Land grant to
James Williams
James Williams was born on Norfolk Island in 10 December 1796. He is thought to have been the son of Frances Williams, a convict sent to the island, and Robert Ryan, one of the island’s marines. On Frances’s death, Noah Mortimer (also a convict) fostered James. When the settlement at Norfolk Island was closed, Noah, James and his sister Jane were part of a contingent sent to Hobart. Noah took up a grant of 183 acres (74 hectares), awarded by Macquarie, in Newtown, close to the centre of Hobart.
In a report from 1818 chronicling the death of his wife and infant daughter, James was described as a ‘settler and district constable’.
James Williams’ land grant is largely printed, but the hand written description of the location of his grant of land is as follows: ‘Argyle, Van Diemen’s Land, Bounded on the North east side by Charles Connollys’ Farm, on the North west by a line bearing south twenty five degrees west Fifteen Chains, In the south west side by a line bearing east twenty five degrees south ?6 Chains. And on the south east by a line bearing north Twenty five degrees East Fifteen Chains.’
On the back of Williams’ land grant is written: ‘James Williams’s V.D. Land Grant Fifty Acres – Registered 6th July 1820’
Also: ’I James Williams do hereby Transfer and make over the within named Grant of Land unto Scarfe Hull Esquire for the sum of Thirty five pounds Sterling in hand paid to me this day – as will more fully and at last? Appear by a certain deed executed by me hereunto annexed – and dated this first day of August One thousand Eight hundred and Twenty one –
The Mark of
X
James Williams
The text is crossed with the words: ‘Exhibited before the Commissioners the 31st December 1834 James ?
Page 191 No.6 Register