On the morning of 31 May 1840 the surveying party run by Assistant Surveyor Stapylton was camped in the bush near Mount Lindesay in South East Queensland. The Assistant Surveyor was an English gentleman of 40 named Granville William Chetwynd Stapylton, youngest son of a very grand family, and grandson of the 4th Viscount Chetwynd.Continue reading “Murder at Mount Lindesay – the deaths of Stapylton and Tuck.”
Category Archives: Courts
From the Trial Book of Moreton Bay: Bushrangers
In early 1839, the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement was about to be “broken up”. Aside from a basic staff and 39 convicts to maintain the place, the inmates and their Regimental masters were preparing to be sent to Sydney. Doubtless there was a great deal of relief on all sides. Before the breaking-up, a groupContinue reading “From the Trial Book of Moreton Bay: Bushrangers”
From the Trial Book of Moreton Bay: Inquests.
The Book of Trials Held at Moreton Bay is an invaluable document, covering the final years of the convict settlement, and recording each action held before the Commandant sitting as Magistrate. Recorded in flowing longhand, every type of crime was dealt with – from the seemingly endless cases of “Refusing to do Work” to CommittalContinue reading “From the Trial Book of Moreton Bay: Inquests.”
The Forlorn Women Haunting Our Streets – the life of Norah O’Donnell
Norah O’Donnell was born in 1851 in Limerick, Ireland to Michael and Catherine (Kirby) O’Donnell. She was part of a large family – ten other children – who emigrated to Brisbane in 1862, as part of the assisted migration scheme. Apart from the deaths of Bridget at 22, Mary at 42 and Norah herself atContinue reading “The Forlorn Women Haunting Our Streets – the life of Norah O’Donnell”
Mug Shots – Gentlemen with aliases
The Colonies were ripe for adventurous men seeking to forge a new destiny. Sometimes they sought to forge more than that. One could rid oneself of unpleasant old associations, create a new identity, and live as one wished. Or so one thought. Sometimes these adventurous men gave themselves grand names, invented histories, and used theirContinue reading “Mug Shots – Gentlemen with aliases”
The barefoot overseer, the razor, the lash and some pork
Thomas O’Meara’s story. Thomas O’Meara thought Overseer John Bluer was a bit mad. Bluer wore no shoes – except on Sundays – and scurried around a lot, giving incomprehensible orders to the men. Bluer had been relieved of Overseer duties a couple of times – once for leaving two men out in the field whenContinue reading “The barefoot overseer, the razor, the lash and some pork”
Murder at Moreton Bay – Bhinge Multo
In late January 1828, Samuel Myers, overseer, Michael Malone and Francis Reynolds were guarding a field of maize on the South Bank of the Brisbane River. There had been problems with the local indigenous people raiding the crops there for six months. In the last bad incident, an indigenous man had been killed, and aContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – Bhinge Multo”
Murder at Moreton Bay – I am tired of this life.
Patrick Maguire was 30, and he was tired of life. It was the 6th of January 1832, and he was working in the sun with a young Scot, Matthew Gallagher, getting gravel from the pit to repair the roads. It was humid, it was hot, the sun blazed overhead. The only relief might come inContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – I am tired of this life.”
Murder at Moreton Bay – The Awful Entries in Spicer’s Diary.
Spicer’s Diary is the name given to the Book of Monthly Returns of Prisoners Maintained at Moreton Bay. Peter Spicer was Superintendent of Convicts from 23 August 1826 – 8 May 1839. The diary records the number of prisoners assigned to every form of work in the Colony, from clerical workers to bullock drivers. ThereContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – The Awful Entries in Spicer’s Diary.”
Mug Shots – Poverty and Illness
The first three of today’s mug shots show what can happen when the law interacts with poverty and alcoholism. There was no capacity in the 19th century court or prison system for social workers, or drug and alcohol counsellors. The gaol instead was filled with mentally ill, poor, or addicted prisoners. In 1876, William Kelly,Continue reading “Mug Shots – Poverty and Illness”
Moreton Bay and More 