| Early years at Camden
Park
Every man was bound to Macarthur for three years, during that period he
was given a
cottage with a plot of garden ground, rent free; the milk of a
cow, or permission to
depasture a cow, upon the adjoining land; to keep pigs and poultry sufficient for
their own use; and an allowance of seven pounds of meat and eleven pounds of
flour
weekly. Each married women received half of this quantity for the first 6 months.
Also fifteen to twenty pounds in wages per annum, and he, his wife and children had
the choice of
doing piece work as well. They were provided with a cottage which had
a kitchen, one bedroom, one or two
lean-to rooms, and a small pantry or closet. They
were neatly plastered within, and glazed, and had a veranda.
There was a school for the children.
Soon after their arrival James bought rations from Macarthur and
established an
account for purchasing food and goods. Listed below are the first items James
purchased.
“Ledger Rations 1839, James Sheather, Wages 20 pounds. Note: 1/3 of
the sum of 15
pounds to be placed to James Sheather credit for each years service until
liquidated.”
March 14 To goods in England 15 pounds.
Goods on
boat 1pound 5/-
March 16 Iron Pot 17/- 6lb sugar
March 19 25lb flour 5/6 1 bottle oil 1/-
March 23 78 ½lb meat 32/- 6lb sugar 2/3
June 22 18 days absent 19/6
March 14 By making 42 sacks 3/-
March 23 3 boys allowance for rations
March 30 S Sheather 23 days work 11/4
April 13 E Sheather 24 days work 11/6
April 22 Cash not received 20/- charge
April 30 9 days work 2 boys (10-8) 6/-
Sep 21 2 pot lids and bells 4/6
Henry Sheather boys work placed to your credit by mistake 2 pounds
16/-
2 days absent from work
…
(Macarthurs Papers. ML)
 Camden Park
On the 12th October, 1840 James was listed for work as a sheep
washer and
Henry as
working in the sheep sheds.
Among the pupils attending Camden Park
School in 1841, Julia,
Ellen and William
Sheather. Then in 1843, Mary, George and Frederick, school fees
4
to 6 pence a
week (ML A2981)
At the end of termination of five years in Macarthur’s service the
farmers could be
settled at tenantsm and had the choice of paying rent either in
produce or labour. In
1843 James Sheather’s account with Macarthur for supplies, sugar, meat, flour,
tobacco, tea, soup. Payment was made in part by trussing 17 tons of hay at 3/- per
ton. He was charged for grazing two head of cattle for 13 weeks at 6 pence each per
week, and for use of Bull 10/- James received 10 pounds for 3 months
wages.
In November 1847 we find young Spencer Sheather (17) was in the Picton
lockup for
absconding from his hired service, the records show he had “gone back to his master”.
In 1828 the New
South Wales Legislative Council passed the Masters and Servants
Act which imposed stern penalities for
being absent from work during the customary
time of serving or working at the
trade, occupation or employment. For refusing
or neglecting “to work in the trade,
calling or employment….in a diligent or careful
maner”, or for not finishing a
stipulated task, a male wage-earner could be jailed for
6 months. One wonders what happened to
young Spencer on his return to
his master!
It is
interesting to note on the 8th July 1847 under the heading “Road work
with team”
we find James worked 6 days, Henry 2 days, Thomas ½ day.
Eliza Sheather who was employed by Macarthur in 1830 at the age of 16,
left
her job
on 9th February 1844. Ellen her sister, was working on
the 1st July 1851, and left her
employment with 41 pounds in her
account.Entered in the subscriptions to the Patriotic
Fund Camden Branch 1855, Ellen Sheather 5/-, Samuel 1 pound, John 1 pound,
Edward 1 pound – quite a considerable sum of money in
those days!
James’ occupation was that of a broom maker in 1872. He worked 34
days
work for
3/0 per day for which he received a cheque from Sir William
Macarthur.
He earnt
this money by making 12 dozen and 10 brooms.
  
Samuel Sheather's indenture to James Macarthur
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