In the last newsletter, I presented a description of life during the early years on the Camden Park Estate and reproduced the estate accounts for Henry Norris, contained in Ledger Nos. 1 and 2. These ledgers covered from Henry's arrival at the estate on Wednesday 12 April 1837 to his death on 7 January 1839; and thereafter for his widow Caroline to 31 December 1839. I now reproduce, from the second of these ledgers, the accounts for Henry's brother, Sampson Norris, from his arrival at Camden in March 1839 until the end of that year.

In my analysis of the accounts for Henry Norris in the last issue, I overlooked a cheque to the value of £12.7.10 which Henry drew on 29 September 1838, at a time when he had ceased his self-employment as a woodcutter and reverted to a regular wage. One can only surmise whether this money was needed to pay for medical expenses incurred in trying to treat the affliction which resulted in Henry's death three months later.

With respect to Sampson Norris's accounts, the first thing to note is that Sampson's annual wage, like the other Royal George immigrants, was £20, compared with Henry's £15. Also, as part of Sampson Norris's agreement with the Macarthurs, he was provided with goods in England to the value of £5.16.6. One third of this amount was then to be credited to Sampson's account for each year's service until this liability was liquidated. In other words, these goods were provided free to Sampson on condition that he worked for the Macarthurs for three years.

The accounts for 1839 that Sampson was paid his wage quarterly and, at least initially, Sampson was not self-employed in the same way that his brother Henry was the year before. However later accounts show that Sampson would also earn a portion of his income from day work such as timber cutting which was paid at piece rates.

On 30 April 1839 Sampson paid a Subscription of 2/6. This was presumably towards the St John's Church of England which was soon to commence construction on the hilltop overlooking the newly laid out village of Camden.

Sampson's accounts reveal the typical regular requirements of the families on the estate, ie. meat, tea, sugar, flour, soap, lamp oil, tobacco, but also some items, such as rice and arrowroot, which presumably weren't available in the store prior to 1839. Sampson also purchased various household items such as an iron pot, frying pan, buckets, kettle, pot lid and bell, paper pins, thread, calico, printed fabric, and shoes. During the year he also purchased a pig and two rams. He also took out about 40/- in cash during the year.

One notable entry is the debit on 22 June of 6/6 for 6 days absence followed by a debit of 7/1 for one weeks rations. Whatever the reason for Sampson's absence at this time, the accounts show that he was fully recredited for these amounts on 6 July. This suggests, I think, that his absence was work related rather than for personal reasons.

As soon as I have an opportunity to properly transcribe the accounts for Sampson Norris contained in Ledger No. 3, I will make them available to anyone interested. This ledger covers the period from 1 January 1840 to 1 April 1844.

Sources:

1. Macarthur Papers, [held in Mitchell Library] Manuscript Nos. A4187, A4188, A4189