'History, despite its wrenching pain cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.' Maya Angelou
1838 Myall Creek Massacre
Stories of Those Involved
Myall Creek Station
George Anderson – from London. Transported for life in 1833 at the age of 19 for robbing his master. Early in 1838 his master Henry Dangar had him flogged (100 lashes) for leaving his post. He was then sent to Myall Creek station where he was the hut keeper, a lower position than a stockman. Had a relationship with a young Aboriginal woman, named Ipeta. He refused to take part in the massacre. He was crucial in the arrest and identification of the perpetrators and was the key witness at the trials.
Charles Kilmeister – from Bristol. Transported for life in 1833 at the age of 18 for house breaking. Stockman who invited the Weraerai to the Myall Creek Station when they were camped at McIntyre’s station by offering them protection. Urged William Hobbs to let the Weraerai stay on the station. Joined Fleming’s gang when they rode into the Myall Creek Station. Was involved in the massacre. Arrested, tried and hanged.
William Hobbs – from Somerset. A twenty six year old free settler. Superintendent of Henery Dangar’s various stations in the district. Usually resident at Myall Creek but was away when the Weraerai arrived and again when they were massacred. Got on well with the Weraerai and was horrified when he heard of the massacre and when he was shown the bodies on returning to the station. Provided important evidence to Day’s inquiry and at the two trials.
Told Thomas Foster, niehgbouring station overseer who told Frederick Foot, who rode to Sydney to report it to the new Governor, George Gipps.
Andrew Burrowes – from County Sligo, Ireland. Transported for life at the age of twenty two in 1835 for highway robbery. A stockman who often travelled around the other stations with Hobbs. Was absent from Myall Creek station when the massacre occurred. Gave some evidence at the trials.
Davey (Yintayintin) – young Aboriginal stockman from the Peel River district who worked on the Myall Creek station. Some reports suggest he witnessed the massacre but he was unable to give evidence at the trials as he was not a Christian. Took Hobbs to the massacre site where the bodies were.
Billy (Kuimunga) – young Aboriginal stockman. Davey’s younger brother who also worked on the Myall Creek station.
Charles Kilmeister – from Bristol. Transported for life in 1833 at the age of 18 for house breaking. Stockman who invited the Weraerai to the Myall Creek Station when they were camped at McIntyre’s station by offering them protection. Urged William Hobbs to let the Weraerai stay on the station. Joined Fleming’s gang when they rode into the Myall Creek Station. Was involved in the massacre. Arrested, tried and hanged.
William Hobbs – from Somerset. A twenty six year old free settler. Superintendent of Henery Dangar’s various stations in the district. Usually resident at Myall Creek but was away when the Weraerai arrived and again when they were massacred. Got on well with the Weraerai and was horrified when he heard of the massacre and when he was shown the bodies on returning to the station. Provided important evidence to Day’s inquiry and at the two trials.
Told Thomas Foster, niehgbouring station overseer who told Frederick Foot, who rode to Sydney to report it to the new Governor, George Gipps.
Andrew Burrowes – from County Sligo, Ireland. Transported for life at the age of twenty two in 1835 for highway robbery. A stockman who often travelled around the other stations with Hobbs. Was absent from Myall Creek station when the massacre occurred. Gave some evidence at the trials.
Davey (Yintayintin) – young Aboriginal stockman from the Peel River district who worked on the Myall Creek station. Some reports suggest he witnessed the massacre but he was unable to give evidence at the trials as he was not a Christian. Took Hobbs to the massacre site where the bodies were.
Billy (Kuimunga) – young Aboriginal stockman. Davey’s younger brother who also worked on the Myall Creek station.
The Weraerai People
Daddy – tribal elder. Very old grey haired. Described by William Hobbs as “the doctor of the tribe” and “the largest man” he had ever seen in his life. Killrd in the massacre.
King Sandy – tribal elder. Wore a distinctive brass breast plate. Survived the massacre due to his absence to do some bark cutting at another station. (Foster’s station)
Old Joey – tribal elder. Wore a tartan cap. Killed in the massacre.
Ipeta – young married Aboriginal woman. Had a relationship with George Anderson. Killed in the massacre.
Sandy – Young Aboriginal man. Fate unknown. May have been killed in the massacre or may have been absent with King Sandy.
Martha – Young Aboriginal woman. Sandy’s wife. Fate unknown. Probably killed in the massacre but may have been the sole survivor of those led away to the massacre site on the ridge.
Charley – son of Sandy and Martha. About six years old. Outgoing, friendly. A favourite of William Hobbs. Spoke some English. Killed in the massacre.
John and Jimmy (later Munro) – young Aboriginal brothers. Survived the massacre by hiding in Myall Creek when Fleming’s gang rode into their camp at Myall Creek.
King Sandy – tribal elder. Wore a distinctive brass breast plate. Survived the massacre due to his absence to do some bark cutting at another station. (Foster’s station)
Old Joey – tribal elder. Wore a tartan cap. Killed in the massacre.
Ipeta – young married Aboriginal woman. Had a relationship with George Anderson. Killed in the massacre.
Sandy – Young Aboriginal man. Fate unknown. May have been killed in the massacre or may have been absent with King Sandy.
Martha – Young Aboriginal woman. Sandy’s wife. Fate unknown. Probably killed in the massacre but may have been the sole survivor of those led away to the massacre site on the ridge.
Charley – son of Sandy and Martha. About six years old. Outgoing, friendly. A favourite of William Hobbs. Spoke some English. Killed in the massacre.
John and Jimmy (later Munro) – young Aboriginal brothers. Survived the massacre by hiding in Myall Creek when Fleming’s gang rode into their camp at Myall Creek.
The Perpetrators
John Fleming – Son of a wealthy squatter, who managed his family’s properties in the district. The only free man involved in the massacre and the leader of the gang. The only one who escaped Edward Day’s investigation and the subsequent prosecution.
John Russell – Convict with ticket of leave. Head stockman at Bell’s station. Strong powerfully built. One of the leaders of the gang.
James Lamb – reportedly rode with Major Nunn during his campaign against the Aborigines of the district in early 1838. Did not face the second trial and thereby escaped being hanged. Often carried hand cuffs
John Blake – The only married man amongst the gang. Only identified through his association with the Aboriginal woman the gang spared from the massacre and took around with them for the next couple of days. Did not face the second trial and thereby escaped being hanged. Several years later, he was crippled in a riding accident and later committed suicide by slashing his own throat.
William Hawkins, Edward Foley, John (Black) Johnstone, George Palliser, James Oates (Hall’s Jemmy), Charles Telluse and James Parry.
John Russell – Convict with ticket of leave. Head stockman at Bell’s station. Strong powerfully built. One of the leaders of the gang.
James Lamb – reportedly rode with Major Nunn during his campaign against the Aborigines of the district in early 1838. Did not face the second trial and thereby escaped being hanged. Often carried hand cuffs
John Blake – The only married man amongst the gang. Only identified through his association with the Aboriginal woman the gang spared from the massacre and took around with them for the next couple of days. Did not face the second trial and thereby escaped being hanged. Several years later, he was crippled in a riding accident and later committed suicide by slashing his own throat.
William Hawkins, Edward Foley, John (Black) Johnstone, George Palliser, James Oates (Hall’s Jemmy), Charles Telluse and James Parry.
The Squatters
Henry Dangar – wealthy landholder. Myall Creek station was just one of his extensive landholdings. The convicts on Myall Creek station were “assigned” to him.
Robert Scott – wealthy landowner and powerful businessman. Part owner of the Sydney Herald. Known as “Count Bobby”.
Robert Scott – wealthy landowner and powerful businessman. Part owner of the Sydney Herald. Known as “Count Bobby”.
Sydney Authorities
Governor Sir George Gipps – Whig appointed Governor who had only arrived in the colony earlier in 1838.
John Plunkett – the Attorney General who supported Gipps and led the prosecution of the perpetrators.
Frederick Foot
The Investigator
Edward Denny Day – Police Magistrate from Muswellbrook who investigated the massacre and arrested eleven of the twelve perpetrators. Only John Fleming, the only free settler, escaped him.
Justice Dowling – Judge of the Supreme Court at the first trial.
Justice Burton – Judge of the Supreme Court at the second trial. Sentenced the seven, who were found guilty, to hang.
John Plunkett – the Attorney General who supported Gipps and led the prosecution of the perpetrators.
Frederick Foot
The Investigator
Edward Denny Day – Police Magistrate from Muswellbrook who investigated the massacre and arrested eleven of the twelve perpetrators. Only John Fleming, the only free settler, escaped him.
Justice Dowling – Judge of the Supreme Court at the first trial.
Justice Burton – Judge of the Supreme Court at the second trial. Sentenced the seven, who were found guilty, to hang.
References
Committee, M. C. (2015). The Characters. Retrieved from The Myall Creek Massacre: http://www.myallcreekmassacre.com/Myall_Creek_Massacre/Characters.html