farms, two miles from Parramatta, 5 settlers 3 — 35 23/4 11 513/4 At the Field of Mars, on the north shore, near the entrance of the creek leading to Parramatta, 8 settlers, (marines) 4 — 441/2 2 31 811/2 At the Eastern farms, 12 settlers — — 401/2 — 121/2 53 On the creek leading to Parramatta, 7 settlers 43/4 — 801/2 4 22 1111/4 In cultivation by the civil and military at Sydney — — — — 61/2 61/2 ------------------
----------------------------------------------------- Total 2081/2 241/4 11861/2 1211/4 1621/2 1703 ---------------------------------
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Of the sixty-seven settlers above enumerated, one, James Ruse, who had a grant of thirty acres at Parramatta, went upon his farm the latter end of November 1789; but none of the others began to cultivate ground upon their own accounts earlier than the middle of July 1791; but many of them at a much later date.  The eight marine settlers at the Field of Mars took possession of their allotments at the beginning of February 1792.  The conditions held out to settlers were, to be victualled and clothed from the public store for eighteen months from the term of their becoming settlers; to be furnished with tools and implements of husbandry; grain to sow their grounds, and such stock as could be spared from the public.  They were likewise to have assigned them the services of such a number of convicts as the governor should think proper, on their making it appear that they could employ, feed, and clothe them.  Every man had a hut erected on his farm at the public expense.  At the time of the governor’s departure, many of them, by their own industry, and the assistance he had afforded them, were enabled to have one or two convicts off the store, and employed by them at their farms; and such as were not married were allowed a convict hutkeeper.  In general they were not idle, and the major part were comfortably situated.

At this time the quantity of land which had passed to settlers* in this territory under the seal of the colony amounted to three thousand four hundred and seventy acres; of which quantity four hundred and seventeen acres and a half were in cultivation, and the timber cleared from one hundred more, ready for sowing; which, compared with the total of the public ground in cultivation (one thousand and twelve acres and three quarters) will be found to be by eleven acres more than equal to one half of it.  A striking proof of what some settlers had themselves declared, on its being hinted to them that they had not always been so diligent when labouring for the whole, ‘We are now working for ourselves.’  One material good was, however, to be expected from a tract of land of that extent being cultivated by individuals, if at any time an accident should happen to the crop