Mid North Coast Pioneers - Newcastle to Lismore and beyond

It should be noted that based on his age of 18 when he was convicted, his year of birth should be circa 1780.

Following his arrest he was confined on Prison Hulk "Stanislaus", England, between 12 October 1797 and 31 December 1797.

He 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."

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

The "Perseus" arrived in Sydney on 4 August 1802 from Spithead. She was of 362 tons under the command of John Davison, with W.S. Fielding being ther surgeon on board.

The Master was John Davidson.

Samuel James received his Ticket of Leave No. 41/215 on Saturday, 9 June 1810 at Sydney.

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.

Samuel James was employed as a Police Constable (Aust. Index Vol. 11, p. 3106) in The Hills District, NSW, Australia, Thursday, 18 August 1825.