29th of November, 1816: A delayed memorial
The following memorial from the McDougall’s267 of the Upper Branch is of interest because it was written on the 19th of October, a date very close to the date set by Governor Macquarie for the cessation of hostilities. What is particular interesting is that Magistrate Cox appears not to have sent it to Governor Macquarie for another five weeks, suggesting that the delay was deliberate while he attended to the matter in anticipation of the Governor’s support.
‘To his Excellency, Lachlan
Macquarie Esqr. Gov r. Genl –
N.S.W.
May it please Your Excellency
The Memorial of John – Andrew – and James Mc. Dougall – I John Smith humbly sheweth
That Your Excellency’s memorialists have actually begun clearing their respective allotments of land on the upper branch of the Hawkesbury River – and are residing on them – But from the dread of the Natives are compell’d to reside and work alternately on each others farm having no men for a protection and assistance.
Therefore they humbly beg that Your Excellency would be pleased to take their uncomfortable situation into your most humane consideration and grant them such assistance and indulgence as Your Excellency may in your great goodness and wisdom think meet.
And Your Excellency’s memorialists
Will as in duty bound
Ever Pray
October 19th 1816
I certify to His Excellency the Governor that whatever assistance the memorialists are to have as settlers, it will be best to give it to them immediately on their going to reside on their farms at the Branch, it will enable them to protect each other and also be the means of their sooner getting their land under cultivation.
Wm Cox J.P.
Clarendon
29th Novr. 1816.
NB The Memorialists has resided on their farms on the Upper Branch since September last and has with great difficulty cleared several acres of land which is now in a state of cultivation and planted with corn.’268
21st of December, 1816: Annual feast announced for 28th December 1816.
Macquarie again used the word Aborigine in a government proclamation.
‘GOVENNMENT AND PUBLIC NOTICE
SECRETARY'S OFFICE, SYDNEY. Saturday, 21st Dec.1816
AGREEABLY to that Part of His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR'S Proclamation, bearing Date the first of November last, wherein His EXCELLENCY invited a general friendly Meeting of the NATIVES, they are now reminded of the same; and Notice is hereby given, that the said friendly Meeting of the Black Natives or Aborigines of this Colony, will be held at the Market Place in Parramatta, on Saturday next, the 28th of this present Month of December, at the Hour of Ten in the forenoon. - And the Natives are accordingly invited and requested to attend on that Occasion with their Families, under the Assurance of being kindly received, and plentifully furnished with Refreshments of Meat and Drink.
The Magistrates, Peace Officers, and Settlers throughout the Colony, will be pleased to acquaint the Natives residing in their respective Neighbourhoods, or occasionally resorting to thither, with the present Invitation for a general Meeting on the said 28th Day of December Instant.
And the Gentlemen composing the Committee of the Native Institution, are requested to assemble at Government House, Parramatta a little before the Hour of Ten in the Morning on the said 28th Instant.
By Command of His Excellency,
J. T. CAMPBELL, Secretary’269
Monday 16th of December, 1816: Serjeant Broadfoot’s reward
‘Drew a Draft of this date on the Police Fund, in favor of Serjt. Broadfoot of the 46th. Regt. for Fifteen Pounds Sterling (£15), as a reward from Government for his recent very active and useful Services in pursuit of the Hostile Tribes of Black Natives, along the Rivers Hawkesbury, Nepean, and Grose. — 270
Memorandum for Capt. Gill
Arty. Engineer. – Sunday 22d. Decr. 1816. -
1st. To order Six Gorgets or Breast Plates with chains for Native Chiefs to be made immediately according to the former size and form. – Two of the said gorgets to have the following inscriptions engraved on them respectively: Vizt.
On one Gorget
“Mary-Mary”
“Chief of the Mulgowy”
“Native Tribe.”
1816
-------------------------------
On the Gorget-
“Branch-Jack”
Chief of the Hawkesbury Upper Branch
Native Tribe
1816.
2d. To order four small square Breast Plates (agreeably to the accompanying size and form) with chains to be made immediately – for meritorious Natives – and have the undermentioned names engraved thereon respectively.
Vizt.
1 Colebee
2 Pulpin
3 Mulgowy - Joe
4 Charley – Mulgrave
Each of the Plates for the above four natives to have the same inscription engraved on it as the accompanying Form with the alteration of the Name. –
L.M.’271
Saturday 28th of December, 1816: Annual feast
The two following accounts of the Annual Feast while containing much of the same information differ somewhat in their degree of effusion.
‘Pursuant to Public Notice and Invitation, a number of friendly Natives or Aborigines of the Colony, amounting in all to 179 Men, Women, and Children, assembled at Parramatta in the forenoon of this day – and were most hospitably and plentifully regaled and entertained with Dinner and Punch at the expence of Government – in presence of myself and the Gentlemen of the Committee for the Civilization of the Natives; the Children (15 Boys & Girls) at the School or Institution, having been presented and shewn to their friends and Relatives now assembled – who were much pleased with their clean healthy appearance – and progress in Education.
The Gentlemen of the Committee dined with me Afterwards at Government House. –
L. M.’272
The Gazette provided a particularly unctuous account of this pioneering model of social engineering. The structure of the feast revolved around gender, hierarchies and a free meal. Aboriginal people, broken into subjects and chiefs, formed a passive foil to the Governor and his entourage. These divisions were reinforced with the awarding of brass plates to the “chiefs” and presents to the various guides. Mrs Macquarie played an appropriate second fiddle to her husband, arriving to see the Native Institution children paraded before the “chiefs”. The Governor and his wife were no doubt suitably touched by the tears of Aboriginal women “at seeing the infant and helpless offspring of their deceased friends, so happily sheltered and protected by British benevolence”.
This, like all subsequent interventions, soon fizzled out.
‘On Saturday last the 28th ult. the Town of Parramatta exhibited a novel and very interesting spectacle by the assembling of the Native Tribes there, pursuant to the GOVERNOR'S gracious invitation. — At 10 in the morning the Market-place was thrown open, and some Gentlemen who were appointed on the occasion took the management of the ceremonials. — The natives having seated themselves on the ground in a large circle, the chiefs were placed on chairs a little advanced in front, and to the right of their respective tribes. — in the centre of the circle thus formed, were placed large tables groaning under the weight of roast beef, potatoes, bread, &c. and a large cask of grog lent its exhilirating aid to promote the general festivity and good humour which so conspicuously shone through the sable visages of this delighted congress.
The GOVERNOR, attended by all the Members of the Native Institution, and by several of the Magistrates and Gentlemen in the neighbourhood, proceded at half past ten to the Meeting, and having entered the circle passed round the whole of them, enquiring after, and making himself acquainted with the several tribes, their respective leaders, and residences. His EXCELLENCY then assembled the chiefs by themselves, and confirmed them in the ranks of chieftains to which their own tribes had exalted them, and conferred on them badges of distinction, whereon were engraved their names as chiefs, and those of their tribes. — He afterwards conferred badges of merit on some individuals, in acknowledgment of their steady and loyal conduct in the assistance they rendered the military party when lately sent out in pursuit of the refractory natives to the west and south of the Nepean. — By the time this ceremony was over Mrs. MACQUARIE arrived, and the children belonging to, and under the care of the Native Institution, 15 in number, preceded by their teacher, entered the circle and walked round it; the children appearing very clean, well clothed, and happy. — The chiefs were then again called together to observe the examination of the children as to their progress in learning, and to civilized habits of life. — Several of the little ones read, and it was grateful to the bosom of sensibility to trace the degrees of pleasure which the chiefs manifested on this occasion. — Some clapped the children on the head, and one in particular turning round towards the GOVERNOR, with extraordinary emotion, exclaimed "GOVERNOR,—that will make good Settler — that's my Pickaninn!"—and some of their females were observed to shed tears of sympathetic affection, at seeing the infant and helpless offspring of their deceased friends, so happily sheltered and protected by British benevolence. — The examinations being finished, the children returned to the Institution under the guidance of their venerable tutor; whose assiduity and attention to them merits every commendation.
The feasting then commenced, and the GOVERNOR retired amidst the long and reiterated acclamations and shouts of his sable and grateful congress. — The numbers of visitants (exclusive of the 15 children), amounted to 179; viz.—103 men, 53 women, and 21 children.
It is worthy of observation that 3 of the latter mentioned number of children (and the son of the memorable Ben-ni-long was one of them), were placed in the Native institution immediately on the breaking up of the congress on Saturday last, making the number of children, now in that establishment, altogether 18; and we may reasonably trust, that in a few years this benevolent Institution will amply reward the hopes and expectations of its liberal Patrons and Supporters, and answer the grand object intended, by providing a seminary for the helpless offspring of the natives of this Country, and opening the path to their future civilization and improvement.’273
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