Hi Kala I also have this guy in my tree and here is some info Lesley gave me some years ago: a seaman (Arbroath was a fishing village), millwright, labourer and shingler. Convict -- sentenced at Winchester, Deptford London - assized to life, commuted to 7yrs, transported for robbing a pantry. He gave his native place as Arbroath Scotland. Surrey I (6) arr 26 11 1831 NSW dep 17 07 1831 Portsmouth 132days 200males dep 199 arr Master; Chas Kemp Surgeon: Colin A Browning Disposed of to Mr Thomas Jarman Hawkins (of Blackdown & Walmer). The 1837 muster has him assigned to Alexander Kenneth MacKenzie (1st Secretary Bathurst Bank). Then on Alexander's death, to W.H. McKenzie on his 200 acre property "Dockairne" at Kelso for 6 years. Ticket of Leave granted on petition 14 May 1839 for reassignment, granted 1st Aug 1840 as WH McKenzie returning to Sydney. On 1st Mar 1848 Conditional Pardon issued. James arranged forhis wife Sarah and two children to join him in Australia, they arrived 18th Feb 1833 on "Sir Thomas Munro". Apparently their relationship did not last.They had 3 more children then a further 3 were born who, although registered as Bruce, may actually have been children of George Schofield, a colourful Barraba identity. Sarah died as Sarah Schofield on 9th Jan 1877 "Bogo-Bogolong Station", Grenfell. She left her first 5 children with James and took last 3 to live with George at Bobo-Bogolong. There was an inquest into Sarah's death. The Indent for the "Surrey" 1831 states that James Bruce was 40 years of age when he arrived. James was a Protestant and could read and write. He was a married man with 2 children. His native place was stated to be Arbroath (this is about 17 miles to the North East of Dundee). He gave his occupations as Seaman, Mill Wright and Labourer. He was tried at Winchester on the 28 February 1831 and received a Life sentence for robbing a pantry. It was his first conviction. On the 24th February 1847 James was recommended for a Conditional Pardon and he received it on the 1 March 1848 - No. 48/640. He was issued with a Ticket of Leave in 1840 No. 40/1690. On arrival he has been assigned to a Mr J. F. Hawkins of Bathurst and then had been assigned to Mr. A. K. McKenzie of Bathurst (according to the General Return of Convicts in NSW - 1837) A Mrs Sarah Bruce and 2 children arrived from Hobart on the Sir Thomas Munro (see Archives Office of Tasmania web site) - this ship left Hobart on t! he 11 February 1833. According to the Convictions web site the following people departed on the Sir Thomas Munro Sarah, James, Henry & John for Sydney in 1833. I am a little confused here as I do not know the names of the 2 children of James and Sarah. These people do not appear to have arrived IN Hobart on the Sir Thomas Munro so may have arrived on another ship. and from my other info: he was born 8 Jun 1791 Holburn Lying in Hospital married Sarah Anne Burney 2 sons Henry Bruce 1831 James Bruce 12.2.1822 I have a descendancy chart if you're interested - my line goes down through Henry 1831-1890 who married Mary Ann Walker and their son George William Bruce Lina Moffitt http://www.indigohealthla.com http://www.quintopublishing.com http://farrarfamilyhistory.weebly.com/ http://www.kandos-rylstone.weebly.com http://www.ormsby.weebly.com http://comer-danero-neich-family.weebly.com To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men. Abraham Lincoln The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose. Frederick Douglass