Massacre at Eastern Marshes

Date: 31 Jan 1829
Place: Eastern Marshes
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, one at St Paul's River 'ten days back,' and then 'about the same time ten were shot and two taken, near the Eastern Marshes.' (Launceston Advertiser, February 9, 1829, p 2).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Paredarerme / Oyster Bay
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 10

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Eastern Marshes
    31 Jan 1829 — Eastern Marshes — 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, one at St Paul's River 'ten days back,' and then 'about the same time ten were shot and two taken, 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.