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June – July, 1816: Kurry-Jong Brush hostilities
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- 11 th of July, 1816: Cox’s report to Macquarie
June – July, 1816: Kurry-Jong Brush hostilitiesHostilities continued at the Kurry-Jong Brush. By June 1816 there were only about a dozen Aboriginal warriors actively resisting the settlers: “Miles, Warre, Carbone Jack (alias Curringie), Narang Jack, Bunduck, Congeatt (or Kangate), Wootten, Rachel, Cockey, Butta Butta, Jack Straw and Port Head Jamie”. Two men, Cooling and Gallagher, assigned servants of a Mr. Crowley were killed on his Grose River farm on the 19th of June. ‘Last Thursday-se'nnight- the bodies of a man and a very fine youth, a native of the colony, were found in the Currajong Brush having been murdered a few days previously by the natives. A number of spears had entered the bodies of the unfortunate persons, one of which had penetrated the heart of the younger; whose name we are informed was Cooling; the other, Gallagher.’206 On the 8th of July, Joseph Hobson was speared to death and his body mangled. Hobson was apparently the last settler left on a line of farms at Kurry Jong Brush, all the others having been driven off.207 It is difficult to determine what precipitated these killings. William Cox was of the opinion that Hobson had good relations with the Aboriginal people. While settlement was expanding this area had been settled for a number of years. Ben Singleton probably built his mill on the headwaters of Little Wheeny Creek in 1810. The Grain Road, now Kurmond Road, took Singleton’s flour down to Wilberforce where it was shipped to Sydney. Joseph Hobson’s death is of particular interest as he appeared to be the last settler left in the area, all others having been driven off. ‘Another murder was perpetrated by the natives on Monday last, at the Corrajong Brush - The victim to their barbarity was Joseph Hobson, who is stated to have been the only settler remaining on that line of farms, in consequence of the excesses lately committed. - He had left his house to go in quest of a calf; and when about 200 yards distant was speared through the heart. - The miscreants afterwards clove the head of the unfortunate sufferer, and brutally mangled the body.’208 11th of July, 1816: Cox’s report to MacquarieMany of the documents relating to the punitive expeditions in the second half of 1816 are to be found in Sir William Dixson’s Documents relating to Aboriginal Australians, 1816-1853. Exactly how or why the correspondence between Governor Macquarie and Magistrate Cox became part of Sir William Dixson’s personal collection is unclear. The end result was that they were not readily available to the General Public. They are now available online at http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=446953. The correspondence, while illuminating, has many gaps. There is no report of any Aboriginal casualties under martial law in the second half of 1816 on the Hawkesbury despite the active efforts of parties of soldiers, settlers and Aboriginal guides. There are, however, a number of other comments that indicate the casualties were not officially reported. William Cox’s report of the 11th of July 1816 to Governor Macquarie addressed a number of issues: billeting Serjeant Broadfoot’s party, flood relief, the road over the Blue Mountains, hostile natives and the killing of Joseph Hobson. The report is illuminating for several reasons. It well illustrated the difficulties faced by regular troops attempting to bring irregular forces to battle in frontier warfare. William Cox in his capacity as magistrate and commander of the local garrison organised his forces well, but to no avail. On the 23rd of May Serjeant Broadfoot was at Blaxland’s Mulgoa farm. One would imagine that William Cox would have been in Macquarie’s ear seeking assistance at the Royal Birthday celebrations on the 1st of June 1816 at Parramatta. Serjeant Broadfoot arrived in the Hawkesbury on the 6th of July and his party was lodged in a commanding position on the left bank of the Grose River, south of Bell’s Belmont property at Richmond Hill.209 On Monday, the 8th of July Cox formed a party of eight settlers to meet two constables, Colebee and Creek Jemmy who were already at Crowleys on the Grose and to make a sweep to Singleton’s Hill on Little Wheeny Creek. The party was probably led by Alfred Luttrell.210 Luttrell’s party went to Bell’s that night on receiving word that Joseph Hobson had been killed on his Kurry jong Brush farm. On Tuesday morning Cox sent three veterans to the farm of Phillip Roberts to act as a guard before crossing the river to Bell’s farm. When he got there he found Luttrell’s party had already left for Hobson’s farm. Cox followed to Hobson’s farm, with Serjeant Broadfoot’s soldiers, some settlers and Aboriginal guides. Unable to follow any tracks they marched to Singleton’s mill on Little Wheeny Creek and left two soldiers there. Four warriors were finally seen by a stockmen but no contact was made which raises the question of how committed the guides were to the settlers. ‘Clarendon Thursday morning 9 A.M. 11th July 1816 Sir, I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellencys Letters of the 1st and 6th Inst. and on Saturday last211 I went to Captn Forrests Farm to get a place for Sergt Broadfoots party to sleep in case they came that evening. They arrived there in about an hour after I left & crossed the River to examine Kearns premises212 but finding they aforded (sic) no shelter they went to the left Bank of the Grose and have now a position a little below Mr Bells in an empty House that commands the Ridge leading to the roads North and West as well as the Grose. Your Excellencys Instructions with respect to distressed settlers being put on the store for payment till January next shall be duly attended to. It is an unpleasant task as I shall refuse many more than I can think of recommending for relief & which of course will be demanded by them. Hand on heart is best (?) I never knew the Lands here dry so slowly after a flood, a Horse cannot yet work on my low lands. Nor have I yet been able to sow an item on them since the last Floods. The Lands on the front of the River are much dryer than those at the back, we got a few days drying winds when it rains again so as to keep it to wet to chip the seed in with Hoes. The Timber Carriage I wish to remain at Sydney until I see if the chains on are Complete for it, after which if Your Excellency will send it to Parramatta I will take charge of it then, Lewis213 left this on Saturday last and I am not to expect his return for 3 or 4 weeks as he intends going to Bathurst before he returns, we have brought one of the Boats to the Fish River to get the Provisions cargo, and there are six of the Bathurst Men at Work on the Roads west of the Mountains. I have now the Honor of Reporting to Your Excellency that I formed a party on Saturday last to go in quest of the Hostile Natives and sent two Constables & two friendly natives (Coleby & Creek Jemmie as guides cross the River to Crowleys on Sunday, and on Monday Morning214 they were joined by Mr Luttrell & seven other Men making 12 in number & I agreed to cross the River on Tuesday or Wednesday to meet them. On that day they proceeded by the track towards Singletons Hill215 and in the evening information was brought to Mr Bells that the Natives had been to Joseph Hobsons Farm and murdered him (it is the first farm in the range of the Curry John Brush ones) I received this information at one o’clock on Tuesday Morning and after directing Serjt Hays to send three veterans down the River to Philip Roberts the Constables Farm until further orders. I went across the River to Mr Bells, when I found Serjt Broadfoots party all ready for Marching. On Mr Luttrells party hearing of the murder of Hobson they returned to Mr Bells in the night and on Tuesday Morning216 two Hours before I got there they had again marched for Hobsons Farm to get the Track of the Natives. I went the same Road with the Sergt, some soldiers, 2 young men knowing the country & a native to track them, the party had left the deceased’s Farm before we got there but as we could not learn whether they had crossed the Grose & gone up the River or taken the range of hills down the River I deemed it prudent to drop the pursuit & crossed the country to Singletons Hill who had not seen their own party or the Natives, we left two soldiers with Singleton & returned to Mr Bells before dusk. On Wednesday morning the Coroners Inquest sat on the body when I attended and explained Your Excellencys determination as to the four Natives by name and gave them direction who to give the alarm to in case they saw or heard of any Natives. I also settled my Plan with the Serjt who appears just the sort of man for such a Duty and crossed the River at 5 last evening, just as I was getting into the Boat a stockman gave information that 4 natives had crossed the river two hours before near Singletons Hill. I immediately sent two young Men who I had ready (Carver & Blackmans sons) with a Native across the River to Mr Bells with directions for them to find the Serjt on the track where these 4 natives were seen at day light this morning and if they found it to pursue it. The Natives here appear so determined on Mischief that very prompt Measures are necessary or the settlers & stock will get Murdered in detail and if neither of the parties now out are fortunate enough to fall in with them I will wait on Your Excellency on Monday or Tuesday night to make some other arrangements. Hobson was a very Hard Working quiet Honest Man & was always on the best of terms with the Natives. His death wound was in the Heart and he was also stripped quite naked he had removed his family after the murder of the 2 stockman to the front of the River and went out Monday Morning to sow a little barley. I have the Honor to Remain Your Excellency’s very obedient servant Wm Cox. To His Excellency Govn Macquarie & & & Sydney’217 Macquarie received Cox’s letter of the 11th of July and replied on Saturday the 13th July. There appears to be no record of Macquarie’s reply.218 On the 15th of July 1816 Magistrate Cox wrote at least one and probably two memorandum to Governor Macquarie. Our record of these memorandum appear to be Governor Macquarie’s copies from the 19th of July 1816. One memorandum recommended stationing three military parties for some time at the Grose River, Windsor and Portland Head. ‘Memorandums Friday 19 July 1816 Mr. Cox recommends that the 3 Military Parties intended to be stationed for some time in the Districts of the Hawkesbury should be posted as follows, so as to afford security to the Settlers (?) - Vizt. First. - The 1st Party with the Serjt at the Grose. Second. - The 2d Party at the Town of Windsor. Third. - The 3rd Party to be at Portland Head.- N.B. Each Party to consist of at least 1 Noncom.d Offr. & Six Privates.’219 The other memorandum probably formed the basis for Governor Macquarie’s Proclamation of the following day, the 20th of July 1816. The eight men named by Magistrate Cox were all included in the Proclamation. ‘Memorandums Rec.d from Mr. Cox Esqe. J.P – on Fridy. 19 July 1816 Firstly. It appears to us that no friendship or good points existing between the Natives & settlers protect the latter from Revenge or Murder whenever the former are insulted or find themselves agrieved by any White people. Secondly. That the determined spirit of Revenge they have lately championed in committing so many murders call for a strong arm to suppress them & protect the settlers. Thirdly That the country between the Warrajambie and the lower branches of the Hawkesbury a distance of at least fifty miles is so extremely mountainous and broken that it is very difficult to track them and almost impossible to come up with them unobtrusively. Fourthly That it is our opinion the Natives from long habits cannot Subsist at this season of the Year without getting Provisions from the settlers, and that they chiefly live by plundering them of Maize, Pumkins & &. Fifthly. That to put a stop to such an Evil we think at least three parties of soldiers of ten each should be stationed in the aforesaid tract of country with a constable of local knowledge attached to each party, as also a friendly Native as a guide to track the Hostile Tribes when found. Sixthly. – That to strengthen the hands of this force we would propose that two parties of six determined convicts having local knowledge of the country under the direction of a Constable with a Native guide should scan the Country and for their reward should receive an Emancipation for securing such Natives as Your Excellency should proscribe by Name, and that a pecuniary reward should be given to any Free Person taking or killing the proscribed Natives. Seventhly. That the Natives should be officially informed of Your Excellencys determination, and that no peace will be granted them, until such proscribed Natives are secured & given up to the civil power. It is also necessary that some instructions should be adopted with regards to the friendly natives now at Windsor. Also that no settler whatever should harbour or conceal any native or give him food until such proscribed Natives are given up under a severe penalty, but on seeing any of them give the earliest possible Notice to the nearest District Constable.220 The 4 Most Notorious offenders in the District are, Miles Warren Carbone Jack (alias Curringie) Narang Jack. ------------------------------------------- The following four Natives were also at the Murder of Lewis wife & the stockmen. Bunduck Congeatt (or Kangate) Wootten Rachel. --------------------------------------------- The four Natives who were killed are. Cockey Butta Butta Jack Straw Port Head Jamie.221 ----------------------------------------------- Windsor Mr Cox. J.P. 15 July Robt. Cartwright J.P.222 1816. J Mileham, JP’223 Fortunately for the historian there are a number of accounts of the capture and execution of Cockey, Butta Butta, Jack Straw and Port Head Jamie. While they vary in details, containing contradictions and mistakes; they tend to corroborate each other and provide far more information than given by Magistrate Cox. Alfred Smith, 1831-1917, was the foster son of George James,224 first assigned to William Cox225 and later the Hawkesbury’s first policeman. George James was responsible for the capture of the alleged killers of Mrs Lewis and her servant. Alfred provided his version in the Windsor Richmond Gazette, 5th November, 1910, when he was nearly eighty. According to Smith there were four killers, there was a reward of 50 acres for the killers and that they were turned in by an Aboriginal man called Stevey and that “Mr Cox, of Clarendon, and Captain Brabyn, who then lived at Clifton” were involved in the capture and execution. Captain Brabyn was definitely not present. He returned to the colony in 1817, became a magistrate in 1818 and Clifton Cottage may not have been built until the 1820s. 226 ‘Then I knew old Stevey, a blackfellow. There was a widow murdered at the Grose by four blacks and a grant of 50 acres of land was offered to anyone who could catch these four blacks. Stevey knew their whereabouts and told Mr James, and he, with old William Carver, came on them early one morning while they were asleep. They sent Stevey away to let Mr Cox, of Clarendon, and Captain Brabyn, who then lived at Clifton (both magistrates and high officials then) know about it. Both these men went out, and the blacks were hung out there.’227 Samuel Boughton (1841-1910), under the nom-de-plume of Cooramill228 published a series of recollections in the Hawkesbury Herald from 1903-1905 when he was in his sixties. Boughton provided two accounts of the capture and execution: the first which supported that of Alfred Smith’s and the second which provided more detail, and differed in that he said there were three Aboriginal men and that they were turned in by a white man called Carr. Cooramill's account included Bell as well as Cox and Brabyn. Cooramill was wrong about Bell serving in India; he had served as a yeomanry officer in England and he was a Lieutenant, not a Lieutenant-Colonel. Despite these problems, which are not uncommon in recollections, particularly those that are second hand the different versions have common threads and are not inconsistent with events on the Hawkesbury. Local authorities were still caught in the dilemma of protecting both Aboriginal people and settlers. Governor King’s wish that the local commander had sorted out the problem of Aboriginal prisoners was still relatively fresh in the minds of local authorities. For authoritarian, self-made men of property with military and magisterial powers, swift rough justice discouraged both smaller settlers and Aboriginal people from taking the law into their own hands. Their ability to distribute rewards and favours ensured support and loyalty for such men. The accounts of the executions of the prisoners were not out of keeping with the reputed character of Bell, Cox or Brabyn.229 Combining the three accounts it is possible to draw further insights. Boughton’s account, which is quite reflective, highlights the harsh treatment afforded to Aboriginal people. Cockey’s desire to be hung rather than shot confirms my opinion that for Aboriginal people shooting may well have meant both physical and spiritual death. That four/three men were hung in a line across the Kurry Jong slope strongly suggests that their execution was designed to act as a deterrent and inspire terror. Boughton’s opinion that many Aboriginal people were “hung without trial”, again confirms my opinion that Aboriginal attacks were immediately responded to, often disproportionately and were rarely reported. Boughton’s style of writing is what Stephen Muecke calls a “romantic discourse”, i.e., one of doomed savagery.230 Boughton’s First account ‘First of all I will deal with my sable friends and fellow-countrymen. I said in a former paper that they did not quietly surrender their territory to the white intruder. To gain their end in view, their manners were cunning and treacherous. But they received scant justice from their enemies - they were slaughtered for the most trivial offence. I have been told of many being hung for stealing some trifle. Of course, they did not always stop at trifles. There were four hung one morning for murdering an old woman (Mrs. Lewis) up the Grose river. They were given up by members of their tribe. Old George James, of Richmond, with the assistance of Bill Carver, who was a sort of special constable, apprehended them. They were brought before Lieut.-Colonel Bell, Captain Cox, and Mr. Captain Brabyn, and sentenced to be hung. On their way to the tree they begged to have the execution put off until the tomorrow, but it was no use. Supplication was in vain; up they went. Many were hung without trial, and so these wild, dark, and mysterious children of nature rapidly disappeared under what is called “the progress of civilization,” leaving nothing but the names bequeathed by their forefathers (which are sometimes euphonious and suggestive) and a few imprints on the stones which they made with their stone tomahawks.’231 Boughton’s Second account Rawlinson’s corner232 … “where the road diverges from Bells Line to Singleton, here things went pretty lively at times. There was the prisoners’ camp not far distant, with flogging often, and an occasional execution. It was here Cockey, the aboriginal was hanged for the murder of an old woman. I have already referred to an outrage that had been committed on the Grose, and mentioned that the perpetrators were captured through members of their tribe informing on them. A more detailed account of the capture and execution (or executions, for there were three) under notice may be interesting, since it will show how summary miscreants were dealt with, especially when those miscreants were among our sable brethren. There were three blacks wanted by the police for this crime, and the said police were very close on their tracks when an old man named Carr met them (the police), and informed them that the three “wanteds” were at the time waiting for him to go back to his hut (where he had left them) with milk for their hominy.233 It appears the old man had been informed that these same three had threatened to take his life, and when he saw them nearing his hut he thought his time had come. But he still had hope. He thought of an expedient, and immediately placed a pot of hominy on the fire, and when they arrived at the door of his hut, he requested them to stir the hominy while he went with his bucket to milk the cow, in order, as he pretended, that they should have a good repast. But instead of going for the cow, he took a bee-line for the nearest neighbour, where he found the police, accompanied by a well-known terror to the blacks, in pursuit of the same three.234 They accordingly surrounded the hut, and effected a capture. Then, after binding them hand and feet, they commandeered a bullock team, and took them off at once to execution. The first was Cockey, whom they hanged on a tree at Rawlinson’s corner. He begged of them not to shoot him, but to hang him, which they agreed to, the rope made of stringy bark, being adjusted as he lay bound in the bullock-dray.235 The dray was driven from under him. That was the extent of the drop. But they did not altogether keep their promise, for they soon riddled his body with bullets, which was perhaps more merciful. The second was taken to Thompson’s Ridge,236 and there executed in the same manner; and the third on the scene of the outrage,237 where he received the penalty in a similar way. Although the old man Carr escaped being killed by the blacks on this occasion, it was not long before he was done for by members of the same tribe at Putty.’238 The fourth and final account of the killings came from George Bowman, and was written in 1839. Bowman placed the incident within the context of Macquarie's proclamation of martial law in 1816. Bowman, born in 1795 may well have participated in the implementation of martial law in 1816. His account is better known for the final sentence: “The military did not attempt to take the Blacks and make prisoners of them but shot all they fell in with and received great praise from the Governor for so doing.” His account is also of interest because it linked an 1825 killing at Putty with the capture of Aboriginal people outlawed in 1816. This incident is consistent with Cooramill's second account. Bowman's account is also of interest because he linked Aboriginal people “who had been bread up in European families from their infancy” with attacks on settlers, which adds support to my contention that much of the conflict originated on the farms where Aboriginal people and settlers were in close contact. Bowman identifies four men being killed in June and July, i.e., Cooling, Gallagher, Hobson and an unknown man at Richmond. Bowman also identified other attacks on the lower Hawkesbury and its branches. ‘Memorandum for Mr Scott In the year 1816 or 17 the natives were troublesome nearly all over the distant parts of the County of Cumberland. They committed several murders – in the Cowpastures and Appin Dists, at Richmond, Mulgoa and down the Hawkesbury Rivers; at which time, the wife of Wm Lewis and his Govt servant was murdered at the farm called “Kearns Retreat” at the junction of the Nepean and Grose Rivers, a man or two of Mr Crowleys on the Nepean between Belmont and the Grose, and Joseph Obson or Hobson commonly called “Joe the Hatter” and a man was killed by the natives while at work on his farm near Richmond – about the same time various murders and depredations was committed by the natives on the lower Hawkesbury River and its Branches. About this time Govr Macquarie dispatched Military parties to various parts of the Colony some to the Cowpastures (now Camden) Appin, North Richmond, and down the Hawkesbury, and at the same time proclaimed Martial Law against the Blacks throughout the whole of the Colony and offered a reward for the capture of several of the ring leaders whose names were known whether taken dead or alive. Among the number named was two or three natives who had been bread up in European families from their infancy and became the most despirate murderers. In 1825 a party of natives from Richmond and another from the Hunter met at Putty on the old Hunters River Road and killed one man and left the other as they supposed dead but who was found by Mr Bowman’s over seer and men when driving his sheep to the Hunter in a speechless state, his head crawling with Vermin in the wound received from the blacks. This murder was supposed and believed to be true from Information recd from other natives, to have taken place through those two men, having been instrumentle in having some of the natives apprehended in 1816 or 17 whom Govr Macquarie offered the reward for and outlawed by his Proclamation. The natives were not allowed to carry out any spear like instrument within a certain distance of any white mans dwelling on pain of being dealt with according to martial law. The military did not attempt to take the Blacks and make prisoners of them but shot all they fell in with and received great praise from the Governor for so doing. All these occurrences can be found mentioned more particularly in the Sydney Gazette of those dates – Archerfield January 5th 1839’239 Directory: docs docs -> Application for acem docs -> Observational Assessment of Teaching Practices Teaching Assessment Initiative Proposal Submitted to The Teachers for a New Era project docs -> Traditional British values docs -> From Warfighters to Crimefighters: The Origins of Domestic Police Militarization docs -> Borzoi Club of America Register of Merit Program I. What is a Register Of Merit docs -> Protecting the rights of the child in the context of migration docs -> United Nations E/C. 12/Esp/5 docs -> 9th May 1950 the schuman declaration docs -> Getting To Outcomes® in Services for Homeless Veterans 10 Steps for Achieving Accountability Download 3.05 Mb. Share with your friends:
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