at Parramatta and Phillip ordered that an acre of land be cleared and a hut constructed. In November 1790, Ruse was found to have one and a half acres in bearded wheat in May and a half an acre of maize in August, with a small productive kitchen garden. He married in September 1790, to Elizabeth Parry (Second Fleet Convict, Lady Juliana, 1790) Elizabeth was aged 21 and James was 31. He received a full land grant of 30 acres on 30 March 1791 and the following year the superintendent reported it well. The following year he had 11 acres cultivated mostly growing maize, 4 sows and 30 fowls. There are then continual changes as he improves his situation by developing, selling and obtaining several new grants. By 1828, his land holding had decreased ab=nd he was an overseer employed by Captain Richard Brooks at Lower Minto. Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: Page 326... [Ref R1563] Ruse, James, 68, F, Scarborough, 1788, Overseer to Capt Brooks, Lower Minto. [Ref R1564] Ruse, Elizabeth, 57, F, Lady Juliana, 1790. The children of James Ruse and Elizabeth included Rebecca (1791), James (1793), Elizabeth (1794), Susannah (1797), and Mary (1798). Ruse converted to the Roman Catholic faith late in life. Elizabeth died in 1836 and he died the following year. The headstone in the Catholic Cemetery at campbelltown is believed to have been designed and partially carved by him.... Sacred to the memory of James Ruse who departed this life Sep 5 in the year of Houre Lord 1837 Natef of Cornwell and arived in this coleney by the Forst Fleet aged 77. My mother reread me tenderley With me she took much paines And when I arived in this coleney I sowd the forst grain and now with my hevnly father I hope to for ever remain.

105

Denis Pember on 19th April 2016

James was born at Lawhitton in Cornwall (near Launceston). His family moved to South Petherwin, In 1779, aged 19, he married 33 year old Susannah Norcott. The couple had two children; Elizabeth (1779) and Richard (1781). In the parish records there is an entry where the South Petherin overseer recorded making a payment of 10 shillings to James Ruse "for making the garden hedge and digging the plants etc". He was clearly a farmer of some ability. In 1782 he was tried at Bodmin Assizes and sentenced to death for "burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Thomas Olive and stealing thereout 2 silver watches, value 5 pounds." He was reprieved and sentenced to transportation for seven years to Africa. He was sent to the 'Ceres' hulk in the Thames in 1785 in readiness for the voyage to Africa. He was then transferred to the 'Censor' hulk on 1 Jun 1786, and from there was sent to Portsmouth for embarkation aboard the first fleet ship 'Scarborough' on 27 Feb 1787. His wife stayed in England and was partly supported by the parish and her father in law; she baptised an illegitimate child in Sep 1787.