Attack on stockworkers
near the Fish River, William Lawson had stock and an outstation at a place called ‘Dirty Swamp’ (now Locksley). Lawson’s ‘Hut Keeper’ at Dirty Swamp was William Mowbray (or Maybrow). Another of Lawson’s men, ‘Government servant’ Charles Hatt, turned up at Mowbray’s hut just before sunset on 25 March. Hatt later reported he found Mowbray in the company of four Aboriginal men, one of whom he knew as ‘Guyett’. They had ‘eight spears’ and ‘two waddys’ but did not appear hostile or threatening to Hatt. Mowbray then apparently left the hut with two of the men in search of some missing cattle. With nothing to prick his suspicions, Hatt left Guyett and the other man at the hut while he also went to see if he could find the cattle. Returning alone ten minutes later, Hatt said he was struck down from behind. He could not say who it was, but that there were no other Wiradyjuri he saw ‘but the two Blacks which where left in the Hut by me’.
Hatt was later taken to Bathurst for treatment, and his injuries included a large incision ‘an inch in diameter’ on his neck that ‘appeared to be inflicted by a Sharp Instrument’, according to the medical officer, Davies. Mowbray never returned to the hut. His body was found several days later, not far away, ‘quite naked except for the left wristband of a Red Shirt which remained round his arm’; ‘his shoes were lying a few yards from him’. The following day a ‘waddy [wooden club] belonging to the Black natives’ was also discovered about 400 metres from where Mowbray had lain. The inquest into Mowbray’s death pronounced a ‘verdict of willful murder’ against a Wiradyjuri man named ‘Guyett’ and ‘three other Black Natives’.
Hatt was later taken to Bathurst for treatment, and his injuries included a large incision ‘an inch in diameter’ on his neck that ‘appeared to be inflicted by a Sharp Instrument’, according to the medical officer, Davies. Mowbray never returned to the hut. His body was found several days later, not far away, ‘quite naked except for the left wristband of a Red Shirt which remained round his arm’; ‘his shoes were lying a few yards from him’. The following day a ‘waddy [wooden club] belonging to the Black natives’ was also discovered about 400 metres from where Mowbray had lain. The inquest into Mowbray’s death pronounced a ‘verdict of willful murder’ against a Wiradyjuri man named ‘Guyett’ and ‘three other Black Natives’.
People involved
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Sources
- ‘Inquest held at Bathurst’, 30 March 1822, SRNSW, NRS 897, Reel 6021, 4/1819, pp. 449–54; ‘Killed by natives’, 10 April 1822, SRNSW, NRS 897, Reel 6065, 4/1798, p. 135; List of convicts employed by William Lawson, May 1823, SRNSW, NRS 897, 6058, 4/1771, pp. 312a–b, 313a; 6062, 4/1782, pp. 51c, 57a. Lawson to Goulburn, 10 April 1822, SRNSW, 6065, 4/1798, pp. 135–38.
Event mentions
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Attack on stockworkers25 Mar 1822 — Dirty Swampnear the Fish River, William Lawson had stock and an outstation at a place called ‘Dirty Swamp’ (now Locksley). Lawson’s ‘Hut Keeper’ at Dirty Swamp was William Mowbray (or Maybrow). Another of Lawson’s men, ‘Government servant’ Charles Hatt, turned up at Mowbray’s hut just before sunset on 25 March. Hatt later reported he found Mowbray in the company of four Aboriginal men, one of whom he knew as ‘Guyett’. They had ‘eight spears’ and ‘two waddys’ but did not appear hostile or threatening to Hatt. Mowbray then apparently left the hut with two of the men in search of some missing cattle. With nothing to prick his suspicions, Hatt left Guyett and the other man at the hut while he also went to see if he could find the cattle. Returning alone ten minutes later, Hatt said he was struck down from behind. He could not say who it was, but that there were no other Wiradyjuri he saw ‘but the two Blacks which where left in the Hut by me’.
Hatt was later taken to Bathurst for treatment, and his injuries included a large incision ‘an inch in diameter’ on his neck that ‘appeared to be inflicted by a Sharp Instrument’, according to the medical officer, Davies. Mowbray never returned to the hut. His body was found several days later, not far away, ‘quite naked except for the left wristband of a Red Shirt which remained round his arm’; ‘his shoes were lying a few yards from him’. The following day a ‘waddy [wooden club] belonging to the Black natives’ was also discovered about 400 metres from where Mowbray had lain. The inquest into Mowbray’s death pronounced a ‘verdict of willful murder’ against a Wiradyjuri man named ‘Guyett’ and ‘three other Black Natives’.Source: ‘Inquest held at Bathurst’, 30 March 1822, SRNSW, NRS 897, Reel 6021, 4/1819, pp. 449–54; ‘Killed by natives’, 10 April 1822, SRNSW, NRS 897, Reel 6065, 4/1798, p. 135; List of convicts employed by William Lawson, May 1823, SRNSW, NRS 897, 6058, 4/1771, pp. 312a–b, 313a; 6062, 4/1782, pp. 51c, 57a. Lawson to Goulburn, 10 April 1822, SRNSW, 6065, 4/1798, pp. 135–38.