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When absconding convicts
Edward Bowen, Charles Westbury,
Patrick Feeney, John Mason, Hugh Duffy,
Morgan Browne, Patrick Donnelly, John Jones and John Donovan robbed
Hugh Cameron
and other settlers and stations in the Upper Hunter and the Liverpool Plains,
they intended to take
their plunder and go as for as they could into the bush and
remain there 'quiet and contented'. They took a
black woman from Liverpool Plains and planned to 'break up
some ground, and sow what wheat they had; they had two or
three hoes, and a tomahawk;' and added to these five horses
and a mare, a fowling piece, an iron pot, some duck trousers
and shirts, plunder from their robberies at Lawson's, Towns
and Holmes properties.
When they embarked on their bold plan, they had not reckoned on the
perseverance and bravery of the men who were sent to capture them. The
following account of the pursuit and subsequent reward is given in the
Sydney Gazette:'His Excellency the Governor, in Reference to the Government Order of
the 20th Instant, No. 15, has the further Satisfaction of announcing the
Capture of another Mounted Banditti, who, it will be recollected,
commenced their Depredations attended with Acts of Outrage, some Time
since, in the Districts of Hunter's River. These Men were, at the
outset, attacked by Mr. Bingle, the Magistrate, and
Dr. Little, when, in
a skirmish which took place, some individuals on each side were killed
and wounded.
Being thus promptly opposed, they left the District, and were pursued by
a Party of Mounted Police, under Corporal Quigley (57th Regiment), whose
zeal and discretion are mentioned in Terms of deserved Approbation by
Captain Aubyn (57th), under whose orders he acted.
This Party was out for a period of
eight weeks, during which time they were exposed to great fatigue and
privation. The Service appears to have been performed with much address,
the Banditti having been taken by surprise, without firing a shot. A
considerable quantity of booty was found in their possession, consisting
of cattle, horses, arms, ammunition, clothing, impalements of various
descriptions, etc.
The Governor notices with pleasure the conduct of Mr. Hugh McDonald,
employed as overseer by Richard Jones, esquire. He accompanied the party
throughout this fatiguing Pursuit, and appears to have been, in a great
measure, instrumental to its success, by his influence over the natives,
who proved extremely useful in tracking the Banditti,
The Governor has been pleased to promote Corporal Quigley, in
consequence of his good conduct; and to direct that Mr. Hugh McDonald
shall receive a Grant of one square mile of land free of Quit rent, as a
Reward for the Services he rendered on this occasion. His Excellency has
also given orders that the three aboriginal natives who accompanied the
party at the instance of Mr. McDonald shall, in addition to such
necessary articles as they may wish to obtain receive a medal each,
commemorative of their services, and as an inducement to others to act
as they have done.
Daly was
also part of this gang. He was shot dead by 'Jemmy the Locust'
near Merriwa.
Select here to see a photograph of the medal awarded to Corporal Quigley
(Powerhouse Museum)
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