James Ruse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Ruse
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| Born | 9 August 1759 Lawhitton, England, United Kingdom
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| Died | 5 September 1837 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | Cornish, English |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Years active | 1789−1836 |
| Spouse(s) | Susannah Norcott, Elizabeth Perry |
| Children | Elizabeth (1779−1779), Richard (1780−1840), Rebecca (1791−1792), James (1793−1866), Elizabeth (1794−1875), Susannah (1796−1872), Mary (1798−1871). |
| Parent(s) | Richard Ruse, Elizabeth Curne |
James Ruse (born August 9, 1759 – died September 5, 1837) was a farmer from Cornwall, England. At 23, he was found guilty of burglary and sent to Australia as a convict. He arrived in Sydney Cove, New South Wales, with the First Fleet.
James Ruse asked Governor Arthur Phillip for land. He said he had been a farmer his whole life. Governor Phillip wanted the new colony to grow its own food. He gave Ruse a piece of land at Rose Hill, near Parramatta. Ruse worked hard and showed that families could farm and live in New South Wales. He received the first land grant in the colony. He grew and sold a lot of corn. Later, Ruse traded his Rose Hill land for better land near the Hawkesbury River. He faced challenges like floods. Later in life, he worked as a seaman and a farm overseer.
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Early Life and Arrival in Australia
James Ruse was born in Lawhitton, Cornwall, England, on August 9, 1759. In 1782, he was tried in court for breaking into a house and stealing items. He was sentenced to be transported, meaning sent to a far-off colony.
He sailed on the ship Scarborough, which was part of the First Fleet. This fleet brought the first European settlers and convicts to Australia. James Ruse arrived in Australia on January 22, 1788.
Australia's First Successful Farmer
In 1789, James Ruse achieved the first successful corn harvest in New South Wales. This first crop did not produce enough corn for the whole colony. However, Ruse grew enough seeds for the next year's crop. That crop was very successful.
The colony desperately needed food. Governor Phillip rewarded Ruse for his success. He gave Ruse the first land grant ever made in New South Wales. Ruse also received pigs and chickens. In February 1791, Ruse told the authorities he could support himself. Two months later, he received another 30 acres of land.
Ruse expected to harvest about eight bushels of corn per acre. After his sentence ended in 1792, he officially received the title to his land. This was the first land grant in the colony. In 1793, he sold his land to Dr. John Harris for 40 pounds. This property is now the Experiment Farm Cottage Museum.
In 1794, Ruse moved to a new farm. This farm was located where the Hawkesbury River meets South Creek. This farm was not as successful. Flooding was a big problem in the Hawkesbury area. Floods often destroyed his crops and income.
James Ruse was away from his family for some time. During this period, his wife, Elizabeth, worked hard to support their family. She sold crops to the colony's stores herself. Her hard work helped save the family from financial ruin.
From 1828, James Ruse worked as an overseer at Denham Court. He died in Campbelltown on September 5, 1837. He is buried with his wife Elizabeth and daughter Mary.
Ruse's gravestone has a special message. He carved parts of it himself. It reads:
"Gloria in Axcelsis
SACRED TO THE MEMEREY OF JAMES RUSE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE SEPT. 5TH IN THE YEAR OF HOURE LORD 1837 NATEF OF CORNWELL AND ARIVED IN THIS COLENEY BY THE FIRST FLEET AGED 78
MY MOTHER REREAD ME TENDERELY WITH ME SHE TOCK MUCH PAINES AND WHEN I ARIVED IN THIS COELNEY I SOWD THE FORST GRAIN AND NOW WITH MY HEVENLY FATHER I HOPE
FOR EVER TO REMAIN"
Family Life
James Ruse married Susannah Norcott in Cornwall, England, in 1779. They had a daughter named Elizabeth and a son named Richard.
After coming to New South Wales, Ruse married another convict, Elizabeth Parry (1769 – May 27, 1836). They married on September 5, 1790. Together, they had five children: Rebecah, James, Elizabeth, Susannah, and Mary.
Historical records show that Elizabeth Ruse also had two children, Ann Ruse Kiss and William James Ruse Kiss, with James Kiss. These children were raised within the Ruse family.
Legacy and Recognition
James Ruse is remembered in several places in Sydney. The James Ruse Agricultural High School in Carlingford is named after him. James Ruse Drive is a major road running near Parramatta. There is also a suburb in southwest Sydney called Ruse.
A copy of his tombstone stands at James Ruse Agricultural High School. His original headstone was carved by Ruse himself. His family moved it to a safe place after some damage occurred. The original headstone is now cared for by the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society.
In 1980, the Cornish folk singer Brenda Wootton wrote a song called "James Ruse." The song uses the last four lines of his headstone's inscription as its chorus.
See also
- List of convicts transported to Australia
