CIRCUMNAVIGATING AUSTRALIA'S COLONIAL HISTORY - TROVE TUESDAY 5th MAR 2019 Pt. 18

    N.B. Very approximate position

Ever wanted to circumnavigate Australia? We still have a way to go...we'll be going on quite a journey, at least virtually, and clockwise. So as to make sure all states and territories are covered, we started in Western Australia and explored a little of the early history of a small part of this massive state via TROVE...from Rottnest Island to Broome..then across to Katherine Gorge, then Tennant Creek, from there to Darwin on the way to the Tiwi Islands, Bathurst and Melville.

We've had to travel back to Darwin, before leaving the Northern Territory, then across to Cairns, in North Queensland... but we didn't stop there, instead headed to the tropical north, to one of the most beautiful areas you can imagine... isolated yes, but perfect for that great getaway... to Cape Tribulation. It seems you loved that area so well, that Cairns was the obvious place to travel to next... not too far south. That was another very popular place...as was our visit to Fraser Island...

We then headed inland, on an approximately 6 hours flight to a place steeped in history.. what a contrast to the sub tropical island of Fraser ...no waterfalls or clear lakes or rainforest, but Longreach has so much to offer.

We then returned to Hervey Bay, by plane, and then took a short drive of approximately 25 minutes to a town founded in 1847... the charming historical town of Maryborough. So many of you loved that place as I do.

What a contrast the next destination was, though it is also very much steeped in history... a beautiful place, but it was a place of horror, of deprivation and loneliness... St. Helena Island. To get there, we left on a ferry from Manly, across to the island. 

Then we returned to Brisbane, to explore the beautiful, sub tropical capital city of the Sunshine State. Brisbane today, is the third largest city in Australia and growing rapidly... 

It has come a long way from it's beginnings as the Moreton Bay convict settlement, with such an interesting history. In an earlier issue, we explored some of the history of Brisbane, then visited Brisbane of a later period. There is so much to see and do in this beautiful city, once known as the biggest country town in Australia...

After a break, we resumed our travels...  heading in to New South Wales... not too far over the border, to a place that literally stands out, begging to be noticed. It was first given a European name by Captain James Cook...  he recorded seeing " a remarkable sharp peaked mountain lying inland". That place was the very imposing Mt. Warning.. you can refresh your memory here

The New Year saw us travelling again, refreshed and ready to go to yet another beautiful place. Many of you will have stopped there, if only to get a photo taken on the border between Queensland and New South Wales..Coolangatta one side, Tweed Heads on the other. Hard to believe that this was only known as Point Danger in times past, as indeed it was... the lighthouse is a clue... 

That place brought back many wonderful memories for so many of you...it was lovely to read your comments and receive your emails..

We moved south again, to a place that means a lot to my family, but also has a very colourful past. It is beautiful, a popular tourist place, the centre of a very busy district, steeped in Australia's colonial history.. it's the bustling town of Port Macquarie. It is around 5 hours drive south of Point Danger.

I concentrated on the convict history of Port Macquarie, perhaps we will return another time to see how the city has changed.

We then headed down the coast a bit, then inland, to another town connected to my family.. the country town of Aberdeen, where my father and five of his brothers were born, him being the youngest. It seems many of you have driven through this town, but never explored it. You would have passed my family's old home .. on the north side of town, just over the bridge on the left hand side heading north.

After backtracking a few hours and heading back to the coast, we explored the bustling city of Newcastle. It was great to hear that a number of you who thought you knew Newcastle reasonably well found a few new places to check out on your next visit.

It's only a relatively short drive, just a couple of hours away from Newcastle, to our next destination... Wiseman's Ferry. Heard of it, but never been there? It took me many years to actually visit, but I'm glad I did. This is another place that has a family connection for me... this time, on my maternal line... but first, this will give you a better idea of just where it is...

To quote our ever helpful Wikipedia...

Wisemans Ferry is a town north of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wisemans Ferry is located 75 kilometres north north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire, The Hills Shire, City of Hawkesbury and Central Coast Council. The town is a tourist spot with picnic and barbecue facilities. As well as a rich convict and colonial heritage in the area, the Dharug National Park and Yengo National Park are close by.

The town was originally called Lower Portland Headland, but the name was eventually changed to Wisemans Ferry, named after Solomon Wiseman, a former convict (1778–1838), who received a land grant in the area from Governor Macquarie in 1817.^[1]Wiseman established a ferry service on the Hawkesbury River in 1827 for the transport of produce and provisions to the convicts building the Great North Road and was known to many as King of the Hawkesbury.^[2]

Wisemans Ferry Post Office opened on 1 January 1857.^[3]

Today, two ferry services cross the Hawkesbury River from the town of Wisemans Ferry. The eponymous Wisemans Ferrycrosses the river to a point down-stream of its confluence with the Macdonald River, connecting with the old Great North Road. Webbs Creek Ferry crosses to a point upstream of the confluence, connecting with the St Albans Road that follows the west bank of the Macdonald River.^[5

 

Tirin at the English Wikipedia.  CC BY-SA 3.0

photo: sv1ambo  Some rights reserved

The most famous, once infamous, settler in this area was Solomon Wiseman, after whom the area was named. You can read more about him via the links above in the Wikipedia quotes.. and in his biography here... Monument Australia has more on him..  as does Convict records  Thanks to Community Contributions on the records page..  

Community Contributions

Carol Axton-Thompson on 1st April, 2013 wrote:

Ticket of Leave June 1810
Pardon Feb 1812
Merchant, shipowner, landholder at the Hawkesbury River.

Jane Mott Henriksen on 11th October, 2016 wrote:

Arrived with his wife, Jane Middelton and sons William and Richard on 20/8/1806 at Botany Bay.
Received ticket of leave in June 1810.
Built ferry crossing of Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry (still operating today).
Had a total of 5 children - 4 boys 1 girl.
Married a second time to Sophia Warner on 1/11/1826 (first wife died 20/7/1821.
Owned several sealing ships operating between AU and NZ “Hawkesbury Packet”“MARY ANN”. Ran a pub called “The sign of the Packet”. Built large mansion house at Wisemans Ferry called Cobham Hall.

Many Australians can claim family connections to Solomon Wiseman, including author, Kate Grenville...

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2006/feb/18/familyandrelationships.family1

It took quite some time to establish access to the area of Wiseman's Ferry, as mentioned in the excerpt of an article in the 

Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Wednesday 2 January 1828, page 2 

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37072305

and again in May...

Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Friday 2 May 1828, page 2

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37072661

The roads were making a great difference, notably for all the farmers that had settled in the area, making the most of the fertile lands, but also allowing produce to be taken to other markets. There were not only crops being grown, but dairy farms were being established. 

Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Wednesday 27 August 1828, page 3 

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36866229

The Traveller site has quite a story about Wiseman's Ferry and the earlier days.. as in this excerpt...

It has been common to think that the early settlers who moved into this area were unchallenged by the local Aborigines. This was not true. In 1799 five settlers from the Hawkesbury River district - Simon Freebody, William Butler, Ed Powell, James Metcalfe and William Timms - were all brought to trial for the murder of two Aboriginal boys.

The trial was remarkably simple. In court Sarah Hodgkinson explained that about three weeks before the murders her husband had been killed by Aborigines. She told the court how her grief had turned to revenge and how she had asked the men to kill the boys. The five defendants were all found guilty. But instead of sentencing them, they were all set free and the case and the sentence were referred to His Majesty's Ministers in England.

Governor Hunter was not amused by the breach of protocol. He wrote to England protesting, 'Those men found guilty of murder are now at large and living upon these farms, as much at their ease as ever...' Three years later the men were pardoned. Such was the unfair treatment of the Aborigines in the Hawkesbury River area at this time.

By 1844, Wiseman's Ferry had become a popular place for travellers and for weekend breaks...

Parramatta Chronicle and Cumberland General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1845), Saturday 27 April 1844 National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228249127

Moving forward a few years to 1898 when there was quite an event to be celebrated .. the opening of the Post Office... 

Please click to enlarge

Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1954), Saturday 22 January 1898, page 9 

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66436852

February 1898 brought disaster to the Hawkesbury with the worst floods that had been experienced there for quite some time.

Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1954), Saturday 19 February 1898, page 12

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66437077

One of the many young families in the area was that of James and Elizabeth. They had seven young children to care for, ranging in age from 16, 13, 11, 10, 8, 4,  to 2.. and Elizabeth was about to give birth to her eighth child. The article above was published on the 19th February ... their eighth child was born a few days later. I wonder when the baby was actually due? Did anxiety about the floods bring his birth forward or did Elizabeth take it all in her stride, after all, she'd been through this seven times before.

 James and Elizabeth Catherine Harriet Swadling ( nee Rose), welcomed Roy Leonard Swadling, on the 23 February 1898 at Wiseman's Ferry, NSW.  Thankfully he was to live a long and generally happy life, along with three brothers and six sisters, two of whom were born after him. Two of his sisters born immediately prior to him were also born at Wiseman's Ferry, as was the first one following him.

I knew him as Pa, my mother's father... a hardworking man who not only survived World War I, but was awarded two Military medals for bravery, and mentioned in dispatches. Not that we, his family, knew anything about them till after he died... he wasn't one to talk about the war, like so many others of his generation.

For so many years, I had heard what a lovely place Wiseman's Ferry was... though we only had limited time there on our last visit, I hope to return and explore more of the area.

IMAGES FROM THE CONVICT TRAIL

photo by A.S. on Trip Advisor

photo by Fabian N on Trip Advisor

You can read more about Roy Leonard Swadling in the posts below...

SODDEN FIELDS

ANZAC DAY.. LEST WE FORGET

SWADLING SNIPPETS

ONE ANZAC DAWNING

DEVASTATING, DELIRIOUS AND DELICIOUS....STORIES OF OLD... TROVE TUESDAY, 10th APRIL, 2018

DEVASTATING, DELIRIOUS AND DELICIOUS....

The Old Court House.. originally a school room...  in white

Plan of Sydney ... 1836 (Sydney: Select Committee on Transportation; J. Basire, lith., 1837), detail; National Library of Australia, digitised

The originals from TROVE... of the first stories.. and below, a much easier selection to read.
Enlarge to read...


           

  

Executed convicts bodies were suspended from gibbets to deter other would-be trouble makers.

Simon Barnard.. artist.. painted this as there were few representations of convict life.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-26/gibbet.jpg/5771770

1803

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 26 March 1803, page 4

Execution.
On Tuesday last, the 22d instant, Patrick Gannan, Francis Simpson, and Patrick Macdermot, three of the criminals capitally convicted on the 16th instant, were taken out of the gaol between the hours of 8 and 9 in the
morning, and committed to the custody of the Provost Martial. They were then put into a boat at the Wharf, and, under a guard of constables, conveyed to Parramatta, where they were secured in the watch- house until the following-morning, when the awful sentence of the Law was to be carried into execution.
At eight o'clock on Wednesday morning the prisoners were again brought out, and, in solemn procession, conducted to Castle-Hill, a distance of about eight miles, whither they arrived at half past ten, attended by the Rev. Mr. Marsden. The fatal tree, which had been purposely erected near to the spot on which they had committed the offence for which they were about to atone, was half-surrounded, by the Parramatta Detachment, formed semi-circularly. At a proper distance stood a concourse of spectators, composed chiefly of the prisoners employed at Castle-Hill and places adjacent, orderly assembled,
with their overseers. Mr. Marsden, with his usual fervor, emphatically administered the only consolation the unfortunate men were capable of receiving, the only balsam that could alleviate the agonies of reproaching
conscience. At 11 the criminals ascended a temporary scaffold that had been erected on the end of the cart ; and, when the executioner was about to drive away the vehicle, Macdermot was reprieved. As soon as he descended, Gannan and Simpson were launched into eternity. The latter man behaved penitently during the whole of his confinement ; but the former, as if insensitive of the terrors of his situation, had conducted him-self with unbecoming levity and the near approach of death, when he listened with much attention to the exhortation of the Minister, and we feel the highest satisfaction in adding, also died a penitent.

Macdermot was conducted to the gaol at Sydney, where he remains, with 11 others, a Respite during His EXCELLENCY'S pleasure.

On Monday last, the 21st instant, (as per Adjournment), the Civil Court re-assembled and adjourned to Tuesday, on which day some small disputes were adjusted, and the court adjourned again till Thursday morning when they proceeded to business, and after determining several cases adjourned to Monday next, the 28th instant.

http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks16/1600981h.html

1806

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 4 May 1806, page 3

On Monday morning Herbert Keeling was executed pursuant to his sentence. About a quarter before ten he was taken from his cell, and requested to be permitted to walk to the place of execution, towards which he advanced with a quick pace and much composure, which was however sometimes disturbed by passing objects that seemed to wound his recollection. At ten he arrived at the spot at which his destiny awaited him, and was here attended by the Rev. Mr. FULTON, by whose pious labours he had already confessed himself sincerely benefitted. — He joined in prayer with the Minister with much fervor ; and when given up to the executioner, advanced to the cart from which he was to be launched with an air of confidence ; but when on the
brink of eternity was so much overcome by the dreadful pause that preceded the removal of the cart, that strength forsook him, and he dropped into the arms of death. — While the body remained suspended, corporal punishment was inflicted upon Henry Stanley, convicted before a Court of Criminal Jurisdiction of stealing wheat, and sentenced to receive 800 lashes. The fate of the unfortunate Keeling, it is to be hoped, will have the desired effect, in restraining the frauds and forgeries too frequently practiced upon the Public by men who unhappily for themselves are possessed of talents, which when perverted are turned against the interest of the community, and in the end draw down remorse of conscience and ignominious death.

On the 1st of May was compleated by John Jennings for His Majesty's ship Buffalo a 15 inch cable 120 fathoms in length made of English cordage, and de-clared by Captain Houstoun and his Officers to be executed in a masterly style of workmanship. On Friday it was taken on board and coiled down for the inspection of His Excellency, who is pleased to certify the highest approbation at the accomplishment of a work which in this Colony could scarcely have been hoped.

Last Sunday night between the hours of 8 and 9 four ruffians is attacked and plundered the farm house of T. Phillips at Farm Cove, having treated him with extreme cruelty. When they at first approached the house an alarm was given by the dog ; whereupon Phillips came out, and demanding their business received for answer that they were in quest of some sailors, who upon good information were concealed in his house, which they determined to search. The poor man assuring them they were misinformed readily conducted then in, and at the threshold received a blow on the temple with a huge club, which laid him senseless. They then bound an Otaheitan rug about his head, and beat him mercilessly whenever he stirred. From his wife
they demanded and received some money, notes, wearing apparel, and other articles, among which was a musket : she had resolutely attempted to escape out of, a window, to give the alarm ; but was knocked down by one of the villains who threatened to murder her, if she uttered a syllable ; and after ransacking the place made off with their booty. 

A soldier of the New South Wales Corps brings from Port Dalrymple a beautiful black cockatoo, in perfect health, and so remarkably tame as to be already capable of conversing. The value of this bird is much enhanced by the rarity of its species falling alive into the fowler's snare." It was shot by a ca?an and purchased by its present master, Thomas Bates, under all the disadvantages of a broken wing and a prospect of speedy dissolution. His care and attention however produced a cure, and the humanity of his efforts is rewarded with the succesful attainment of their object. 

On Friday night Elizabeth Hayland, a poor woman, who laboured under one of the severest dispensations of providence, the loss of sight, was burnt in a most dreadful manner by her clothes taking fire as she sat alone by the fire side. The unfortunate woman receives every assistance from the General Hospital that can be afforded her ; but little hope can be entertained of her long surviving the dreadful accident.

John Baker and John Creswell were apprehended at Castle Hill on Friday fe'nnight with a quantity of women's wearing apparel of which they could give no account. They were sent to Parramatta, after an examination committed to the gaol there ; Notice was at the same time sent to Hawkesbury, from whence the articles are suspected to have been stolen, in hopes that the owner or owners may appear.

A bush ranger of the name of Hughs was yesterday fe'nnight apprehended and sentenced by a Bench of Magistrates at Parramatta to receive 200 lashes.
Many losses have lately been felt of poultry ; and these have in general fallen
upon the poor, whose premises were but ill defended against the depredator. 
A poor family at Farm Cove in the course of one night lost 18 or 20 fowls, which comprised their whole flock, and similar depredations happen every night.

http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks16/1600981h.html

1806

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 31 August 1806, page 2

COURT OF CRIMINAL JURISDICTION. _____
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29.

At ten o'clock the Court met, and proceeded to the trial of Offenders;
Michael Dowden and Dennis Kaneen being first put to the bar, were indicted for feloniously breaking into the dwelling house of John Bennet, at the Field of Mars, and stealing, therefrom sundry articles of wearing apparel the property of Mary Bryant; who deposed to several articles produced in Court, which by evidence of other witnesses appeared to have been found in the premises occupied by the prisoners.

Richard Partridge, gaoler, at Parramatta, deposed to his having searched the house inhabited by the prisoners ; and having found the property therein; some part of it in the actual wear of Catherine Hickey, who cohabited with the prisoner Dowden. 

Catherine Hickey deposed to the truth of the above testimony, and declared she had received the various articles from the prisoner Keenan who acknowledged that to the fact.

The prisoners being put upon their defence, denied the charge; Keenan, with whom the rebut particularly rested accounting for his becoming possessed of the articles by purchase from Matthew Hoey, some time since executed. To substantiate which he called evidence ; and afterwards set up an alibi, which was supported with much precision and probability. 

The Court having considered the evidence, acquitted Dowden without hesi-tation; but thought it necessary to impress on the mind of Keenan the extreme danger of his condition, as notwithstanding the inefficiency of the evidence adduced, yet private opinion most certainly preponderated against him :—He likewise was acquitted. 

Elias Davis was next put to the bar, and indicted capitally, for having on the 1st of August instant, broke and entered the dwelling house of Robert Broughton, near to Parramatta, with intention to steal therefrom sundry articles of value the property of Thomas Davis ; whose evidence went to say, that about two in the afternoon he left the house, having locked the door, and that upon his return the same afternoon found the door broke open, and his property scattered about the floor.

Samuel Taylor deposed, that between 2 and 3 in the afternoon of the above day, he saw the prisoner running towards the farm house of Robert Broughton ; that his attention being engrossed by his manner, he attentively watched him to the door, where after examining the lock he struck it with a brick bat three times, when it flew from the staple, and the door flew open; that the prisoner then went into the house, whither the deponent followed, and looking in at the door saw him busily employed in throwing some wheat out of a handkerchief ; that the deponent challenged him, and in re-turn received an enquiry from the prisoner, whether he had any concern wíth the house? to which the deponent answered in the negative, but nevertheless avowing a determination to secure him easily affected his purpose.

Here the evidence of the prosecution closed ; and the prisoner being put upon his defence, made use of no other re-ply than a simple denial of the fact 
alleged ; but as the evidence was full, clear and satisfactory, the Verdict of the Court pronounced him Guilty ; where-upon the JUDGE ADVOCATE acquainted the prisoner, that the offence for which he stood convicted was capital, and that the pains of death were a retribution which the law required ; the present situation of the Colony was unfortunately such as to render example necessary to the security of Society, as in the present instance it was unhappily essential to the claims of justice. It was his painful duty, not with any design of adding to the poignancy of his feelings, but the more strongly to impress him with a due sense of his condition, to summon to his 
remembrance a very recent similar act of atrocious outrage from which he had been permitted to escape, under a hope that had been charitably entertained by a Gentleman that must other wise have become his prosecutor, of his contrition and amendment. His guilty courses had at length, however, reduced him to a situation the most awful and distressing : - he was now upon the very brink of eternity ; and the work of his own salvation became his only duty. Sincere contrition and undisguised repentance could alone afford to him the balm of consolation, the hope of happiness hereafter. - The Judge Advocate pronouncing then the awful Sentence of death, the prisoner was taken from the bar.

William Hounslow was next indicted for having on the 24th of August stolen 3 bushels of wheat, the property of Mr. A. Thompson at Hawkesbury, of whose farm he had the charge as overseer ; but this not being sufficient evidence against the prisoner, whose character for twelve years had been unsullied, he was acquitted.

John Stephens was then arraigned and his indictment recited, whereby he stood charged with having, upon the 7th day of June last, stolen from the garden ground of D. Wentworth Esq. at Parramatta, a quantity of linen apparel.

In support of the charge Mrs. M. Ainsley deposed, that on the day stated

she had laid the articles enumerated in the indictment to bleach, and in the evening discovered that they had been stolen ; she had entertained no suspicion of the prisoner, but some time afterwards received information of the things being seen in his box at his own place of residence ; whereupon she applied for a search warrant, and the whole of the property was found in his possession. 
The prisoner in his defence endeavoured to account for this ; but failed, and was found guilty. - Sentenced seven years additional transportation to his former term, which expires in the month of February next.

Michael Bacon alias Burgan was now indicated for breaking and entering the dwelling house of Benjamin Mills, at Hawkesbury, and stealing from thence sundry articles of trifling value; to which the prisoner pleaded guilty, and implored the mercy of his Judges -The court cleared, and after due consideration of the case re-opened ; when the Judge Advocate informed the prisoner, that the crime of which he stood convicted upon his own voluntary acknowledgment, was a capital offence, and made him liable to the punishment of death ; but that from a humane exercise of its powers, in 
consideration of his extreme contrition, the Court had found him guilty of stealing to the value of four shillings and ten-pence ; by which verdict his life was saved ; and term of transportation for seven years pronounced upon him, to commence at the expiration of his original term.
The Court adjourned to ten o'clock next day.


SATURDAY, AUG. 30.
Murder. — Francis Burke was indicted for the wilful murder David Freight on the Parramatta road, on the evening of the 2d of August instant, near to Duck River Bridge.
Mr. Surgeon MILKHAM gave testimony, that on the 3d of the month he was called upon to examine the body of the deceased ; and found two severe inci-
sions on the head, which had to all appearance been made with an axe or similar implement ; and that the jaw bone was fractured apparently by the blow of a club ; which several wounds he pronounced without hesitation to have been the cause of death. Catherine Eyres deposed, that on the evening of the 2d August, she, with Mary Caunaughty, accompanied the prisoner at the bar from her house at Parramatta as far as Duck River Bridge, where they parted, the prisoner proceeding towards Sydney, and themselves returning to Parramatta. She further deposed, that upon meeting on the road while Burke was with them, a laden cart, he said he had seen the time when he would have knocked down the two fellows that were with it, and taken the

property away ; that about a quarter after eight the same night the prisoner returned to her house at Parramatta, with John Blundell, who cohabited with the deponent, and assigned as the cause of his return his having met with Blundell, with whom he had some business ; that both the men were much out of breath, which she imputed to their having run a considerable part of the way in order to be in before 8 o'clock, as after that hour they were liable to be taken up by the watch ; and that the prisoner told her that Blundell was in charge of a constable when he met him.

Upon cross examination the deponent said there was no mark or appearance on either the prisoner at the bar or Blundell that could authorise suspicion ; nor after she had heard of the murder did any single circumstance recur to her that could awaken such.
Mary Conaughty deposed much to the same effect ; but with the following addîtions to the foregoing testimony :-That upon meeting with the cart, as already stated, the prisoner at the bar's expressions, being addressed to, and more distinctly heard by herself, were, that " there was some good stuff in the cart; and there was a time when he should not have minded knocking down the two fellows and taking it from them - but this was no place for it." And that upon his return to the house of Catherine Eyres the same evening, he jocosely said he had had cruel sport on Duck River bridge, having there met with a woman much intoxicated, who had a bundle tied up in a handkerchief ; that he enquired what it contained ; and was answered by the woman, 
" have you come for it?" meaning her bundle ; that she did acquaint him with the articles tied up in it, viz. tea, sugar, tobacco, cloth, and some money : the prisoner then concluding his narrative by saying, that if he had been inclined to do any thing it would not have answered, as two men at the instant came out of the brush, who might have given him a good beating.
Owen McNanimy deposed, that about 7 in the evening of Saturday the 2d of August, it being then dark, he met the prisoner at between 30 and 50 rods from the place where the body of the deceased was found ; that the prisoner looked earnestly at him, and then accosted him by name, as he in return did also to the prisoner, whom he well knew, and who asked him (tho' he, McNanimy, was going towards Parramatta), if he had met Blundell going down to Sydney? He however observed nothing to constitute suspicion of his guilt in the charge exhibited. The evidence being closed, the prisoner said in his defence, that having business with Blundell, whom he supposed to be at Castle Hill, he went thither, but learnt that he had that morning (the 2d of August), gone on pass to Parramatta ; that he went thither also, and was told by Catherine Eyres that he had gone onward to Sydney, but would return in the evening : as his business was of a pressing pecuniary nature he proposed going to meet him, and was accompanied part of the way by the women ; that he still continued his route ; and meeting with Blundell opposite to Mr. Laycock's farm the exigency of the moment made his re-turn with him to Parramatta necessary.
In support of what he had advanced he called the testimony of John Blundell, which corresponded ; but contradicting that part of both the women's testimony relative to his and the prisoner's having said that he (Blundell), was in custody of a constable when met by the prisoner that evening.

The Court were much embarrassed by the difficulty of ascertaining periods, as delivered by the different witnesses, so critically necessary in the formation of their judgment. The women averred to having parted with the prisoner at about 7 in the evening ; and at a considerable distance further McNanimy met him about the same period ; after which, by his own and Blundell's account, they met opposite to Mr. Laycock's farm, a distance of between 4 and 5 miles from Duck River bridge ; then returning to Parramatta being at least 8 additional miles, was all accomplished by a quarter after 8. The evidence was not, however, sufficiently decisive; and he was necessarily aquitted.

http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks13/1302241h.html 

1808

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 27 November 1808, page 1
COURT OF CRIMINAL JURISDICTION. On Friday the Court assembled ; when
Lawrence Lewis, a servant of Lieutenant LAYCOCK, was indicted for robbing his master of cash (in notes) to the amount of 30£. and upwards on
or about the 23d instant.
Lieutenant LAYCOCK deposed to his having missed the amount of notes in question, out of his bureau which he usually kept locked ; and a 10£ bill being produced, he had every reason to be convinced that it was one of the number stolen from him.
Mary Mills deposed, that the prisoner was at her house on the Rocks several days successively immediately succeeding that named in the indictment, and there paid away several bills ; that on Sunday morning last he entered the house, with one Mary Abrams, and tendered a bill of 2£ to pay a debt due from Abrams to the deponent ; but this not being sufficient to answer the demand, in addition to a reckoning due from himself, he exchanged it with
one of 20£ which the deponent changed away to Mrs. Wills. The bill she could not identically swear to ; but she positively affirmed, that the bill she paid to Mrs. Wills was the same she received from the prisoner ; and which he had informed her was the property of his master, from whom he had received it to defray small current expences.
Mr. Serjeant Major Whittel deposed, that on his hearing the foregoing circumstance related, he had at Mr. Laycock's request applied to Mrs. Wills for the bill she had received from Mary Mills, which was immediately given to him, and was now before the Court.
Mary Abrams deposed, that she was with the prisoner several times at the house of Mary Mills ; that he gave the latter a ten-pound bill to change, remarking at the same time that it was his master's, from whom he had received it for the purposes above stated ; and that in consequence of which declaration the, the deponent, considering it her duty to inform his master of the circumstance, ac-cordingiy did so.
Mrs. Wills deposed to the bill before the Court being the same she had given charge for to Mary Mills. 
The evidence for the prosecution here closed ; and the prisoner being called upon for his defence ; said he had nothing to offer further than a denial of the charge, and his ignorance of the fact, as he had been unhappily inebriated at the time it was stated to have been committed. The Court cleared ; and reappearing, returned a Verdict—Guilty—Death.
In point of character, he made an appeal to several Officers of Rank ; who from a twelve years observation spoke of the prisoner in the most com-mendatory terms, and pathetically regretted the oc-casion that had

thus unhappily united the common duties of humanity with simple candour.
Owen McMahon and Thomas Leeson were put to the bar and indicted, the first for burglariously entering the house, being part of the dwelling house
of Mr. JOHN SLOANE, on the night of the 9th, or on the morning of the 10th insant, and stealing therefrom 20 pieces of blue gurrah*, about 20lbs, of sugar, and other property ; and Leeson for receiving, knowing the same to have been stolen.
Maria Ikin deposed to the house being entered by means of a part of the back wall being taken down ; and the property taken away corresponding with that now produced ; when  Daniel Gilmore, King's Evidence, deposed, that on the night of Thursday the 9th instant, he being then at the house of Samuel Pullen, in the Brick-fields, the prisoner McMahon called him out to assist him in the depredation ; and that the brick wall was taken down by McMahon in his presence, whereupon the deponent, fearing detection, went away, leaving his said accomplice to perpetrate the felony alone ; that he went to the house of McMahon, and waited for his return, which was about two hours and a half after, when he brought with him, a bag containing few several pieces of gurrah, about 20lbs. of sugar, and remarked that he had possessed himself of a valuable plunder, to which the deponent had by his conduct forfeited every pretension ; that he nevertheless then gave him a piece of the gurrah, and requested him to tell the prisoner Leeson, who he was persuaded would become the purchaser of the property, (as he, the deponent, had come from Hawkesbury only a few days before in company with Leeson, is whose family he then resided), and who had no doubt of Leeson's inclination to the purchase, that he saw Leeson the next morning,
and advised his calling on McMahon ; which he did, and made purchase of 4 pieces of the gurrah, at 1s. 6d. per yard ; that the deponent sold the piece
given to him in Sydney, and Leeson took those he had purchased up to Hawkesbury in his own cart, on Sunday the 13th ; that the day following, the wife of Leeson observing two constables approaching the house, took the bag containing the gurrah out of her own bedroom, and deposited it at the entrance of a small apartment in which the deponent lay ; from which he was in the act of removing it when he was taken into custody.—He was minutely cross-examined by the Court on the various points of his evidence ; which were collectedly adhered to ; and being then questioned by the prisoner Leeson, whether he had not himself conveyed the bag with its contents to Hawksebury, he replied in the negative ; as he did also to an interrogatory, whether, after he was apprehended he did not refute to carry the gurrah towards the Magistrate's at the Green Hills, adding at the same time that he had already carried it far enough when he brought it up, and it was then their turn to do the same.

Sophia Simmonds, who cohabited with the King's Evidence deposed, that she lived with him at Leeson's at Hawkesbury ; that she saw Leeson when he returned from Sydney, and brought with him a bag containing 4 pieces of gurrah, which his wife cautioned him not to mention in the deponent's presence, but which precaution he said was unnecessary, as he had bought it of a friend of the deponent's husband, meaning Gilmore ; that when the constables came to the house, she saw Mrs. Leeson convey the bag into the apartment wherein Gilmore and herself usually slept ; and that he, Gilmore, was apprehended in the act of removing it from thence. The deponent was repeatedly interrogated whether she had ever conversed on the subject of the robbery since the parties were in custody ; and to every such interrogatory answered positively in the negative.
Patrick Flynn, a constable, deposed, that he assisted to apprehend Gilmore ; whom he surprised in the act of removing the gurrah from the apartment
he chiefly occupied, and accordingly made him a prisoner ; that when desired to carry the bundle he made answer, that he had carried it far enough when he had brought it up from Sydney, and he would not carry it anymore ; that he effected his escape from confinement the night after he was taken ; but was soon again apprehended at a barn in which it was suspected he would be attended by Sophia Simmonds ; and that he afterwards made a
declaration inculpating both the prisoners at the bar. Futty and Field, two other constables, corroborated the last testimony ; and the prisoners being put on their defence ; several witnesses were called by McMahon, whose testimony was in all respects nugatory and irrelevant.
Leeson's defence went to invalidate the testimony of the approver, by perverting, on evidence, its most material points. He, Gilmore, had affirmed on oath, that the bag containing the 4 pieces of gurrah was taken to Hawkesbury by Leeson, in his cart ; which he latter undertook to disprove ; the credence, first, of Charlotte Jennings, who deposed, that she went in Leeson's cart to Hawkesbury with her mother and one Catharine Lynch, and that no such bundle could have been in the vehicle without its being noticed, which was not the case.
Mrs. Osborne, her mother, corroborated this testimony ; and Ann Young, who lives at the stockyard on the Hawkesbury road, positively deposed, that Gilmore on his way out stopped at the milk house, with a bag or bundle, and received from her some refreshment, as he appeared much fatigued ; that at going away he took some dungaree, or gurrah out of his bundle, and gave her two yards in presence of a third person ; that she cut out an article of dress for one of her children ; but on hearing of the robbery gave it up to the Chief Constable at Parramatta, who had forwarded it to Sydney, where it was now produced in Court.—Here Gilmore interrupted the evidence with a vehement denial of her statement.
Richard Hicks deposed, that upon his, Gilmore's return to Hawkesbury, he also saw a bag in his possession ;

Several persons who had seen him on the road, said that he enquired of them whether any person was ahead of him, and being assured there was not, that he then took a bag out of the brushwood on the side of the road wherein it was concealed, with which he proceeded forward, saying that it contained some trifling articles of his own apparel.
In contradiction of the evidence delivered by Sophia Simmonds, the woman cohabiting with Gilmore, Morgan Jones deposed, that after Gilmore was made prisoner the woman informed him, the deponent, of the event that had taken place, by assuring him, that " Poor Dan was taken with the bag just as it was brought up ; and was as dead as if a house had fallen on him ;'' adding, likewise, that he intended that very night to have concealed it.
Joseph Nobbs deposed, that to him she had made similar declarations ; the whole of which concurred in defeating a testimony, which in the latter stages of the trial had far more the appearance of diabolical contrivance than reality.
The prisoners having ended their defence, the Court cleared ; and in a few moments returned a Verdict— both Not Guilty.
Thomas Leeson was detained on another charge, and Daniel Gilmore was ordered into close custody.
The Court adjourned to ten o'clock yesterday morning ; when reassembling, William Redmond was put to the bar and indicted upon two counts ; the first charging him with the commission of a rape, and the second with a violent assault upon a girl nearly 11 years old. The trial was rendered peculiarly interesting by the heinousness of the offence with which the prisoner stood charged. The examinations were taken with wonderful precision ; and after a painful investigation, the Court cleared ; and upon re-opening returned a Verdict—Upon the charge of rape, Not Guilty—upon the second charge, of violent assault—Guilty :—whereupon he was sentenced to be imprisoned two years ; and to receive 300 lashes.
The prisoner who had been convicted capitally was then recalled to the bar, to receive sentence of death ; which was pronounced by the Acting JUDGE ADVOCATE in a tone and manner that appeared to make a very serious impression on the mind of the unhappy culprit, whose countenance was strongly expressive of the most lively sense of his condition.

http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks16/1600981h.html

*gurrah cloth was unbleached calico, though it was often dyed once purchased.

It came from India originally and was available in many designs and colours, 

though the unbleached cloth was more affordable.

http://tinyurl.com/y7kkvn4q 

NOTE:

bench-magistrates-guide  NSW State Archives

The first Bench of Magistrates was convened in Sydney on 19 February 1788. By 1800 sittings were held regularly in Parramatta and the Hawkesbury district, and the use of magisterial proceedings had become widespread in the Colony by the 1820s. As settlement spread during the squatting era, magistrates and their clerks performed an increasingly wide range of judicial and administrative functions, particularly in more remote areas.

The Judge Advocate's Bench of Magistrates, presided over by the Judge Advocate and held in his offices from the time that they were erected, met from February 1788 until the promulgation of the Third Charter of Justice in 1824 when the office of Judge Advocate was abolished and new courts were constituted. In fact this Bench seldom met after 1818.