Saturday, 13 December 2014

Long Tailor - brief history of key players

Biographical details of key players in this story:







Registrar John Valentine Wareham  On his death in May 1912, the Sydney Morning Herald published a short obituary of the Registrar: 
“Mr. John Valentine Wareham, who died at Bona Vista, Waverley, last week, aged 80 years, was another of the old colonists who had exciting experiences in the goldfield days. With Mrs. Wareham, he came to Sydney in January, 1853, and qualified as a conveyancer. In 1853, with other young men, he walked to the Turon diggings, but the venture was not a success. On the return journey he tried to take a short cut over the ranges, but lost his way, and spent his first Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day in Australia in a vain endeavour to find a path that would lead him out of the rough mountainous country. It rained all the time. When found by a shepherd, Mr. Wareham was delirious, and was badly bitten by bulldog ants. In the early sixties he took up land in the Ulladulla district, and went through all the trials of floods and fires that were the lot of the early settlers. One of Clark's gang of bushrangers, known as "Long Jim the Tailor," was for a time in Mr. Wareham's employ. As the district became more settled Mr. Wareham held various Government positions, including those of Crown lands agent. Registrar of the District Court, Clerk of Petty Sessions, and Coroner, and was always helpful to new arrivals seeking advice. He left a widow, two sons, resident in Botany Bay, one daughter, 15 grandchildren, and five, great grand children.”

Police Magistrate Robert Dawson: 1812 born at Brackley, Northamptonshire, England. 1838 arrived in New South Wales in 1838 under the care of Governor Gipps.  1839 arrived on the Monaro to take over the management of Jillamatong Station, which failed during drought 1847 – appointed clerk of the Court of Petty Sessions established at Cooma and discharged the functions of Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages. 1857 10th August. - sworn in as Police Magistrate, becoming the first professional full time Magistrate for the district and discharging all the duties of the court until 1870. 1859 4th May-  appointed Registrar of the District Court. 1859 20th August. - appointed Clerk of the Peace for Cooma and Bombala. He had a number of children, one, Percy (born 1865), was a founding partner of one of the legal firms that became Blake Dawson (a significant Australian legal practice).

Sir Watkin Wynne
Born: 1816 Wambool (“meandering river”, p. Macquarie River)    
Member New South Wales Mounted Police, recorded in Goulburn Police District 1865 and 1867 (both from Summer to end of Winter, aged 49 and 51 respt).
Jinden 1867: Sir Watkin was with the police party when the Clarkes were captured at Berry's hut at Jinden. On that occasion he was wounded severely in the arm by a bullet from one of the bushrangers, and his arm was amputated  In the receipt of a Government pension thereafter.
Hill End 1872: Reported for an act of kindness by the Hill End Observer which was reported around the colony (note that the editor of the Hill End Observer, Edward Wilton, was a former journalist working for Henry Parkes)
Turon, uncertain date: photographed with a group of men and women outside the Gold Commissioner’s office on the Turon, Holtermann’s photos (ON 4 Box 11 No 70262 ).
Died: Forbes, 1887 (aged 71) December 1887:  The Braidwood Despatch:  
"We notice the death at Forbes of Sir Watkin, a well-known black tracker in the police force. Many residents of this district will recollect him as being with Senior-constable Wright (now sub-inspector), then stationed at Fairfield. Sir Watkin was with the police party when the Clarkes were captured at Berry's hut at Jinden. He was on that occasion wounded severely in the arm by a bullet from one of the bushrangers, and the poor fellow afterwards had to submit to his arm being amputated, since which time he has been in the receipt of a pension from the Government."
Note: The Braidwood Despatch went on to inaccurately estimate his age at between 50 and 60 at the time of his death.  He was 71.
Literature: Figures in a a series of short stories
Sir Watkin goes a hunting, Howard Stacey
When Bushrangers Rode 1906 Wellington Times

Sub-Inspector Wright
Member New South Wales Mounted Police: Goulburn District 1867 (stationed at Fairfield), later Grafton
Fairfield 1867: Senior Constable stationed at Fairfield
Jinden 1867: Senior officer in charge of the police party when the Clarkes were captured at Berry's hut at Jinden. He kept fire on the outlaws for six and a half hours before the outlaws surrendered.  Promoted to Sub-inspector following the capture.

Died: Walgett: December 1888, left a widow and eight children. December 1888: Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertise:Death of Mr. Sub-Inspector Wright: The friends of this gentleman will regret to hear of his decease, which took place near Walgett last week. The deceased officer was at one time stationed in Grafton, and was in the service for about 28 years. He leaves a widow and eight children. He would have been entitled to a pension after 30 years service; but we understand his widow will receive a substantial allowance. The late Sub Inspector was much respected as an officer and citizen.


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Peter Quinton
Palerang
December 2014

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