Parramatta in 1812 On 21 November 1789, James Ruse became the first convict to receive a land grant. James Ruse, pioneer and smallholder, was born on 9 August 1759 at Launceston, Cornwall, England. At the Cornwall Assizes in 1782 he was convicted of burglarious breaking and entering; his capital sentence was changed to transportation to … Continue reading On this day (Australia): In 1789, James Ruse became the first convict to receive a land grant