Charles Williams 'Account of the remains of King Billy the last Tasmanian male Aboriginal', 188- or 189-

MLMSS 5593

fonds

188- or 189-

932373

1 folder of textual material

Formerly kept with papers entitled 'Tasmanian Aborigines : a collection of papers chiefly by George Augustus Robinson', located at A 612, microfilm reel CY 979, provenance unknown. On cover 'Alex Morton MSS'

William Lanney was a member of the last family of aborigines captured at Arthur River and removed to Flinders Island in December 1842. From 1847 to 1851 he attended the orphan school at Hobart, Later he spent time in the company of seamen and went whaling. In the sixties he lived at Oyster Cove as the young husband of Truganini (1803-1876) often referred to as King Billy. During the royal visit in 1868 he was presented with Truganini as the last representative of the aboriginal race in Tasmania

Lanney died on March 1869 aged thirty four. His body was placed in the hospital morgue; a short time later the skull was removed. The rest of the corpse was stolen from the grave. Despite public outcry and a board of inquiry a full account was never given.

'Statement made by Charles Williams gate keeper at the General Hospital Hobart Tasmania giving an account of the death of 'King' Billy or 'William Lanne' the last male Tasmanian aboriginal who died in 1869'

Information transferred from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (6-766 C) as part of the eRecords Project, 2010-2011