Massacre at St Paul's River

Date: 31 Jan 1829
Place: St Paul's River
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In December 1828 by warriors carried out a series of raids on various farms that included the killing of James Shirton, a servant of settler Mr Hawkins, and an attack by twelve warriors on John Allen's farm at Great Swanport on 14 December 1828. The attack at John Allen's farm was visually recorded in a sketch (ML, SLNSW). A correspondent from Great Swanport reported that, in retaliation, two massacres had been carried out. In the first 'Nine were killed and three taken, near St. Paul's River, ten days back.' The other was 'near the Eastern Marshes' (Launceston Advertiser, February 9, 1829, p 2).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Paredarerme / Oyster Bay or Tyerrernotepanner or Ben Lomond
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 9

People involved

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at St Paul's River
    31 Jan 1829 — St Paul's River — massacre
    In December 1828 by warriors carried out a series of raids on various farms that included the killing of James Shirton, a servant of settler Mr Hawkins, and an attack by twelve warriors on John Allen's farm at Great Swanport on 14 December 1828. The attack at John Allen's farm was visually recorded in a sketch (ML, SLNSW). A correspondent from Great Swanport reported that, in retaliation, two massacres had been carried out. In the first 'Nine were killed and three taken, near St. Paul's River, ten days back.' The other was 'near the Eastern Marshes' (Launceston Advertiser, February 9, 1829, p 2).
    Source: LA February 9, 1829 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8721080; 'The Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land endeavouring to kill Mr John Allen in the District of of Great Swanport on the 14th December 1828', ML, SLNSW.