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Hunter Valley Colonial Medical Practitioners

Medical Practitioners Index

John Gill

In December 1841, John Gill accompanied Magistrate Edward Denny Day when he led a determined pursuit party to track down a desperate band of bushrangers known as the 'Jewboy gang' who had terrorized Brisbane Water and Hunter Valley districts for months.

John Gill joined the pursuit party when they passed through Murrurundi. Others who joined the party were Edward White, Richard Dangar, Mr. Warren, William Shinkwin and several ticket of leave men - Walker, Evans, Peter Dawe and John Doran. They surprised the bushrangers at Doughboy Hollow near Murrurundi where they found them casting musket balls, and after a brief battle the notorious gang were captured. This did not however, put an end the lawlessness of the district which was notorious for cattle duffers and thieves.

As well as his pastoral pursuits at Bickham, John Gill attended to medical duties and in 1841 he testified at the inquest of George Clerk. He played an active role at the race meetings in the district and was steward at the Page's River Races in the 1840's. According to an article in the Maitland Mercury he also kept hunting dogs and joined others in the area in hunting down 'native dogs' (dingoes).

Many years after his death John Gill was still remembered throughout the district. A correspondent to the Maitland Mercury wrote of him:

The Haydons and Brodies were the great landed proprietors of Murrurundi in those days, and Mr. Warland owned the Harben Vale estate. Mr. Cory's Bickham estate was let to Dr. Gill and Mr. Edward White - who was a brother of Mr. (James)White of Edinglassie. The partners were extremely popular in the district. Dr. Gill was a personal friend of my own; he married Miss Webb, a famous beauty, related to the Littles of Cressfield. He bought the Moonbi Station and died there. He has lain in Tamworth churchyard for many a long year, yet I can still recall at will the soldierly, stately figure, the dark curling hair, and flashing hazel eyes of John Maunder Gill.

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