A note on Structure
st of December, 1812: the killing of Richard Evans
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31st of December, 1812: the killing of Richard EvansThe Gazette report and the inquest into the death of Richard Evans are, like many other primary sources of the period, informative, tantalising and obscure. Richard Evans had been a serjeant in the NSW Corp and received a 150 acre grant in 1804 at the bend of what was then Sawyers and Boston Reaches and is now called Cambridge and Cumberland Reaches. He had formed a liaison with, or married Elizabeth Jackson, who had been married to or connected with John, eldest son of Thomas Arndell. John had drowned in 1805. One of Elizabeth’s sons, known variously as Samuel Evans and Samuel Arndell, had been promised land at the Branch, possibly the 30 acres which later became China Farm.32 The killing took place on the Branch farm on the night of 31st December 1812. The inquest provided insights into relations between Aboriginal people and settlers. The farm produced pigs, poultry, wheat and corn. There was a hut on the farm. The farm obviously required regular attention. It was not like some farms where a crop was sown and then left till harvest. Despite hiding articles such as blankets to prevent them being stolen, relations between Aboriginal people and settlers appeared good. An Aboriginal man had helped Richard plant corn that day. Richard was apparently comfortable to spend the night alone with six Aboriginal people. What caused his killing is not clear. Dick – Coohairy, an Aboriginal man was prepared to go with Angelo Ferugo, a Maltese assigned servant, until his sister told him to stay as they had a long way to go, suggesting that there was no premeditation. Evans’ body was not mutilated suggesting that his killing was not motivated by revenge. Other Aboriginal people were brought in to examine the body and were of the opinion that the injuries were inflicted by Aboriginal people and they vowed to either kill the perpetrators or bring them in. The inquest was held on Andrew Doyle’s farm on the opposite bank at what is now Dargle. Andrew was an educated man and somewhat of a leader in the district. A jury was formed of neighbours including Michael Lamb, William Knight and Benjamin Singleton, all of whom had previous encounters with Aboriginal people. It is logical to expect that viewing the body and hearing the evidence hardened their solidarity and their hostility towards Aboriginal people. It is also logical to draw the conclusion that any killing of a settler would not pass without retribution. There is no record of what, if anything, happened to “Guttermutting”, “Mary-Ann”, “Munningjoy”, “the unknown woman”, “Dick Coohairy” and “Yaring”. ‘An account has been received of the murder on Friday se'nnight of - Evans, a settler at or near Portland Head, and formerly a serjeant in the New South Wales Corps, now the 102d Regiment. The perpetration of the horrible offence is attributed to several natives, said to belong to the Lower Branch; but whether this supposition be accurate or not we have no present information.’33 I have maintained the spelling, grammar and layout of the inquest. ‘Cumberland An Inquest taken at Sawyers Reach in the said County the 3rd day of January 1813. Upon the view of the body of Richard Evans then and there lying dead before Thomas Hobby Gentleman. Coroner and the jurors following. –
Evidence Angelo Ferugo A Maltee sworn – Was at his masters-sons farm at the Branch on Thursday last 31st Decr. And was requested by his master to go to his own farm at Sawyers Reach for some seed Corn (a distance of about 7 miles) his master desired him first to get his dinner which he did; there were at the time 6 Natives on the farm 3 men named, Guttermutting, Munningjoy, and Dick Coohairy, and 3 women - Mary-Ann belonging to Gunnermutting, and Yaring belonging to Coohairy, the other he does not know her name. When at Dinner his master gave Dick Coohairy something to eat as he had been planting corn for him. He then got ready the boat and Dick – Coohairy and himself got into it, he proposing to go with Deponent to his masters farm for the corn; On Dick - Coohairys sister (Mary Ann) calling to him he objected going with Deponent saying he had a long way to go with her and the other natives. Deponents master then desired him to go by himself with the boat and to return in the morning, took the boat by himself to his Masters farm and remained there all night Started the following morning before sunrise In the event Ferugo went on his own in the boat to Sawyers Reach, stayed there the night and returned the following morning starting before sun rise with the seed corn and deceaseds son Saml. Evans. Both on foot and when opposite the farm which he had left his master at called, on receiving no answer both swam over Depondent taking part of the corn on his head and leaving other articles behind them intending to fetch them over at low water which they could then do without swimming. On reaching the opposite shore they searched but could not find the deceased, but apprehending no harm they ground some wheat and had some breakfast, then going to search for his blanket (as they knew where he usually hid it for fear of it being stolen by the natives) they found his body, quite naked and covered with some bush and grass, his blanket and all the other articles they usually hid were gone and some of the poultry. Both swam back immediately and informed Deponents mistress at the farm at Sawyers Reach, she called on some neighbours who fetched him to his own farm. Questn. by the jury Did you not find the house in that manner as to give you reason to think somewhat particular had happened? Anr. Did not take any notice till he had had his breakfast, then he went to look for the blanket as before mentioned (Signd) Angelo X Ferugo Samuel Evans (a boy about 14 years of age, son of the deceased) stated that the last witness came home on Thursday night last and on the following morning before sun rise, went with him, called when opposite the farm and receiving no answer both swam over went to the hut and called but received no answer, observed the straw in the hut which they lay upon tossed much, the meal sieve out of its usual place and the knives missing, but considering his father was looking after the pigs, clearing corn or doing something or other they got their breakfast went then to the place where his father usually hid the blanket (at the instance of Angelo) where he found his father lying dead, strip’d naked covered with bush and grass, both swam back and informed his mother who sent some neighbours for the body (signed) Samuel X Evans Andrew Doyle Sworn on Fryday 1st Inst was informed by the first witness, John Campbell & others, of the death of Evans and went at their request to learn what particulars they could on the road (taken) took some natives with them to the place where the deceased lay and from the blows on the head considered he had been beat by an axe or a tomihawk; on account of the distance being so great and no person on the farm they thought it prudent to bring the body to his own house;43 on asking the natives what they thought of it they said they thought it was done by Natives and on their names being mentioned that were left with the Deceased they promised to bring them in dead or alive the place the body was found in was an aperture among the rocks about four rods from the hut. (Signed Andw Doyle Mr Surgeon Mileham states he examined the scull of the deceased and found it fractured in several places but from the very putric state cannot say by what means (Signed) James Mileham34 Verdict Wilful murder against afore said Natives - .
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