Pondering the Abyss: - a Summary of Events

Pondering the Abyss: - A Summary of Events

Date / Event
(all land grants refer to the Hawkesbury) / Aboriginal casualties / Settler casualties
March 1788 / Governor Phillip led two unsuccessful expeditions into Broken Bay searching for a river that led inland.
April 1788 / Governor Phillip led an overland expedition to a high point where he could see the Blue Mountains. He named the ridge to the north of the Grose Valley the Carmathen Hills, and the ridge to the south the Landsdowne Hills. He named a hill between these ridges Richmond Hill.
22nd of April 1788 / Governor Phillip led an expedition to Bell Vue Hill (probably Prospect Hill) from where he saw Richmond Hill.
6thof June 1789 / Governor Phillip, on a third expedition to Broken Bay, found the Hawkesbury River and rowed 20 miles upstream.
25th of June 1789 / Governor Phillip visited Rose Hill regarding information of a river to the west.
26th of June 1789 / Governor Phillip undertook a second trip up the Hawkesbury River, reaching Richmond Hill and Yarramundi Falls.
26th of June 1789 / Watkin Tench seeking a river to the westward surveyed the wild abyss from Prospect Hill. He discovered the Nepean River near what is now Penrith.
Late August 1790 / From Rose Hill Watkin Tench made another expedition to the north west realising that the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers were the same river.
December 1790 / Pemulwuy speared McEntire, leading to two punitive expeditions.
April 1791 / Governor Phillip led an overland expedition to Richmond Hill, meeting Gomberee and Yellomundee on the way. Natives were found on the banks in several parts, many of whom were labouring under the small - pox.
24th of May 1791 / Tench and Dawes undertook another expedition to Richmond Hill where they met Deedorara.
14th of November 1792 / Magistrate Richard Atkins explored the Nepean River and went north to what is now Pugh’s lagoon.
February 1794 / Grose ordered muskets for the Hawkesbury
April 1794 / Settlement commenced officially with 22 grants.
Aboriginal peoplegathered around farms and fired on. One Aboriginal man killed. / 1 killed
May 1794 / Aboriginal peopleattempted to direct settlers southwards.
August 1794 / There were seventy settlers on Hawkesbury. A road was cut through to the Hawkesbury.
August 1794 / Aboriginal lad shot by Robert Forrester on Argyle Reach. / 1 killed
September 1794 / Aboriginal people sought revenge, settler houses were plundered. Shadrack and Akers,settlers upstream of Forrester were wounded in an attack. This may have been a case of mistaken identity. Seven or eight Aboriginal people were killed in a settler reprisal raid. Children taken after parents killed. John Wilson living with Aboriginal people. / 7-8 killed and children taken. / 2 wounded
October 1794 / Three grants of 90 acres.
John Macarthur carried out a perfunctory examination into killing of Aboriginal lad by Robert Forrester on his farm.
November 1794 / 64 grantees received 1920 acres between them on the Hawkesbury.
December 1794 / 8 grantees received a total of 240 acres. In 1794 there were 75 grants of 2250 acres.
Joseph Burdett killed on junction of South Creek and East Creek in late 1794. / 1 killed.
January 1795 / Early in the new year officers of the NSW Corps visited the Hawkesbury, probably exploring the real estate potential of the area.
January 1795 / Atkin referred to the use of Aboriginal lads to assist farmers prepare ground for crops as slavery.
February 1795 / Store house built, Serjant Goodall and six/ten privates sent to Hawkesbury to disperse natives.
John Wilson went to Port Stephens with Charles Grimes, the surveyor.
March 1795 / One grant of30 acres made.
Thomas Webb’s farm on the left bank of Canning Reach was plundered and later in the month Webb was speared.
Spear thrown at boat load of soldiers.
May 1795 / 1 grant of 30 acres made.
June 1795 / There were 400 settlers on river.
Thomas Webb died. Wilson and Thorp killed.
There are a number of contradictory accounts of the fighting in June 1795. What follows is a compilation of these accounts. Large parties of Aboriginal people were on farms. Two to three whites were speared. Aboriginal attempts at negotiation were rejected leading to military expedition. Lieutenant Abbott and sixty soldiers were sent to Hawkesburyfor the purpose of driving the natives away.
At least 7-8 Aboriginal people were killed and a number of men, women and children were taken prisoner. William Rowe and his child were killed and Rowe’s wife wounded on their isolated farm on the right bank of the River near the current north Richmond bridge. Another punitive expedition was sent out after Rowe was killed. / 7-8 killed and a number taken prisoner. / 1 died of wounds.
2 killed.
2 killed and I wounded.
July 1795 / 34 grants of 885 acres.
August 1795 / 25 grants of 700 acres.
September 1795 / 27 grants of 730 acres.
December 1795 / In 1795 there were 87 grants of 2375 acres, most of which went to the officers and men of the NSW Corps.
Aboriginal peopleplundered farms around Addy’s Creek, resulting in another punitive expedition. Four men and one woman were killed, a child was badly wounded and four males were taken prisoner. / 5 killed, one wounded and 4 prisoners taken.
January 1796 / John Lacey was speared in a boat and mortally wounded. Buried 24/01/96. / 1 mortally wounded.
13February 1796 / The two brothers of Patrick Hyndes were speared to death on their farm at Bushell’s Lagoon. These killings do not appear in official documents. / 2 killed.
February 1796 / Governor Hunter blamed settlers for their problems. He gave orders against fraternisation, ordered settlers to band together. He recommended that Wilson and Knight be secured to prevent them assisting Aboriginal people in attacks on farms.
March 1796 / Attackon boats at Portland Head.
Mrs Marsden had a six year old Native boy in her care. After a while he took off.
June 1796 / Report of a man being killed. It was not clear when or where this happened. / 1 killed.
September 1796 / Two grants totalling 200 acres.
December 1796 / Nine grants of 270 acres.
January 1797 / Governor Hunter went up the Hawkesbury. He stopped at where Addy’s farm had been destroyed.
January 1797 / One grant of thirty acres.
April 1797 / Aboriginal peopleburnt a farm house and a stack of wheat belonging to a settler after having plundered him.
May 1797 / 36 grants totalling 1245 acres.
Collins commented on the distress caused by Aboriginal children returning to their parents.
June 1797 / 17 grants totalling 565 acres.
October 1797 / Hawkesbury boat taken and the crew (2-5) killed.
Attack on boat by Aboriginal people in canoe, Aboriginal people killed. / 2-3 killed. / 2-5 killed.
January 1798 / 6 grantees received a total of 141½ acres.
February 1798 / 175 acres were granted to 7 grantees.
February 1798 / Attack on Prospect farms including Tarlington’s farm. Little Charley, McNamara, Major White, Little George, Terribandy, Jemmy and thirty to forty others made the attack. Redman, Collins and Malong/Malloy/Malone were killed. Tarlington and wife wounded. There were no Aboriginal casualties. / 3 killed, two wounded (at Prospect).
February 1798 / Terribandy killed the man on the race ground a few days after the attack on Tarlington’s farm. Charley was present and said Major White was involved. / 1 killed.
February 1798 / David Brown wounded on his Wilberforce farm. / 1 wounded.
April 1798 / 5 grantees received a total of 130 acres.
April 1798 / Two convicts who stole horses from Parramatta reported dead north of Kurrajong. One was killed by Aboriginal people and the other died from hunger. / 1 killed.
May 1798 / In May 1798 there were two grants totalling 95 acres.
October 1798 / Aboriginal man killed on race ground at sometime between October 1798 and 1799. / 1 killed.
January 1799 / one grant of 125 acres
March 1799 / Aboriginal people warned settlers of approaching flood on Hawkesbury.
April 1799 / Two grants totalling 200 acres.
August 1799 / Seven grantees received a total of 270 acres.
August 1799 / William Fuller a Freeman lent Wimbow a blanket.
August 1799 / Soldier called Cooper killed Aboriginal woman and child. / 2 killed.
August 1799 / Smallsalts attacked on Parramatta road.
August 1799 / Little Jemmy, Little George and a third lad, possibly Charley were engaged to go hunting with Hodgkinson. The three lads absconded when they saw that Wimbow was to accompany Hodgkinson. Terribandy, the older brother of Little Jemmy and father of the young woman living with Wimbow, and Major White took the place of the three lads. They killed Hodgkinson and Wimbow at Yellow Rock in the Grose Valley. / 2 killed.
August 1799 / Major White speared Goodall, near Bella Vista. Charley present. / 1 wounded (near Bella Vista).
Mid August 1799 / Fuller saw the blanket he had lent Wimbow on aAboriginal woman, a fortnight before murders known.
Late August 1799 / Lieutenant Hobby sent out a party to recover bodies of Hodgkinson and Wimbow. The party was led by a serjeant, accompanied by Archer, Freebody, Fuller, Metcalfe, and possibly Timms.
Early September 1799 / Yellowgy talked to Archer. Yellowgowy told Archer Major White and another killed Hodgkinson and Wimbow. Archer asked for Hodgkinson’s gun to be returned.
7 September 1799 / Joseph Phelps reported to Corporal Farrell at the barracks, 9:00 at night that the natives involved in spearing Goodall were on Burnes’ farm. Corporal Farrell, a private and Phelps went to John Burnes farm, on the left bank of South Creek, upstream of Bladey’s and near where Fairey Road bends to the south west. Cappy shot and wounded while escaping. Farrell and party including Lambe escorted Charley to the Governor who released Charley into custody of Cummings. Shortly after he escaped. / 1 wounded, 1 taken prisoner.
September 1799 / William Blady’s farm plundered. Two groups met Blady while he was out hunting. Major White, Jemmy and another were in one group.Major Worgan, Charley and 12 others were in the other group. They said they were angry with the soldiers.
September 1799 / Little George, Little Jemmy and a third lad who was probably not Charley went to Forrester’s farm. Major Worgan probably went with them as far as the farm.
They meet Metcalfe and gave him Hodgkinson’s gun.
Metcalfe took them into Forrester’s home where Isabel Ramsay, Forrester’s partner, was having dinner with their children.
Metcalfe went to widow Hodgkinson’s with the musket and described the boys. Metcalfe went onto see other settlers who gathered in Forrester home.
They quizzed the boys, tied them up and took them outside. One of the boys called out to other natives. Little George and Little Jemmy were killed on Powell’s farm. Widow Hodgkinson almost certainly witnessed killings. Timms and others buried the bodies. / 2 killed.
19th September 1799: / Mary Archer went to authorities and reported the murders.
October 1799: / 13 grantees received a total of 996 acres.
14-17thOctober 1799: / Trial of Powell, Freebody, Metcalfe, Timms and Butler for murder of Little George and Little Jemmy.
In the evidence Lieutenant Hobby said two whites and two natives killed since August.
John Francis Molloy, appointed to act as surgeon. In four and a half years 91795-99) he knew of 26 whites being killed and 13 wounded.
Braithwaite had been on Hawkesbury for 12months. In that time four men killed, and Goodall wounded. About five natives killed in that time, including one shot by his servant after being attacked over a kangaroo. The others were the mother and child killed by Private Cooper and Little George and Little Jemmy.
The officers of the court were split in their judgement. The naval officers found the men guilty and recommended corporal punishment. The NSW Corps officers recommended that the case be referred to higher authority in England. This was done and the only punishment was that Powell lost his position as special constable. / In the evidence Lieutenant Hobby said two whites and two natives killed since August.
John Francis Molloy, appointed to act as surgeon. In four and a half years 91795-99) he knew of 26 whites being killed and 13 wounded.
Braithwaite had been on Hawkesbury for 12months. In that time four men killed, and Goodall wounded. About five natives killed in that time, including one shot by his servant after being attacked over a kangaroo. The others were the mother and child killed by Private Cooper and Little George and Little Jemmy.
November 1799: / six grants totalling 725 acres.
December 1799: / six grantees received 315 acres.
1799: / In 1799 there were thirty five grantees receiving a total of 2631 acres.
January 1800: / 90 acres were granted to 3 grantees.
March 1800: / 12 grants totalling 580 acres were made.
April 1800: / 2 grants were made with a total of 65 acres.
June 1800: / 310 acres were granted to 4 applicants.
1800: / In 1800, 1,045 acres were granted to 21 individuals.
14thNovember 1801: / … the natives have been exceedingly troublesome and annoying …
November 1801: / Samuel Marsden arrested Caley’s assigned servant who refused to conduct a large party of soldiers and others for to apprehend the natives by force in the night. In the argument with Caley that followed, Marsden said that there never would be any good done, until there was a clear riddance of the natives.
December 1801: / Travellers on the Hawkesbury Road banded together as protection against Aboriginal attacks.
March 1802: / 1,322 acres were granted to 14 applicants.
September 1802: / 12 individuals received grants totaling 624¼ acres.
October 1802: / 1 supplicant received a grant of 35 acres.
1802: / In 1802, 27 grants were made with a total of 1,981¼ acres.
1803: / Beginning of a drought.
1803: / Coromandel settlers established around Portland Head.
February 1803: / Of 15 convict escapees, a number were turned in to the authorities by Aboriginal people and two were apprehended asleep near an Aboriginal camp between the Hawkesbury and the mountains.
April 1803: / Governor King granted 2,265 acres to 18 individuals in the Hawkesbury.
7th May 1803 / A settler and some Aboriginal people hunting kangaroos on the right bank of the River at Yarramundi Falls found John Place, the lone survivor of a party of convicts who attempted to find a way to China over the Blue Mountains.
9th May 1803: / In his despatch to Lord Hobart, Governor King claimed
that the contents of Hobart’s despatch regarding the trial were well received by Aboriginal people
that Aboriginal people in the Hawkesbury were much attached to the settlers, and
had assisted in the capture of escaped convicts.
May 1803: / 560 acres were granted to 6 individuals at Mulgrave.
June 1803: / 1 grant of 200 acres was made on the Hawkesbury.
July 1803: / 1 person received a grant of 140 acres.
December 1803: / The Gazette reported that Aboriginal people on Milkmaid Reach, now Bathurst Reach, burnt to death aAboriginal man who had been badly injured while climbing a tree to catch a cockatoo for a white man. / 1 killed.
August 1803: / 1430 acres were granted to 15 people.
1803: / 41 grantees received grants on the Hawkesbury totalling 4,595 acres.
April 1804: / One grant of 300 acres.
May 1804: / One grant of 100 acres.
June 1804: / Seven grants totalling 1,050 acres.
May 1804: / Gazette reported attacks on the Sackville Reach farm of Matthew Everingham and John Howe’s farm on Swallow Rock Reach. Everingham, his wife, servant and Howe were wounded. / 4 wounded.
31st May 1804: / The Governor sent troops to Magistrate Arndell with orders for constables and settlers to support Portland Head settlers.
10-11th June 1804: / Forty to Fifty Aboriginal people sought shelter on the farm of a Richmond Hill settler.
10th June 1804: / An unnamed European speared (it is not possible to determine the location or whether the person was wounded or killed). / 1 wounded or killed
10-11th June 1804: / Seven settlers purportedly pursued 40-50 warriors who had plundered farms. After encountering a group of 250 warriors they were able to recover some plunder and successfully retreat.
15-16th June 1804: / Aboriginal people robbed the farms of Bingham and Smith (probably at Portland Head), speared John Wilkin and burnt the farms of Cuddie and Crumby on South Creek at what is now Llandilo. Joseph Kennedy on the Upper Crescent Reach fired on Aboriginal people taking corn from his fields. / 1 killed.
18th June 1804: / A party of the NSW Corps active in the Hawkesbury.
19th June 1804: / Major White and Terribandy killed by NSW Corps on the farm of a Richmond Hill settler. / 2 killed.
20th June 1804: / Magistrates Marsden and Arndell gave gifts to the Richmond Hill chiefs, Yaragowby and Yaramandy and called an end to the current mischiefs.
July 1804: / Fifteen grants totalling 2079¾ acres made in the Hawkesbury.
August 1804: / Fifty one individuals received grants of 7,225 acres in the Hawkesbury and 20,830 acres set aside for Commons.
14th December 1804: / In his despatch to Lord Hobart, Governor King blamed the violent branch natives who took the settlers crops for provoking the current violence (he did not address his extension of settlement into the lower reaches of the Hawkesbury). He contrasted their behaviour with the domesticated Richmond Hill natives. His despatch carried the implication that Terribandy and Major White were branch natives, which was unlikely.
September 1804: / Michael Young rescued from Aboriginal people on the Hawkesbury Road by a mounted officer.