James Cockman (an indentured servant to merchant George Leake) and Mary Ann Roper (a ladies maid) were married by the Reverend JB Wittenoom on 15 March 1830 at Fremantle. In November 1830, James' indenture to George Leake was cancelled, enabling him to make an application to the Colonel Secretary for permission to select and occupy a lot in Fremantle (Lot 139) on which his dwelling was built. Following the birth of their third child in October 1837, the family moved to a new house in Perth - Lot V29 in William Street, between Wellington and Murray Streets. James developed skills in the art of thatching, resulting in work, particularly from the new settlers - his occupation in 1841 was recorded as a Thatcher. By 1844 James and Mary Ann had 7 children. George Shenton entered their life - he arrived in the Colony in 1833 and was later to take up 640 acres of land in Wanneroo around a lake. James, Mary Ann and their family moved to Wanneroo in 1852 where he worked for George Shenton. One can visualize the feelings of Mary Ann with her young family of seven whose ages ranged from 18 to 2 years old, cooking on an open fire. No medical or health nearby, lack of formal education, no roads, winching water from a well. The first home at Wanneroo was just 2 rooms (wattle and daub). By 1858, James had accumulated one hundred pounds to buy 45 acres from George Shenton. He with the help of his older son John and young Sam who was then 8 years old set about building a more substantial home. 'Cockman House' as it is called today. Limestone walls, timber pit sawn for the rafters, windows and floor boards with then a shingle roof. They were self sufficient, lived off the land - the low lying marshy country was excellent for growing of vegetables, cows, pigs - wild duck, kangaroo and fish were in abundance nearby. The Home was built with a high gable room designed to allow a cooler home and easier run off during heavy rains - shingle roof - sheoak 10" x 4" nailed over the jarrah rafters. This roof was many years later replaced with corrugated iron. By 1876, all of James and Mary Ann's children were married, and with the exception of Samuel (the youngest) had moved away from home. Samuel and his wife Emma Jane (Edwards) formerly of Gingin, married in 1876 and continued to live in the house where they raised 13 children. James Cockman died in 1877, aged 69 years and Mary Ann in 1901 (94 years). Ruby Backshall (nee Cockman) the youngest in this generation was to live on in the house with her husband Albert V Backshall and family of six, together with Ernest John Cockman (her brother) who never married. Cockman House was occupied by descendants of James and Mary Ann, until it was purchased by the City of Wanneroo in 1989 and restored as a 'Pioneers Home'.