Samuel James

M, #23, b. circa March 1784, d. 6 March 1855
Click to view Pedigree
FatherSamuel James b. 18 Sep 1748, d. 7 Jan 1829
MotherElizabeth Clayton b. 1742, d. 6 Sep 1828
Relationship3rd great-grandfather of Robert Mote

Life Span

EVENTDATEDETAILS
Birthcirca March 1784Samuel James was born circa March 1784 at Theydon Garnon, Essex, England; It should be noted that based on his age of 18 when he was convicted, his year of birth should be circa 1780.
He was the son of Samuel James and Elizabeth Clayton.
Baptism27 June 1784Samuel James was baptized on Sunday, 27 June 1784 at All Saints Church, Theydon Garnon, Essex, England.
Marriage28 November 1808He married Ann Bean, daughter of James Thomas John Bean and Elizabeth Taylor, on Monday, 28 November 1808 at St John's Church of England, Parramatta, NSW, Australia. The ceremony was performed by James Milcham J.P. and the witnesses were Benjamin Jacobs and Ann Briant.
Death6 March 1855Samuel James died on Tuesday, 6 March 1855 at Parramatta, NSW, Australia.1
Burial8 March 1855He was buried on 8 March 1855 at Parramatta, NSW.

Criminal Record

DatePlaceDetails
29 November 1797Lent Assizes, Essex, EnglandSamuel James appeared on Wednesday, 29 November 1797 at Lent Assizes, Essex, England, where Samuel James the Younger - Committed Nov. 29th 1797 by T Abdy Abdy (sic) Clerk charged on the Oath of Samuel Miller with having 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."2
5 March 1798Lent Assizes, Chelmsford, Essex, EnglandHe 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.
9 June 1810Sydney, NSW, AustraliaHe received his Ticket of Leave No. 41/215 on Saturday, 9 June 1810 at Sydney, NSW, Australia.3

Voyages

DateDetails
12 February 1802Samuel James was a convict aboard The Ship Perseus which sailed from Spithead, England, on Friday, 12 February 1802 and arrived in Sydney on 4 August 1802. The Master was John Davidson.4

Residences

DATEADDRESSComments
between 12 October 1797 and 31 December 1797Prison Hulk "Stanislaus", England

Census Entries

Census DatePlaceDetails
1828New South Wales, AustraliaSamuel James appeared on the census of 1828 at New South Wales, Australia. The entry shows -
· Aged 44 years
· Free Settler
· Arrived in the colony on the ship Perseus
· Had been sentenced to 7 years imprisonment
· Religion - Protestant
· Occupation - Constable
· Resident at Baulkham Hills
· Had 80 acres of land and 4 cattle.

Other Details

LabelDateDetails
ReligionSamuel James and Ann Bean were Church of England.
Article13 January 1818Samuel 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."2
Article3 September 1823A 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.5
Article7 August 1824In 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 Samuel received an additional grant of land.5
Employment18 August 1825Samuel James was employed as a Police Constable (Aust. Index Vol. 11, p. 3106) in The Hills District, NSW, Australia, Thursday, 18 August 1825.6
Article16 July 1852He 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.

Family

Ann Bean b. 12 Nov 1789, d. 11 Mar 1854
Children
ChartsPedigree Chart for Robert Mote
Indented Descendant Chart - Thomas Beane
Box Descendant Chart - Thomas Beane
Descendant Chart - Samuel James
Last Edited21 Sep 2011

Citations

  1. [S2] Index of BDM records, NSW BDM, Place of Death Registration: Parramatta; Year of Registration: 1855; Registration Number: V18551853 43A.
  2. [S43] T S New, New Family History.
  3. [S43] T S New, New Family History, Register of Tickets of Leave, Pardons and Certificates of Freedom; Archives Office of NSW C.O.D 18, page 496 of list page 52.
  4. [S488] Cathy Brogan, "The Cobcroft Family," e-mail to Robert Mote, 2004.
  5. [S129] Letter, Elisabeth Jill Clift to Robert Mote, 20 April 2000.
  6. [S43] T S New, New Family History, Australian Index Vol. 11 page 3106.