Major Samuel Lettsom

Role: British Army officer; temporary commander, NSW Mounted Police detachment
Country / people / language: Port Phillip District, NSW, Britain

Events

  • Pursuit of Aboriginal people for recent murders
    8 Jun 1840 – 8 Dec 1840 — pursuit
    Major Lettsom and six troopers of the mounted police arrived overland from Sydney in pursuit of Aboriginal people (said to be Jacky, Winberry, and
    Billy Hamilton) concerned in the recent murders at the stations of Messrs Waugh and Mackay.
    Sources
    • PORT PHILLIP NEWS. Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), Tuesday 8 December 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71620462
  • Attempted capture at the corroborree ground
    11 Oct 1840 — attempted capture; police expedition
    Military, Border Police, and constables proceeded at night to the Aboriginal people's festivities and attempted their capture after reports of a corrobborra before a battle.
    Sources
    • THE BLACKS. Port Phillip Gazette (Vic. : 1838 - 1845), Wednesday 14 October 1840, page 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225005950
    • DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 24 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2546927
    • PORT PHILLIP. Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842), Saturday 24 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28652699
    • PORT PHILLIP EXTRACTS. Tasmanian Weekly Dispatch (Hobart Town, Tas. : 1839 - 1841), Friday 30 October 1840, page 6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/233619804
    • PORT PHILLIP EXTRACTS. Commercial Journal and Advertiser (Sydney, NSW : 1835 - 1840), Wednesday 28 October 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226456914
    • LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser (Vic. : 1839 - 1845), Monday 12 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/228130297
    • PORT PHILLIP. Hobart Town Advertiser (Tas. : 1839 - 1861), Friday 30 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/264585546
    • Port Phillip. Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW : 1839 - 1843), Thursday 29 October 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/31729652
    • Port Phillip. Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (NSW : 1838 - 1841), Saturday 24 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32186095
    • THEATRICALS. Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Thursday 29 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36849333
    • PORT PHILLIP. (1840, October 27). The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842), p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12866210
  • Release of Aboriginal prisoners from gaol
    16 Nov 1840 — release; imprisonment
    Twenty Aboriginal people were discharged from the gaol under the warrant of Major Lettsom, and ten were retained.
    Sources
    • Domestic Intelligence. Port Phillip Gazette (Vic. : 1838 - 1845), Wednesday 18 November 1840, page 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225005818
    • Port Phillip. Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (NSW : 1838 - 1841), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32186933
    • PORT PHILLIP. Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36852410
  • Release of twenty Aboriginal prisoners from gaol
    23 Nov 1840 — imprisonment; release
    Twenty Aboriginal people who had been confined in gaol were set at liberty on Monday last.
    Sources
    • Port Phillip. Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW : 1839 - 1843), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/31729969
    • PORT PHILLIP. Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12866707
  • Ten Aboriginal prisoners retained in gaol, while others released
    23 Nov 1840 – 26 Nov 1840 — imprisonment
    Ten Aboriginal people who had been identified were still kept in gaol.
    Sources
    • PORT PHILLIP. Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12866707
    • Port Phillip. Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW : 1839 - 1843), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/31729969
    • Port Phillip. Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (NSW : 1838 - 1841), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32186933
    • PORT PHILLIP. Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36852410

Mentions of person in sources

  • Major Letsom
    14 Apr 1840
    “Accordingly the Military under the command of Captain Smith and Lieutenant Vignolles of the 28th Regiment, with the Border Police headed by Major Letsom and Mr. Russell, and a number of Constables proceeded about midnight to the scene of the natives' festivities, situated between two and three miles from the town.”
    Source: THE BLACKS. Port Phillip Gazette (Vic. : 1838 - 1845), Wednesday 14 October 1840, page 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225005950
  • Major Letsom
    24 Apr 1840
    “Accordingly the Military under the command of Captain Smith and Lieutenant Vignolles of the 28th Regiment, with the Border Police headed by Major Letsom and Mr. Runsell, and a number of constables proceeded about midnight to the scene of the natives' festival, situated between two and three miles from the town.”
    Source: DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 24 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2546927
  • Major Lettsom
    24 Apr 1840
    “Accordingly the Military, under the command of Captain Smith and Lieutenant Vignolles of the 28th Regiment, with the Border Police, headed by Major Lettsom and Mr. Russell, and a number of constables, proceeded about midnight to the scene of the natives' festivities, situated between two and three miles from the town.”
    Source: PORT PHILLIP. Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842), Saturday 24 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28652699
  • Major Lettsom
    24 Apr 1840
    “Warrants were accordingly prepared, and the whole of the military and police forces under the command of Major Lettsom and Mr. Russell of the Mounted Police, and Captain Smith and Mr. Vignolles, of the 28th ; proceeded to the scene of action, and succeeded in capturing the whole of the blacks excepting the notorious Winberry, who was shot by Sergeant Leary of the Mounted Police, when in the act of striking at Mr. Vignolles with his waddy, and one man and two women who escaped by hiding themselves under the trunk of a fallen tree.”
    Source: Port Phillip. Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (NSW : 1838 - 1841), Saturday 24 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32186095
  • Major Lettsom
    28 Apr 1840
    “Accordingly, the military, under the command of Captain Smith and Lieutenant Vignulles, of the 58th regiment, with the border police, headed by Major Lettsom and Mr. Russell, and a number of constables, proceeded about midnight to the scene of the natives' festivities, situated between two and three miles from the town.”
    Source: PORT PHILLIP EXTRACTS. Commercial Journal and Advertiser (Sydney, NSW : 1835 - 1840), Wednesday 28 October 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226456914
  • Major Lettsom
    26 May 1840
    “On Monday last twenty of the blacks were discharged, under the warrant of Major Lettsom, from the gaol, and ten were retained.”
    Source: PORT PHILLIP. Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12866707
  • Major Lettsom
    8 Jun 1840
    “THE BLACKS.--Major Lettsom of the 80th Regiment, accompanied by six troopers of the mounted police, arrived overland from Sydney, a few days ago, in pursuit of the blacks who were concerned in the recent murders committed at the stations of Messrs Waugh and Mackay.”
    Source: PORT PHILLIP NEWS. Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), Tuesday 8 December 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71620462
  • Major Lettsom
    22 Oct 1840
    “Warrants were accordingly prepared, and the whole of the military and police forces under the command of Major Lettsom and Mr Russell of the Mounted Police, and Captain Smith and Mr Vignolles, of the 28th, proceeded to the scene of action, and succeeded in capturing the whole of the blacks excepting the notorious Winberry, who was shot by Sergeant Leary, of the Mounted Police when in the act of striking at Mr Vignolles with his waddy, and one man and two women who escaped by hiding themselves under the trunk of a fallen tree.”
    Source: THEATRICALS. Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Thursday 29 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36849333
  • Major Lettsom
    25 Oct 1840
    “On Saturday night Major Lettsom, and Capt. Russell of the Mounted Police, and Capt. Smith and Lieut. Vignolles of the 28th regt. accompanied by bodies of the military and mounted police, proceeded to the black encampment to apprehend several notorious characters.”
    Source: PORT PHILLIP. Hobart Town Advertiser (Tas. : 1839 - 1861), Friday 30 October 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/264585546
  • Major Lettsom
    25 Oct 1840
    “On Saturday night Major Lettsom and Captain Russell, of the mounted police, and Captain Smith and Lieut. Vignolles, of the 28th Regiment, accompanied by bodies of the military and mounted police, proceeded to the black encampment situated about three miles from Melbourne, on the Heidelberg road, for the purpose of apprehending several notorious characters who were known to be with them, Jacky Jacky among the rest.”
    Source: Port Phillip. Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW : 1839 - 1843), Thursday 29 October 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/31729652
  • Major Lettsom
    16 Nov 1840
    “On Monday last twenty of the Blacks were discharged, under the warrant of Major Lettsom, from the gaol, and ten were retained.”
    Source: Domestic Intelligence. Port Phillip Gazette (Vic. : 1838 - 1845), Wednesday 18 November 1840, page 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225005818
  • Major Lettsom
    16 Nov 1840
    “On Monday last twenty of the blacks were discharged, under the warrant of Major Lettsom, from the gaol, and ten were retained.”
    Source: PORT PHILLIP. Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36852410
  • Major Lettsom
    16 Nov 1840
    “On Monday last twenty of the blacks were discharged, under the warrant of Major Lettsom, from the gaol, and ten were retained.”
    Source: PORT PHILLIP. Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Thursday 26 November 1840, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36852410
  • Major Lettsom
    25 Nov 1840
    “The Major captured one fellow, a noted ringleader, in Melbourne, on Wednesday, and placed him in double irons.”
    Source: PORT PHILLIP NEWS. Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), Tuesday 8 December 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71620462
  • Major Lettsom
    2 Dec 1840
    “The Major captured one fellow, a noted ringleader, in Melbourne, on Wednesday, and placed him in double irons, Major Lettsom intends returning to Melbourne, and will proceed by water to Sydney.”
    Source: PORT PHILLIP NEWS. Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), Tuesday 8 December 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71620462