Item 16-17 - Letters : Roderick O'Connor to John Grant

John Grant (d. 1825) was the son of James and Margaret Grant of Nairn, Scotland and brother of James Grant (l786-1870). John arrived in V.D.L. in January 1823 as a merchant in partnership with Alexander B. Spark, who settled in Sydney. John acted as a merchant in Hobart in partnership with Bethune. James Grant sent from London introductions, consignments of harness, ale, printed cotton and other goods, advised his brother about the sale prices of hides, whale oil etc. in Liverpool and consulted him about other business possibilities, such as muskets to sell to the natives in New Zealand and other ideas. James and his wife Caroline (d. 1868) the daughter of John Neve of Tenterden, Kent, followed John and arrived in April 1824. James and his brother received grants of land in the Fingal Valley and James named his "Tullochgorum". However John became ill and took a trip to Sydney for his health and died
there on 11 December 1885, leaving most of his property to James.

Roderic O'Connor (1784-1860), public servant and landowner, was the son of Roger O'Connor and his first wife Louisa Anna, née Strachan. O'Connor's motives for emigrating to Van Diemen's Land can only be guessed, but the fact that he brought with him in his own ship Ardent his natural sons William and Arthur (Rattigan) may give the clue. They arrived in May 1824 and O'Connor, who had considerable capital, received a free 1000-acre (405 ha) grant on the Lake River. Here his experiences on his father's land and as a practical engineer were not wasted; bridges, weirs and farm buildings were among his early improvements. He lost no opportunity to increase his estate either by free grant or by shrewd purchase and in four years had trebled it. For more information see http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/oconnor-roderic-2518