Samuel Derrington
LOCAL NEWS.
DEATH OF MR. SAMUEL DERRINGTON. A very old resident of East Maitland, Mr Samuel Derrington, died on Sunday, from decay of nature, after a long life which had contained an uncommon experience. Mr. Derrington was, in his young manhood, brought by circumstances into the bush on the coast of Queensland, and resided with a tribe of aboriginals for several years. It was not indeed a willing residence, but white people were scarce in that part of the territory at the time, and the prisoner of the blacks had to content himself with his fate. He was appointed chief, we understand, and in the various battles of his tribe, led them with skill and effect. Many attempts were made by Mr. Derrington to escape; he was once able to get away twenty-five miles, but his subjects tracked him and obliged him to return. He was especially the object of female vigilance – the gins were always on the watch lest he should go. At last, when the white population increased in the Wide Bay district, where Mr, Derrington, reigned, he managed to get back to his own people. For more than thirty years he has been in business as tinsmith in East Maitland, and though eccentric in some of his ways, was ever highly-esteemed for probity and straightforwardness.
Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW: 1843 – 1893), Tuesday 17 August 1880, page 4
With this potted biography, The Maitland Mercury’s roundup of local news eulogised the seventy-five year lifespan of Samuel Derrington, a famous convict absconder turned successful businessman. His life was remembered one article above an equally detailed eulogy: “DEATH OF A VALUABLE GREYHOUND.” That hardly seems fair.
Derrington’s story rivals that of James Davis or Duramboi – another convict who escaped the Moreton Bay penal settlement, lived with indigenous people, returned to European life, married twice and had great success in business.
The Moreton Bay Penal Settlement admitted Samuel Derrington on 28 December 1826. He was a fair-skinned, blue eyed brown haired 21-year-old Staffordshire native who gave his occupation as brass founder.
Samuel Derrington and two other youths had been convicted at Stafford Assizes on 09 March 1826 of burglary in the property of Mr Simcox at Harbourne, Staffordshire. His initial sentence was death, but on petition of Mr Barron W Garrow, the sentence was commuted to transportation for life via the Speke 3 to New South Wales.
Derrington was then forwarded to Moreton Bay, along with 5 other serious offenders (14 years to life), who were ordered by the Colonial Secretary to remain at Moreton Bay for the duration of their sentences. It was unusual for prisoners to go to Moreton Bay without offending in the Colony.
Evidently the partially constructed Convict settlement was not to his liking, because Samuel Derrington absconded on 22 February 1827, and remained out until giving himself into custody on 17 October 1836. Absconding was an extremely hazardous business in Moreton Bay – there were no towns or cities to disappear into. The only Europeans around were there to set up and run the penal colony. An absconder needed to have excellent outdoor survival skills, and to establish a friendly relationship with the local indigenous people in order not to die of starvation and/or exposure in the bush. When he returned, it was discovered that Samuel had been living with the indigenous people in the Sunshine Coast area for those nine years.
Some of the details of the Maitland Mercury memorial are demonstrably untrue – there was no white settlement in the area to which he could return in 1836, beyond the Moreton Bay settlement. Whether he was a prisoner of the indigenous people is highly doubtful. He learned their languages and customs and was able to use these skills after his return, to assist in the recovery of another absconder, and later to find victims of a shipwreck. He was commended by the Commandant of Moreton Bay, Captain Foster Fyans, in a letter to the Colonial Secretary:
‘The spirited conduct of the prisoner Samuel Derrington per Speke 3rd, whose name has also been before under notice, is particularly deserving of recommendation; he quitted the party alone, and entirely naked, and having travelled in this manner about thirty miles through the forest, making enquiries, re-joined the party with intelligence, which partly led to the discovery of the murdered bodies’.
Having proved his merit, Samuel Derrington was released from custody at Moreton Bay on 28 April 1838, returning to Sydney. On 22 August 1838, he was granted a Ticket of Leave in the District of Maitland by the Office of the Colonial Secretary.
Samuel began his new life by setting up as a tinsmith in East Maitland, then applying for, and being granted, leave to marry Jane Ackerman (alias Cooper, alias Dowsett). The marriage took place in March 1842 in Newcastle.
Married and working life continued successfully for many years, with just a few little incidents along the way, thanks to Mrs Derrington. In this, he also resembles Davis, who also had a rather fiery wife who attracted the attention of the authorities from time to time.
ASSAULT.–Yesterday, Samuel Derrington and Ann Derrington appeared before the bench, to answer the charge of assaulting Jane Grant, wife of Peter Grant, publican, of Lochinvar. Mr. T. Lipscomb appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Davies for the defence. It appeared that the parties were near neighbours, and that on the afternoon of Wednesday last Mrs. Derrington was talking with Mrs. Grant in the veranda of the public-house, when Mrs. Grant took offence at some derogatory remark made by Mrs. Derrington regarding her daughter, and went in to tell her husband, who was in the bar. Mrs. Derrington followed her almost immediately, and on Mrs. Grant remonstrating with her, she took up a quart pot of water which stood on the counter, and threw the water all over Mrs. Grant, and then threw the pot itself at her. Mrs. Grant had her baby in her arms at the time, but fortunately the pot did not touch it, but struck Mrs. G. with some force on the shoulder. Mrs. Grant handed the baby to her husband and pounced on Mrs. Derrington as she was lifting a tumbler to send after the pot, and a battle royal between the two ladies ensued, in which Mrs. Grant’s finger was severely bitten by her determined opponent. With much difficulty Mr. Grant quelled the fight and turned Mrs. Derrington out. About two or three hours after-wards, seeing that Mr. Derrington had returned home, Mrs. Grant went to tell him of his wife’s delinquencies, but found to her astonishment that he had been pre-informed, and that he refused to hear her. She persisted in speaking to him, when he commenced roundly abusing her, on which she turned to go home. Mr. D. followed, and laying his hand on Mrs. Grant’s shoulder, she turned around and caught him by his flannel shirt, and recommencing her unwelcome tale, he endeavoured to shake her off, and failing, he struck her two blows on the breast and neck, and Mr. Grant, fortunately coming to the rescue, warded off a third blow with his arm. Violent threats were then uttered by Derrington against Mr. and Mrs. Grant, and their whole family. Each case of assault was heard separately, and at the conclusion both defendants were convicted. Mrs. Derrington was fined 40s., and her husband 20s., and both were bound over to keep the peace for twelve months towards Mrs. Grant.
Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 – 1893), Wednesday 30 June 1847, page 2
Ann Derrington? Funny – I thought he married a Jane. Mind you, she had a choice of three maiden names.
Fortunately this ruckus had no effect on the Pardon that was granted on 31 July, 1847 to Samuel Derrington, of Speke 3.
Selling property and experiencing the highs and lows of a mostly highly successful career, Samuel Derrington only appeared in the Classified advertising of Maitland until an odd little story that would impact his later life.
The next cases included charges of assault, obscene language, and indecent exposure, between two families. They were Diana Spawl v. Saul Elwell, for indecent language; Diana Spawl v. Johanna and Saul Elwell, for assault; and Catherine Elwell v. Samuel Derrington, for indecent exposure. Mr. O’Meagher appeared for the Elwell family. All the occurrences took place on Saturday evening last. Several witnesses were called by each side in the first case. The bench dismissed it and declined to hear the others.
Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 – 1893), Wednesday 11 January 1854, page 2
It would appear that the troubles of 1854 had been was smoothed over by the couples, because Diana Spawl (spelled Spulls in the announcements) would marry Samuel Derrington six years later. Both parties had been widowed by this time. The marriage appears to have been a happy and peaceful one.
Still, sometimes, Samuel Derrington made the news just be being in the vicinity of odd events.
Another very singular accident occurred on Saturday night, at East Maitland. About ten o’clock at night, a man named Antrobus, supposed to be in a state of intoxication, crept through the fence of Mr, Derrington’s, and fell into his well in his back yard. Alarmed by the man’s cries, Mr. Derrington came out, and with other assistance took him out of the well. The singular part of the story is, that although the well is 22 feet 6 inches deep, with only 2 feet 6 inches of water in it, the man escaped with only a few bruises.
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Saturday 21 May 1859, page 8
At the age of 65, Samuel Derrington survived an accident that would have killed a lesser man. Again, like Duramboi Davis, Samuel was a hardy character.
ACCIDENT. — A serious accident occurred to Mr. Derrington, of East Maitland, on Wednesday last. Mr. Derrington was taking a drive in the direction of Lochinvar with Mrs. Derrington, and on arriving at a hill they decided upon getting out and walking. Mrs. Derrington safely descended from the vehicle, but her husband was not so fortunate, for the horse moved on before he was clear of the step, so that he was thrown down, and the wheel passed completely over one side of his body. The sufferer was picked up and conveyed home, where he was attended by Dr. Scott, but he is still in a precarious condition from the effects of the injuries he received.
Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 – 1893), Tuesday 16 August 1870, page 2
Finally, Samuel Derrington gave the benefit of his experience as “an old bushman” to explorers and travellers in the bush.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
GATHER THE DEW.
(To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.)
Sir,-I have no great desire to rush into print, nor would I do so now did I not think that my experience in the bush might be of service to my fellow countrymen This thought has been continually before my mind, since reading the account of the melancholy end of poor Hume and O’Hea, who perished, as I believe, in the midst of plenty, for the want of knowing my simple plan.
I am an old bushman, and though many years have passed away since my wanderings began, I have not forgotten the sufferings I then endured. My bush life and experience began in January, 1828, and ended Oct., 1836. During that time, I learned to know, and vividly remember now, those awful pains of hunger and of thirst, it is to the last-named I wish to direct attention. I am induced to do so, because I have never seen any mention made of my plan having been adopted. It is simply to gather the dew in the morning. My appliance for doing so was of the rudest kind, being simply a mop, made from a grass, the stems of which can be rubbed into a fibre resembling the English hemp, and which grows largely in Queensland. If I could then gather water enough with my rude collector, how much easier for the modern bushman, who could get his blankets ringing wet in a square of a dozen yards. I have often wondered, when reading the hair-breadth escapes of explorers and others from want of water, that this mode of replenishing was never resorted to. In conclusion, I can only say that it never failed me, and if the bush is the same now as it was then no man need perish from thirst. If making public this small morsel of my bush experience bas the effect of relieving suffering, or saving life, I shall not have lived in vain. yours truly,
SAML. DERRINGTON.
Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 – 1893), Saturday 16 January 1875, page 7
Samuel Derrington passed away at 75 in 1880, mourned by his widow, Diana.
DEATHS.
August 18th. —Died at his residence, East Maitland, Mr. Samuel Derrington, after nine weeks of severe illness, leaving an affectionate wife to mourn her loss. His end was peace. Aged 75 years.
Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 – 1893), Saturday 21 August 1880, page 4
Sources:
HO 17/62/106 Home Office Petitions, UK National Archives
Chronological Register of Prisoners 1824-1839, Volume 1
Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 – 1893)
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1875)
Colonial Secretary Inward Letters 37/8851
Register Book of Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle. Marriages p15
Moreton Bay and More 