Richard ROUSE [7645]

  General Notes:

The following appears in the book "Early Hawkesbury Settlers" by B. Hardie.
Rouse Richard 1774-1852.
Recommended by Duke of Portland; emigrant NILE 1801 with with Elizabeth (Adams; 1774?-1849), one child embarked, another born at sea. Convict Margaret Catchpole nursed mother and child on board.
The Pitts stayed at Government House; a tent was allotted Rouse. He was awarded 100 acres at North Richmond on 1802, a further fifty in 1805, and made superintendent of works, Parramatta, where the family then moved their home, returning intermittently to Richmond. Catchpole claimed to have been some time in sole charge of their farm, where the kindly Richard allowed her free pasturage for her own stock. In her continuing midwifery capacity too, she once prevailed up Elizabeth Rouse to help wet-nurse Susan Palmer's baby.
Rouse was among the special constables appointed during the 1806 flood, and was one of the Richmond minority to make common cause with the down river emigrants in the Rum Rebellion. (The father of his future son-in-law, Fitgerald, sided with the rebels.) suspended during 1808-1809, Rouse made headway as a farmer, and in Macquarie's time his extended interests included Martin Mason's relinquished South Creek farm and the Rouse Hill grant whereon today stand the house that is his best-known memorial. Vast acquisitions in time spread the name of Rouse to Bathurst, Mudgee and northwestern rivers, fostering also an enduring family interest in stock and racehorse breeding. But Richard lies buried in the family vault at St. Peter's, Richmond, close to his colonial beginnings.
Sources - Lenehan, M. ADB, Vol. 2.; McLaurin, E. 'The ancient Family of Rouse', JRAHS vol. 43, pp. 299-315; Margaret Catchpole letter, 8.10.1806, ML.

Burial Ref:(Vol. 1852927 38B.

Richard married Elizabeth ADAMS [7631] [MRIN: 2565] on 5 Jun 1796 in Nth Hincksey, Berkshire. UK. (Elizabeth ADAMS [7631] was born on 25 Jan 1772 and died on 26 Dec 1849 in Richmond. NSW.)