Stephen Butt and his family must have been doing well, as he was able to lease land at a sizeable rent, from the Macarthur family:
Copy of Agreement Made Between James Macarthur, William Macarthur and
Stephen Butt for the Lease of Land Called Buttsfield at Camden
This indenture made the first day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty one between JAMES MACARTHUR and WILLIAM MACARTHUR of Camden in the Colony of New South Wales, Esquires, of the One Part, and STEPHEN BUTT of the same farm, of the Other Part, witness that in consideration of the rent covenants and conditions hereafter reserved and contained on the part of the said STEPHEN BUTT, his executors, administrators and assignments paid and performed. They the said James Macarthur and William Macarthur do hereby demise and base unto the said Stephen butt all that piece or parcel of land or farm called Buttsfield Farm, situated in the District of Camden ajoining Camden Village, commencing in Edward Street at the NW corner of Thompson's purchased allotment - bounded by that allotment to the West boundary of Northbridge Farm by that boundary to the Nepean River on the East by that river, on the North by the boundary fence of Drygrange Farm to Edward Street, thence by the Eastern side of that Street, about 9 chains 30 links to the commencing point containing thirty acres more or less TO HAVE AND TO HOLD THE SAID HEREBY DEMISED PREMISES WITH THE APPURTENANCES UNTO THE SAID Stephen Butt, HIS EXCUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND ASSIGNS during the term of six years to be commenced on this first day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, yielding and paying for the same unto the said James Macarthur and William Macarthur their heirs and assigns for the first years of the said term of the rent of Twelve Pounds Ten Shillings and for every subsequent year the rent of Twelve Pounds Ten Shillings to be paid by half yearly sums each respective years in which the same shall become due and payable, the first of such half yearly payments being half of the said rent of Twelve Pounds Ten Shillings to made on the 30th day of June one thousand eight hundred and fifty one and all such payments to be made clear of all deductions whatsoever AND the said Stephen Butt (the Lessee) DOTH hereby for himself his heirs executors administrators and assigns covenant with the said James Macarthur and William Macarthur (the Lessors) and their respective heirs and assigns THAT he the said Lessee his administrators and assigns will pay the several yearly rents hereby reserved on the days and at the times hereby appointed for payment thereof without any deduction whatsoever AND ALSO will on or before the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty two, erect and finish along the boundary lines of the said land hereby demised and so as to enclose the same a good and substantial fence of not less than two rails and such fence will during the said term, keep in good and sufficient repair AND ALSO will on or before the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty two, thoroughly clear Twenty Five Acres of the said land of growing and other timber (taking up the stumps and roots of Trees) and shall also make such ditches or drains as may be necessary and bring the said land into a good state of tillage. AND FURTHER that the said Lessee his executors administrators and assigns shall not nor will adopt or continue any mode of husbandry or other course which shall have a tendency to injure the said land after notice in writing shall be given by the said Lessors their heirs and assigns objecting thereto and shall not nor will set up a House of Public Entertainment nor suffer to be carried on any other trade or business but that of Agriculture theron AND shall not nor will dispose of or cause or permit to be removed from the said land any straw nor any of the dung or manure that be made thereon AND FURTHER shall not nor will remove or cause nor permit to be removed any timber or building material from the land nor pull down nor cause nor permit to be pulled down any of the buildings thereon without the consent in writing of the said Lessors and their respective heirs and assigns first obtained upon each occasion in either or any of the above cases AND shall not nor will assign sublet nor otherwise dispose of the said land or any part thereof for the whole or any part of the said term to any person or persons whomsoever without the like consent in writing on each occasion AND ALSO that he the said Lessee his executors administrators and assigns will at the expiration or sooner determination of the said term, peacably yield up unto the said Lessors and their respective heirs and assigns the said land hereby demised with all the fences buildings and improvements thereon in good and tenantable repair and condition PROVIDED LASTLY that if the rent hereby reserved shall be arrear in whole or in part for twenty one days next after any of the days whereon the same is hereby reserved to be paid as aforesaid and the same shall be demanded at any time after the said twenty one days and shall not be paid when demanded and there shall be not sufficient goods and chattels liable to distress found upon the said premises whereby to pay and satisfy the said rent or if the said Lessee his executors administrators or assigns shall break or infringe any of the covenants and agreements hereinbefore contained and which by him or them ought to be performed or if he or they shall be convicted of any Felony or sentenced to transportation imprisonment public labour or other infamous punishment for any misdemeanour or take the benefit of or be brought under the operation of any law for the relief or distribution of the estates of Bankrupts or Insolvents then and in any or either of the said cases it shall be lawful for the said Lessors their heirs and assigns into and upon the said premises or any part thereof in the name of the whole to re-enter the same to re-possess and enjoy as part of their former estate: IN WITNESS whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hand and seals the day and year first above written.
