From Dorset to New South Wales - The Royal George.

In 1835, Governor Bourke proposed and the Colonial Secretary approved a dual system of immigration for New South Wales which combined the best features of government assisted and privately controlled immigration. While the former required official agents of the colony stationed in England to select immigrants and to see to their passages, the latter, which was known as the Bounty System, allowed colonists with sufficient means to engage their own agents in England to choose suitable emigrants and bring them to the colony.

The Bounty System was more likely to attract people whose occupations would fit them for colonial life since the colonist was responsible for selecting the immigrants he needed. The sponsor of the suitable immigrant was given a sum of money (the Bounty) depending upon the age and sex of the immigrant sponsored. On arrival in Sydney, the assisted immigrants appeared before the Examining Board appointed by the Governor. The Board examined the testimonials of character, which were meant to be brought by the immigrant and which were supposed to be signed by "clergy men and respectable inhabitants" in the district from which they came. If possible, certified copies of baptismal registers were also to be shown to satisfy the Board as to the ages of the immigrants. Generally, the Examining Board had no guarantee that the character testimonials were genuine, except that the settlers were required to provide a list to the Colonial Secretary of the persons they desired to introduce, with a description of their condition and calling.

Among the passengers sponsored by the Government and Bounty schemes were the families of the four Norris brothers, Henry, Sampson, Isaac and William. They came in three ships, the Brothers (1836), Royal George (1838) and Emigrant (1849). The first two brothers were brought out by James and William Macarthur.

During the 1830s the Macarthur family of Camden began bringing out immigrants to suit their ideas of good farming and a good colony. Although convict labour had contributed to the Macarthur's early prosperity, James Macarthur had expressed his wish to remove the "plague spot" of convict transportation and convict social influences from the colony. The Macarthurs' new plan envisaged their property, Camden Park, as an estate of tenant farmers. James' brother William spoke of the need to keep together the people who emigrated in groups to form rural communities, thus reducing social dislocation.

The Macarthurs were quick to use the Bounty System upon its inception in 1835. In England, Major Edward Macarthur worked hard to find suitable emigrants, arranging for some forty families of agricultural labourers to settle at Camden Park Estate. These were brought out in three separate voyages between 1837 and 1839 (Six families of German vignerons were also brought out during this period aboard the Kinnear). Once settled at Camden the immigrants were to work as employees for three years (five years in the case of the Germans) and then leased a farm and a small flock of sheep.

The first of the three ships arranged by the Macarthurs to carry emigrants to New South Wales was the Brothers. During September 1836 Edward Macarthur contacted the Rector of Chettle in Dorset who solicited volunteers on his behalf. The sixteen families chosen consisted mainly of mixed farmers from the surrounding parishes, including the family of Henry Norris. Brothers left Portsmouth on 30 October 1836, arriving in Sydney on 8 April 1837. The second ship John McLelland arrived in Sydney on 3 October 1838, carrying more agricultural labourers. These emigrants were also from the same general area of Dorset and were reunited with friends and relations already at Camden. Meanwhile Edward Macarthur was making preparations for a third voyage. His brother James was also in England at this time, ostensibly on business but also in search of a suitable wife. In June 1838 James married Amelia Stone and, while the newlyweds honeymooned, Edward searched for a suitable ship in which to convey the third party of emigrants to New South Wales.

By 9 August 1838, Edward Macarthur, on his brother's behalf, had signed an agreement with George Richards, Commander of the Royal George, A1. Built in 1820 on the River Humber, the Royal George was a three masted ship of 585 ton, measuring 116.5 x 28.0 x 20.7 ft. It had previously transported convicts to New South Wales as well as making various trips with Bounty immigrants. It was later also used for convict transport before being wrecked at Doboy on 10 March 1861.

The agreement specified accommodation for 12 cabin passengers "with all the necessary provisions of the best kind, live stock, wine, spirits, ale and beer, etc. as is customary in first rate ships trading to the colony of New South Wales". Each cabin passenger would be allowed 1 ton of luggage.

The ship was also to take 40 steerage passengers with their children "of which children the aggregate age is not to exceed that of twenty persons of 14 years of age". Twenty cabins were to be built, 10 upon each side, each cabin measuring six feet square "with the requisite sleeping berths to be 3'6" wide if required". The space between decks (in which the cabins were to be erected) was to be exclusively for their use. Each steerage passenger would be allowed one half ton of luggage [see Diagram].

The ship was to be available to receive passengers on board at Gravesend and Portsmouth no later than 10 October 1838 at the latter and was then to proceed to New South Wales. In return, James Macarthur was to pay 2,000 pound, two-thirds at Portsmouth with the ship equipped for the voyage and one-third at Sydney, five days after arrival.

In a letter to his brother William dated 25 September 1838, Edward Macarthur listed the proposed emigrants by the Royal George. It named five families from Dorset, including that of Sampson Norris, and notes that "his brother went with the first party" (ie the Brothers). The list was not finalised as Edward Macarthur adds that "there may be one more and wife from Kent in addition." He also points out that "13 cottages of proportionate size will be required" presumably on the Estate and that, although each family was already provided with bedding and utensils, they "may require each Family an Iron Pot." The Royal George, Edward explained, "ought to sail from Portsmouth on the 10th of October" adding "It may be the 15th."

The Saturday Magazine of 11 May 1839, described the arrangements made for the emigrants on the Royal George as typical of Bounty ships sailing to New South Wales: "Every family has a separate cabin; with a sleeping berth or berths. If there are in the family more than one child, a separate berth and bedding are provided; and when there are several children they have separate cabins. Single men, or boys of more than 10 years of age, sleep in hammocks, in the open space between the cabins, which married men also have the means of doing.

"The bedding provided is of better description than persons of this class usually possess, and is intended not only for the voyage, but to serve in their dwellings on shore. Each cabin has a ventilator, three and a half inches in diameter, to which a glass or bullseye is fitted, and is removable at pleasure for the admission of fresh air. All the bedding and utensils are numbered according to the cabins, and a list is put up in each cabin of the several articles in it. The bedding is daily taken upon deck, where in bad weather it is covered up, as in ships of war.

"The utensils are of a very substantial kind, because they are not to be replaced at sea. The space occupied by the emigrants is for their exclusive use, and no other persons are permitted to sleep therein. They are required to take no part in the ordinary duties of the ship, except to assist in washing decks, and are subject to no molestation in passing the line, or during any part of the voyage.

"Their provisions are issued daily in proportionate quantities, and cooked for them. A printed scale is hung up in the cabin, that everyone may see to how much he is entitled. Excepting in cases of sickness, or at the request of the surgeon, neither wine nor spirits are allowed; but of tea and sugar there is an ample allowance."

"Materials are supplied for their occupation at sea. Bagging and twine for the men (to make up wool bales and nets), and shirting for the women; and the better to stimulate them to industry, the same prices are given for work as on shore. The value may be taken out in linen or in little additional comforts, as coffee, flour, raisins. Thus many families, who embark with a scanty supply, are enabled to provide themselves with an excellent stock of apparel; for out of every seven shirts made up by the women, they may retain two; and out of every four shifts, have one. The children also, by imitating the industry of their parents, in making up shirting or coloured prints, are enabled to clothe themselves." For their work they were to be paid at piece-work rates when they arrived in Camden

"Divine service is performed every Sunday, and books are provided for their mental, moral, and religious instruction; as well as a school for the children during the voyage. All assemble daily for family prayer, a book of which is given to each person." The children attended school on board ship, with one of the women being paid 5 pounds for taking charge as school mistress.

The particulars of Maj. Macarthur's financial interests in the Royal George, attached to the agreement, supports this description: Passage Money for 32 adults and 44 children equal to 27 adults more to Sydney (£863-0-8), Outfit of bedding & utensils (£72-8-9),Cloaks (£52-5-3), Stores and Material for the people to make up (£180-5-11.5), Books (£16-7-8), Bats and Balls (£16-6-0), Corn Sacking (£47-3-11), Necessaries and Wages advanced (£29-7-5). Passage money for the remaining 8 adults and 9 children on board, totalling £171, was paid by William Macleay, one of the cabin passengers.

Thomas Law Hodges, Lord of the Manor of Benenden spent two hours on board ship at Gravesend seeing off the men and women from his district. He praised the arrangements the Macarthurs had made, including Edward Macarthur's efforts to reassure the emigrants. On board was James Macarthur with his wife.

However, the departure of the Royal George was delayed due to unfavourable winds. The nasty weather continued until, on Sunday 11 November 1838, a light breeze sprung up from the north-east. Towards eleven o'clock the breeze freshened up from the east. "Blue Peters were hoisted, sails were loosed on board all the outward bound ships and everything shewed that the Royal George was not long destined to remain at the Mother bank...With a fresh breeze from the N.E. we soon lost sight of our native land."

To the emigrants, like Sampson Norris, who may not even have seen the sea before, the four months spent at sea would surely have been unforgetable; from their first experience of sea-sickness, through outbreaks of scurvy and other diseases, to the claustraphobia of their confined quarters.

The Royal George arrived in Sydney on 10 March 1839, after 119 days at sea. Upon disembarking, Sampson Norris and family, together with the other emigrants now appeared before the Examining Board, who had "no complaints" with respect to Sampson and his family. This entitled James and William Macarthur to the Bounty due them: 18 pound for each adult, and 5 pound for each child, Henry and Anne being children between 1 and 7 years.

Together with the other immigrants, Sampson Norris and family were then taken to Parramatta by steamer, where they were loaded on drays for the 65 kilometre ride to Camden Park (as yet there was no township of Camden). The family was assigned one of the small huts especially prepared for them. Upon arriving at Camden Park, Sampson would have quickly learnt of the untimely death of his brother, Henry, at Camden only ten weeks earlier. Such tragic news would surely have dampened any initial optimism the family may have felt upon arriving in New South Wales.

Sources:

1. Immigration in Eastern Australia 1788-1851, R.B. Madgwick, London,1937.
2. James Macarthur Colonial Conservative, John Manning Ward, SUP, 1981
3. Assisted Passengers Arriving NSW 1828-1842 (MF Series 014A/2)
4. The Saturday Magazine dated 11 May 1839.
5. Macarthur Papers A2918 Vol 22 pp. 206-218
6. Camden, Alan Atkinson, OUP, Melbourne,1988.