Norton Smith & Co. - papers of James Norton, 1817-1868, with unrelated papers of Sir James Martin, 1833-1873, Newcastle Coal and Copper Company, 1853-1864, and miscellaneous clients' documents, 1812-1861

A 5328

fonds

1812 - 1873

442892

Microfilm : Clients' Estate Papers: A - J).
Microfilm : Clients' Estate Papers: K - R).
Microfilm : Clients' Estate Papers: S - W).

6 vols., 4 boxes
Textual Records

James Norton (1795-1862), solicitor and parliamentarian, was born in England and after being admitted to practice as a solicitor in England travelled to Sydney where he arrived in 1818. Four solicitors were practising in Sydney when Norton arrived and established a practice. His legal practice flourished and in 1826 he took William Barker as a partner, trading under the name of Norton and Barker. When Barker retired the company name reverted to James Norton and in 1879, after Norton's death, Robert Smith joined the firm which became Norton and Smith. The company name again changed to Norton, Smith, Westgarth and Sanders but in 1890 became Norton, Smith & Co.
James Norton was nominated to the first Legislative Council under responsible government in 1856 and was responsible for framing many bills. In 1861 his term of office lapsed and due to ill health he took no more part in government. Norton married firstly Jane, daughter of Alexander Kenneth Mackenzie, in 1824. The couple had eight sons and two daughters before Jane Norton died in 1840. He married secondly in 1843 to Marian, daughter of John Backhouse of Ipswich, England, by whom he had three sons and two daughters. [ref:ADB 2]

I. JAMES NORTON PAPERS, 1817-1968
1817-1868; Papers concerning various properties. [Related plans are located at M Ser.4 810/3 A 5328 maps 1-10] (Call No.: A 5328/1)

II. CLIENTS' ESTATE PAPERS, 1809-1878
1809-1878; Clients' papers include wills of T. Addison, J. Alexander, R. Armstrong, J. Atkinson, J. Blackman, G. Brooks, W.G. Broughton, M. Brunton, L. Callcott, C. Clarke, B. Cornish, P. Daulton, M.A. Dawes, T.A. Elley, C. Ferguson, H.J. Forster, I. Francis, R. Gedney, T.J. Gluyas, G. Gore, J. Griffiths, J. Hall, A. Hamilton, S. Harding, G.T. Harrison, R. Haviland, J.K. Hume, W. Hunt, R.M. Isaacs, R. Ivory, W.C. Jackson, W.N. Kable, J.T. Leahy, R. Lewis, W. Lindsay, E. Macarthur, T.F. Mann, T. Marsden, C.H.N. Matcham, J. Matthewman, R. McAllister, J. McClymont, T. McRitchie, J. Meehan, Mrs. Mein, M. Mitchell, T. Mulcock, J. Mylne, M.B. Naogueli, J. Patrick, S.A. Perry, W. Plummer, W. and L.W. Reddall, A. Richards, M. Robinson, B. Rochfort, J. Rodgers, G.T. Savage, J. and E. Scullard, H. Shepherd, E. Simpson, J. Swan, F.C.L. Thompson, T. Thompson, T. Tollis, ?. Tuzo, J.F. Umack, J and W. Underwood, R. Wheeler, A.D. White, J. White, T.B. Wilson, S. Wiseman, R.A.L. Wood (Call No.: CY 2443-CY 2445 [A 5328/2-4])

III. NEWCASTLE COAL AND COPPER COMPANY, 1853-1864
1853-1864; Managers and directors reports (Call No.: A 5328/5-6)
1861-1862; Specifications, correspondence and accounts (Call No.: A 5328/7)

IV. SIR JAMES MARTIN PAPERS, 1833-1870
1833-1870; Papers include: letters received, 1833-1864; papers re investments in various mining companies, 1869-1873; miscellaneous papers, 1833-1864; incidental papers, 1864-1870. [Related maps are located at M Ser.4 810/3 A 5328 maps 11-13] (Call No.: A 5328/8-9)

V. MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS AND PAPERS, 1812-1861
1812-1861; Miscellaneous papers include land grants and index to Norton Smith & Co letterbook (Call No.: A 5328/9-10)

This collection was listed in 2005 as part of the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW 1856-2006 Project.
Norton Smith & Co Papers - Clients' Documents. When in Norton Smith's possession this collection was kept in tin 18.