The first home Charles and Elizabeth had in the Colony was a tent. Charles was indentured to merchant Lionel Samson until 28 February 1831 when the Indenture was released. They lived in Cantonment Street, Fremantle during that period. Charles then worked for Captain Thomas Hester on Red Cliff Farm at Canning River. Charles proved to be dependable, self reliant and with previous farming experience. Together the couple turned very marginal farming land into a reasonable successful operation. In lieu of wages, Hester made over some land to Charles and Elizabeth to hold in trusteeship for their children, Elizabeth and John reached the age of twenty one. They farmed this land until they moved to Serpentine in 1852. Charles was granted 25 acres and Lot 48 of 10 acres. These lots were located on the Serpentine River about one mile from the Falls. In this time they had seven more children. After they left, John continued to work the Canning River property until his death in 1910. Spencer Road in Thornlie is named after the family and Oak Tree Court, Langford is the location of an oak tree planted on the original farm. The family with seven of the children built a thatched roofed cottage. Charles became Postmaster of Serpentine until his death at Serpentine on 13 December 1872. His wife Elizabeth died 5 January 1884 at her son John's house at Canning River. Elizabeth is buried in the old Kenwick cemetery (Gosnells). Elizabeth Spencer married James Gallop, John Spencer married Jane Hannah Willey, Joshua married Mary Anne Moore, Rhodia married Walter Scrivener and Emily married John Richard Pengelly.