Surname:
Clogger (Clogher)
Details:
Reminiscences by Alfred Edmond Dudley Jones of Nymboida - I heard many interesting things when i was young from a man named Michael Clogger. He had formerly been in charge of some black police at Port Macquarie. He had a sword and used to chase the blacks with it to frighten them, riding into their camps and scattering them. It is a wonder that he was not speared but the blacks were very much afraid of steel. That sword is now in the possession of my grand daughter at Mymboida. Clogger married Mrs. Sinclair and his stepson William Sinclair, died only a few years ago
Surname:
Clogger (Clogher)
Source:
Dorrigo Gazette and Guy Fawkes Advocate
Details:
Many of our early settlers were freed convicts or ticket-o f-leave men, and did much to mould the destinies or this young country. One such was Michael Clogher, an Irish man who was sent out for, to use his own term, trying the weight of a sheep. After serving part of his sentence, he was issued with a Free Pardon. He then became an ordinary Australian citizen. Interesting Historical Document The Pardon issued to Clogher is in the hands of the Sinclair family, and was for a time loaned to Tommy Muir, who had a business in Dorrigo, and was greatly - interested by this historical document. He became a policeman, under military supervision, in Sidney. His duties took him to the then settled parts of the State. While in Sydney he married William Sinclairs widow, who was also employed by the military. Eventually he came to the Commissioner of Polices headquarters at Armidale. The name Commissioners Water indicates the spot where the head quarters were established. A man named John Trimm was employed by the Commissioner, and his wife was somehow attached to the Station as well. Trimm subsequently Opened which was probably the first store, in Armidale. Clogher was a hard and fearless man. He was afraid of nothing under the sun. His tremendous courage was used to the full by the police. On one occasion he followed a bushranger named Wilson from New England through the bush towards the Clarence. Assisting him was a black-tracker. Wilson had a pack horse. Included in his swag were red blankets. Tell-Tale Red Threads When going through the timber, the pack-horse at times brushed past limbs of trees and protruding sticks, and such like. When any of these objects came in contact with the blankets, a few threads of red wool would mostly remain on them. By finding these signs, the pursuers knew they were following the right man Gradually gaining on the quarry they reached a recent camp fire, and sensed that the end was near. It was much nearer than expected. A body of police from Grafton were also scouring the countryside, and came upon the bushranger and shot him, just before Clogher came up. The locality was near O.B.X. Creek. On another occasion, when assisting in the establishment of a new police station on the Murray River a murderer escaped. Clogher followed him across country and caught him over the Queensland border. On the return journey, he handcuffed the absconder to himself each night, and they slept side by side in this manner. On banding him over to the police to be taken to Sydney, Cloghers job was completed. The police who had charge of him on this trip failed to deliver their charge, who made good his escape, and was never recaptured Clogher was asked to try and get him again, but declined. After many such exploits he became lock-up keeper in Armidale. Lack of education finally forced him to sever his connection with the force. Purchasing a bullock team he carried goods from Maitland to Armidale for a time. No train service existed then. Bullock team was the sole means of transport. He next became a stockman on Major Rigneys station at Guy Fawkes. At that period, a man named McKenzie had squatted at Bostobrick, and reared cattle on the area. One of the McKenzie boys was ploughing the flat on the bank of the river, below the present house occupied by Jack Gilbert. A younger boy one day took a billy of tea down to his brother. He was never seen again, alive or dead. The aborigine tribe were blamed for abducting the child. McKenzie then sold his interest to Clogher, who made an earnest e deavour to locate the lost boy. A native, known to the white and dusky populations alike as Native Dog was marked out as the likely culprit by Clogher, who one day ran him down on horseback, and caught him by the hair of his head. Wasting no words, he fired the question, Wheres Mc Kenzie? Native Dog did not un-derstand. Clogher said, I ll make you understand, and pulled the black towards him. The native instinctively placed his hand on the sawn off stump of a tree, where splitters were getting shingles. Clogher struck at the same time with a cavalry sword he was carrying, and cut off the hand. The black escaped. The sword was later used on a native. Clogher intended to strike him. The native lunged away and the sword, in the downward stroke, slashed the calf of the leg. This man also broke away. The feeling between Clogher and the natives was hostile. CIogher has been, known to face single handed, over a hundred dusky men, who always retreated. He was an extraordinarily good shot, and would not hesitate to shoot, so probably the explanation of his immunity from direct attack lies in that fact. Carbine and Pistol He had an old pistol, which he usually carried, in addition to a horse pistol. His aim was just as deadly with the pistol at close range as with the carbine. He has frequently been known to put a mark on a tree, walk thirty paces away, turn and fire at the mark in one action, and in nearly every case, his score was a bull s eye. He was left handed. Water tanks were not in existence at Bostobrick. Water had to be carried from the Nymboida River in buckets. Mrs. Clogher usually drew the water while the men were absent doing other duties. She was in constant fear of the blacks. .. Holes were bored in the walls, through which shots could be fired if necessary. Clogher acquired a bullock team and hauled cedar to Armidale for a period. Edwards then took over Bostobrick and went in extensively for cattle Clogher subsequently moved to Nymboida and bought the Sutton home stead. This land was actually owned by Clogher, whereas Bostobrick was owned by right of possession only. Here the old couple lived for many years. Grannie Clogher kept a boarding house for travellers. No post office had yet been established at Nymboida. but all loose mail was left at Cloghers, and the neighbours used to call there for their mail. Clogher could not read, and his wife only slightly. Neither could write a letter. A neighbours daughter always wrote Grannies letters for her, and gave her a hand in the house occasionally, if she had a rush of travel lers, wending their way from Armidale to Grafton, or vice versa. On the death of this fine lady, Clogher returned to Roslyn to live with his stepson, W. J. Sinclair, who offered the old man a home. Here he had every care and attention until near his death, when he was taken to Grafton. He died in the Old Mens Home there at the age of 102 years, and was brought to Nymboida and buried beside his wife. Their graves are situated on the banks of the river opposite Jack Cartmill s residence. They are well cared for and kept in good order by the Cartmill family. In conclusion, it may be interesting to know that Cloghers sword is now a treasured possession of William Sinclairs daughter, now Mrs. Dar. Dawson, of Tyringham. Bert Sinclair of Bostobrick, the oldest of the early pioneers born here knew Native Dog, personally
Surname:
Clogher (Clogger)
Source:
Convict Indents. State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12189; Item: [X638]; Microfiche: 717. Ancestry
Details:
Michael Clogher, aged 18, Farm labourer from County Roscommon. Tried at Roscommon 10 July 1835. Sentenced to transportation for life for sheep stealing. Note - sister Mary Clogher, arrived on the Roslin Castle in 1836
Surname:
Clogher (Clogger)
Source:
Ticket of Leave Butts. State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12202; Item: [4/4191]
Details:
Michael Clogher per Surry, granted Ticket of Leave for the district of Port Macquarie.
Details:
Granted Ticket of Leave
Details:
Apprehended after absconding from lock up
Details:
Granted Conditional Pardon
Details:
Shoemaker's boy aged 23 from Co. Derry. 5' 4 1/4" ruddy and freckled compl., brown hair, grey to blue eyes, nail of little finger of left hand split. Absconded from Charles Button 15 June
Details:
Granted Ticket of Leave
Surname:
Croughin (Coghlan)
Details:
Ticket of Leave granted.
Details:
Granted Ticket of Leave
Source:
Gaol Entrance Books. State Archives NSW; Item: 2/2009; Roll: 757 (Ancestry)
Details:
Labourer from Co. Down. Admitted to Newcastle gaol from Maitland. Sent for trial. Sentenced to 18 months in irons at No. 3 Stockade, Newcastle.
Details:
Ticket of leave cancelled for gross prevarication
Details:
Aged 24. Assigned to J.B. Bettington. Tried Tipperary
Details:
Granted Ticket of Leave
Source:
Newcastle Gaol Entrance Book - State Archives NSW; Roll: 757
Details:
Admitted to Newcastle gaol from Cassilis on a charge of gross prevarication. Forwarded to Hyde Park Barracks
Details:
Assigned to T.P. Macqueen
Details:
Farm laborer age 21 from Co. Kildare. 5ft 6 in, ruddy and freckled complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, nose inclining to the left side. Absconded from Chief Justice Francis Forbes 21st August
Details:
On List of Runaways apprehended during the last week. Absconded from Chief Justice Forbes
Details:
Granted Ticket of Leave
