Original Documents on Aborigines and Law
1797-1840
Published by the Centre for Comparative Law History and Governance of Macquarie University, and State Records NSW
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Document 21
S Owen - complaining of Jackass and other natives: 28 March 1827
[80]
Fal brook
Hunters River to wit} Samuel Owen Mary 2 [sic?]
An Overseer for Dr Bowman
Sworn Stateth
That on Friday morning last as deponent was returning from Wallumby Brook looking for Cattle - when he fell in with fifteen black natives who immediately surrounded him - Jackass (the man who has done so much mischief about Dr. Bowman's) was one of them, who asked Dept if he was the big constable - Dept said yes- jackass them drew out his Waddie , & flourished it a Dept, but Dept kept him out of reach with a musket - the other natives stood round but did not offer any violence - Jackass did not happen to have a spear - all the [81] others had - While Jackass was menacing Dept Cobborn Mary (wife to Bit of Bread) came up & began to chatter in their own language with the greatest violence, walking round & round deponent, & beating the ground with a pointed stick she had in her hands - she fairly frothed at the mouth - at length the blacks went away & Mary remained behind. When Jackass got a little way off, he said "never mind he would find another opportunity to kill deponent" - Cobborn Mary told deponent that the clacks were going to kill deponent, but that she had prevented them: & then strongly [82] advised deponent never to go into the Bush where the blackfellows were for they were determined to kill him.
Sworn before me
this 28th March 1827 } Samuel Owen his mark
Robert Scott
[83]
Samuel Own v
Jackass and other black natives
28 March 1827
No 21