David Baker

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Maureen Withey on 18th January 2024

Nineteen Persons Murdered by the Blacks !!! (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) November 4, 1861. Intelligence reached Rockhampton on the 22nd instant of a most dreadful murder by the blacks of nineteen white people, at Mr. Wills' station on the Nogoa, 300 miles out from town. The melancholy tidings were first conveyed to Mr. Gregson, at Rainworth station, by two of the men in Mr. Wills' employ, who were shepherding near the scene of slaughter, but fortunately escaped with their lives. Kenny has made a written account of the facts, so far as he knew them, to Mr. Gregson. A messenger from Mr. Gregson brought the news to this town. Little is known of the details of the tragedy; at present I can only give an outline. The man Kenny was one of the two who escaped, and he states that on the evening of the 17th ultimo, he was returning with his sheep to the station, when he met "Paddy" (whom I suppose to have been Patrick Mahoney), another shepherd, who had been tending the rams. Paddy greeted him with the words, "There has been slaughter here today." Kenny went up to the station, and there behold the explanation of Paddy's statement. Lying weltering in their blood, he saw those who, that very morning, were in the vigor of life—the aged proprietor (Mr. Wills, senior) —the husbands with their wives—the children with their parents! Kenny saw the bodies of nineteen! and at once mounted a horse and rode off to Rainworth—not knowing what had become of Paddy or the other five that were absent. You may rely upon the correctness of the following list of the individuals composing the staff at Nogoa:— SEEN LYING DEAD. Mr. Wills (senior). Mr. and Mrs. Baker Elizabeth and David Baker. Iden Baker (boy, five years old). — Baker (infant, 7 months). Patrick and Mrs. Manyon. Mary Ann Manyon (8 years old). Maggie Manyon (4 years old). — Manyon (infant, 3 months old). George Ling. Henry Pickering. James Scott. Charles Weeden. George Elliott. Tom —. Edward M'Cormack. SUPPOSED TO BE ALIVE. Mr. Wills (junior). James Baker (Overseer's son). William Albrey. (The three last-named were absent from the scene of slaughter with a dray, having gone to fetch some loading left on the road). Edward Kenny. John Moore. (These two were engaged about the station when the massacre occurred, but escaped to Gregson's.) (Patrick Mahony (who was asleep in the long grass, when awakened by the noise of blows from nullahs, but kept quiet until help arrived). Lieutenant Cave was on the Dawson patrolling with the troopers at Living's station when he heard of the affair, and in the middle of the night he hastened off with eleven troopers and reached the Nogoa two days after the occurrence. Mr. Living also found a party to go and look after the property. From the attitudes of the corpses they were evidently taken by surprise; one of the women had a needle and sewing materials in her hands. Mr. Wills, junior, is the celebrated Victorian cricketer, well known in all the colonies. A gentleman has just arrived from the Victoria River who fully confirms the previous statements, and informs us that Mr. Gregson's party overtook some of the miscreants at dawn one morning, revelling in their blankets and ill-gotten booty. The party managed to get one discharge at the wretches, when they all bolted up a steep range, till the sight of the white's destroying their spears and boomerangs, which were splendid in appearance, drew them down upon their little band, who wisely retreated, fearing, they might be cut off from their horses, which were left a mile and a half from the scene of action. This gentleman fell in with Mr. F. Walker, two days' journey from the Alice River. The horses looked well, and party in high spirits. Mr. Walker desired to be reported. A subscription has been opened here for the expenses of a party, headed by Mr. P. F. Macdonald, of Yaamba, who have gone out to protect the stock, and assist the survivors. Mr. Wills, senior, was well known, here, and very much respected. He was not devoid of prudence and caution, nor was he known to be anything but kind to the aborigines. According to Kenny's statement, the blacks were allowed to come too near the station, although it is surrounded by fine open country. Mr. Wills had not been three weeks on the spot before the massacre occurred. The Ellida arrived from Port Denison on the 25th ultimo. By her arrival we learn that the Commissioner, accompanied by Lieutenant Williams and a party of troopers, proceeded to Shaw's Island, and made attempts get at the natives, but the wily rascals managed to escape to inaccessible parts of the island. The bodies of the unfortunate victims were found and decently interred. A few rags of clothing were all the relics of the deceased that were found in the camp. Before the troopers left, they destroyed the natives' canoes and spoiled their camp—a poor revenge for the lives of two good men. The Courier, Brisbane, 11 Nov 1861.

343

Maureen Withey on 18th January 2024

David Baker, 3l, was indicted for stealing one sheep, value 20s., the property of William Ranger, at Marden. Transported ten years. Dover Telegraph, 1 Aug 1843.

343

Maureen Withey on 18th January 2024

Tasmanian Records. Indent. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-33$init=CON14-1-33P8 David Baker, Tried Kent Ass, 24 July 1843, 10 years. Muster Roll https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-9$init=CON13-1-9P86 David Baker, Kent Assizes, 24 July 1843, Ten years. David Baker, per Strathenden. Note in Tasmanian Records: Conditional Pardon on arrival. Sent on to Port Phillip. Application to bring out family. CO286/154 Reel 987 p72.

3

Shelagh Mason on 17th January 2024

Massacred at the Wills Tragedy, at Cullin-la-ringo, Central Queensland, Australia on 17 Oct 1861.