1784-185
"5 foot 11 and a quarter inches, ruddy complexion, brown hair, bald, brown eyes, scar on forehead between eyes, scar on under lip."
James sailed on the "FERGUSON"; a ship of 554 tons. Her master was Jn. S. Graves and her surgeon was Chas Cameron. She left Dublin on 16-11-1828 and arrived in NSW on 26-3-1829, a voyage of 130 days. Two convicts died during the voyage, and she disembarked 214 male convicts.
On his arrival, James was assigned to a Col Henry Dumaresq, of the property "St Heliers", near Muswellbrook.
At the time of his arrest, James was a married man with five children. In 1836 he petitioned the government for his wife and family to be brought to Australia. At this stage James was assigned to William Dumaresq, property named "St Aubins", near Scone. Henry Dumaresq had moved to Port Stephens, in 1834, and died there in 1838.
On 15th August 1837 James received his 'Ticket of Leave' No: 37/1162, on recommendation of the Invermain Bench. Invermain is a property near Scone where Magistrates held court This meant that he could work where he liked and at a higher wage than as a convict, although he had to remain in the Invermain district.
Ten years after his arrival the government brought out his wife, Margaret Lawson, and their two youngest children, William and Elizabeth, as "Free Bounty Immigrants". (Bounty means the government paid their fares).
In 1841, two years after the arrival of Margaret, the three elder sons arrived with their wives and children, again as "Free Bounty Immigrants". Their ship the "ORESTES", arrived on 14-5-1841.
James was given a "Second Class" conditional pardon No: 46/276 on 30th March 1846.
James Moore &
Margaret Lawson
at Wollombi.
