Papers relating to the death of two shepherds in the Edward River Districts, 1843

MLMSS 9467

fonds

1843

1102884

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder)

The Australian frontier wars were a series of conflicts fought between Indigenous Australians and European settlers that spanned a total of 146 years. The first fighting took place several months after January 26, 1788 and the last clashes occurred as late as 1934.

Once European settlement spread inland from what is now known as Victoria, it is believed relations between the settlers and the Indigenous Australians along the Murray River worsened and as a result the Native Police were sent to patrol the region late in 1843.

In November 1843 two shepherds were murdered in the Edward River Region at the hand of local Aborigines, and at the same time some 250 head of sheep and all of the cattle were alleged to have been stolen. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Murray, H.W.H. Smythe, Murray and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Murrumbidgee, Henry Bingham, were sent out to liaise with local police along with William Dana and the native police to catch the perpetrators.

Henry Dana (1820-1852) moved to the Port Phillip District in 1842 and was appointed by La Trobe to establish the Native Police Corps . William A. Dana (1825-1866) was his brother and moved to Port Phillip in 1843. William was appointed second-in-command of the Native Police from 1 January 1844 and was later promoted to Superintendent of the Victoria Police.

References:
Who killed the Koories? / Michael Cannon. Port Melbourne: William Heinemann Australia, 1990
Public Record Office of Victoria. http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/online-exhibitions/nativepolice/glossary.html (accessed 28 February, 2014)
State Records N.S.W. http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/guides-and-finding-aids/archives-in-brief/archives-in-brief-60 (accessed 28 February, 2014)

Letter from J.W. Quinn, dated 6 November 1843 informing recipient, of the situation at Mr Gwynne's Station, being the murder of two men, James Pollock and William Inglis Wight together with the theft of cattle and sheep stock by local Aborigines.

Letter from Henry S. Lewes from Lewes & Throsby's Station, Murray River, November 8, 1843. Writing on behalf of station occupants in the area, Lewes requests that the recipient inform the Government in Melbourne of the desperate circumstances being experienced and requests immediate assistance of the Government.

Letter from H.W.H. Smythe to Charles J. La Trobe, River Murray, December 16, 1843. Providing a detailed report of the 'search after the murderers of the two shepherds Will's Station on the Edward'. With cover page reading '43/2642; 29 December 1843; Mr Cr Com Smythe; Report of his proceedings in search of the [murderers?] of a shepherd of Mr Hills, late on the Edward.'

Note in pencil regarding Crown Commissioners Smythe and Bingham's cooperation with the Police, W. Dana and native police to apprehend the perpetrators, dated November 26, 1843

Note on cover paper reads '43/2642 ; 25th November 1843; J.W. Quinn to Mr Wills. Reporting a most serious outrage by the Blks (sic) on life and property of settlers in the Murray Dist.'

Note on cover paper verso reads 'J.W.C.C. Smythe with 3 men and Mr Dana with this Sergt. and native police sent up at once, 26 Nov. to assist J.W. C.C. Bingham in [?] Dist. the murders were committed. - C.I.L'

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