Thomas George Rusden (1817 – 30 June 1882) was a squatter and politician in colonial New South Wales. He was a member of the Legislative Council between 1855 and 1856 and a member of the Legislative Assembly for one term between 1856 and 1857.
Thomas Rusden | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1817 Dorking, Surrey, England |
| Died | 30 June 1882 (aged 64–65) Glen Innes, New South Wales |
Early life
editRusden was born in Dorking, probably around 1817.[1][a] He was the son of an Anglican clergyman who migrated to New South Wales and was appointed to a chaplaincy in Maitland in 1835. After a liberal education under his father's tutorship, Rusden squatted in the New England district and by 1844 he had acquired substantial property including 60,000 acres of pastoral land in the Shannon Vale area near Glen Innes.[1] His nine siblings included Francis Rusden, who was also a pastoralist and member of the Legislative Assembly, the historian George Rusden and the polemicist and noted public servant Henry Rusden.
Colonial Parliament
editIn 1855, prior to the establishment of responsible self-government, Rusden was elected to the Legislative Council for the Pastoral Districts of New England and Macleay.[4] He represented the electorate until the granting of responsible self-government in 1856. Subsequently, at the first election under the new constitution he was elected as one of the two members for the same district in the Legislative Assembly.[5] Rusden was defeated at the next election in 1858.[6] He did not hold a ministerial or parliamentary position.[1]
He lodged multiple petitions against the election,[7][8] however these did not comply with the requirements of the Electoral Act. The first, properly addressed to the Governor, had not been accompanied by the £100 deposit. The second and third petition were addressed to the Speaker and were outside the 4 week time limit, although each was accompanied by the required deposit.[9] The Legislative Assembly gave Rusden the opportunity to address it, before rejecting his petitions.[10][11] Abram Moriarty resigned as the member for New England and Macleay on 13 October 1858.[12]
On 15 October he attempted to take a seat in the assembly, but was ejected by the sergeant-at-arms.[13] Rusden stated he was unable to nominate himself for the seat at the by-election, asserting he was already the member.[14] Rusden was nominated at the by-election, however the show of hands was in favour of James Hart and Rusden's supporters did not call for a poll.[15]
The district of New England and Macleay was abolished in 1859, partly replaced by New England and Rusden was a candidate at the 1859 election, defeated by Hart by a mere two votes. Four people were charged with impersonating electors and a petition was lodged against the election.[16] The Elections and Qualifications Committee conducted a re-count. This was not a secret ballot and the 4 votes by the impersonators were identified as being for Hart and were rejected. The committee also rejected 3 votes for Rusden, but allowed 2 votes for Hart that had previously been considered invalid, with the result that it upheld the election of Hart, with a margin of 3 votes.[17][18]
Rusden was unsuccessful in three further attempts to regain a seat.[19]
Later life and death
editRusden's obituary noted that he was "reported to be a wealthy man, and in addition to Shannon Vale he owned nearly half of Glen Innes; but of late his affairs became complicated, and a short time since all his property went into other hands, and he ended his days in utter penury".[2] He died at Glenn Innes on 30 June 1882 (aged 64–65).[1][a]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "Mr Thomas George Rusden (1817-1882)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Mr T G Rusden of Shannon Vale died". The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser. 7 July 1882. p. 4. Retrieved 26 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Mr Francis Rusden (1811-1887)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "New England and Macleay election". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. 15 September 1855. p. 2. Retrieved 5 June 2019 – via Trove.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1856 New England and Macleay". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1858 New England and Macleay". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Petition against the return of Abram Orpen Moriarty". New South Wales Government Gazette. 23 March 1858. p. 516. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Mr Rusden's second petition". The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser. 24 April 1858. p. 4. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Election for New England and Macleay". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 June 1858. p. 6. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Petition of Mr T G Rusden". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 June 1858. p. 5. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Petition from Thomas George Rusden". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 August 1858. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Mr Abram Orpen Moriarty (1830-1918)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- ^ "Legislative Assembly: stranger in the house". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 October 1858. p. 7. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 November 1858. p. 9. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Nomination and election for New England and MacLeay". The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser. 4 December 1858. p. 4. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Petition against the return of James Hart". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 191. 23 September 1859. p. 2099. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Election petition Perry v Hart". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 December 1859. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1859 New England". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ Green, Antony. "Index to candidates: Robertson to Ryrie". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 June 2019.