(no subject)
One favourite historical figure of early #Sydney for me is Daniel Moowattin, an Indigenous boy of Parramatta, born around 1790. His story is not widely known and I think it should be.
Moowattin was adopted at about the age of 5 years by Richard Partridge and his wife Mary Greenwood - who had a grant of land near present day James Ruse High School, Carlingford. Richard and Mary had a son (also named Richard) who was born in 1794 and then a daughter (also named Mary) born in 1797. Moowattin would have roughly been the same age as their son. While it is entirely supposition, it might have been possible that they decided to adopt an Aboriginal boy as a playmate because they boy may have been shunned by other playmates because his father was the gaoler and hangman at Parramatta. They called the boy Moowattin, ‘Daniel’. The Rev Samuel Marsden said that Moowattin was of the Parramatta Tribe. By 1802 Moowattin had befriended the botanist George Caley and after a few years went on collecting expeditions with Caley.
Their earliest identified journey was in 1805 when they started from around here and travelled over five days through present day Wahroonga and then down to the coast near Brookvale and back again.
Caley recorded the beginning of this trek thus:
“Monday Feb 18, after leaving Capt Macarthur’s Pennent hill, I went in a path made by cattle, 2 miles, in about a NNE direction. The path here not becoming easy to trace, I unloaded the mare and sent her back. On first leaving the farm, the ground was a little scrubby, and we crossed two small rocky creeks, whose water ran to the right. Afterwards we went up hill and kept upon the range.”[4] And so Caley described crossing through Beecroft.
Moowattin was described by Caley as:
“the most civilised of any native that I know who may still be called a savage and the best interpreter of the more inland native’s languages of any that I have met with….I can place that confidence in him which I cannot in any other - all except him are afraid to go beyond the limits of the space which they inhabit with me (or indeed with any other) and I know this one would stand by me until I fell, if attacked by strangers. This man is Moowattin.”[5]
Later that year he went to Norfolk Island. In 1806 he went to Tasmania and Nattai - near present day Appin. While on the Nattai journey Moowattin was speared striking near the upper thigh. “Yet notwithstanding this severe wound he very soon recovered. It had bled very copiously.”[6]
In 1806 Caley starts to refer to him as Moowattin rather than Daniel - perhaps showing that, having turned 15, he had now been initiated and given his adult name.[7] A further suggestion of an initiation is that he was later identified by several marks in his forearm - perhaps these were initiation marks as can be seen in the portrait of Bidgee Bidgee.[8]
Then in 1810 he travelled to England when Caley returned to give evidence in trials arising from the Rum Rebellion. There he met Caley’s patron, Sir Joseph Banks. Caley hoped that “by shewing him the different Museums we should get a better knowledge of the animals of this part…”[9] After a voyage of 5 months Moowattin was not allowed to disembark for a further 3 months because the authorities would not accept guarantees of his orderly conduct.[10] Banks regarded Caley as “injudicious” for bringing Moowattin to England and further referred to the “unfortunate native.”[11] These comments may have arisen from Moowattin starting to drink so heavily that on 11 February 1811 an angered Caley struck Moowattin so hard that Caley broke his own thumb.[12] William Lawson met Moowattin while in London and:
“I asked him how he liked the fine things in England his answer was ‘I am anxious to return to my own Country, I find more pleasure under a Gum tree sitting with my tribe than I do here.”[13]
Another anonymous source says that Moowattin said of England that he:
“thought there were too many house, trees were much wanted; could not imagine how all the people got food; thought the weather was sower cold. Clouds too near the ground; horses fine, the men strong, the women beautiful…”[14]
Moowattin led Caley to different eucalypts and named new specimens for him. He explored. He parted with his knowledge and his friendship. Caley responded in kind. In January 1811 Caley had Moowattin inoculated against smallpox at the Vaccine Pock Institute in Golden Square, Westminster.[15]
When another of Banks protégés and friend to Caley,[16] George Suttor of Chelsea Farm Baulkham Hills, returned from London in 1811 he brought Moowattin back with him. On the return voyage Moowattin was reported by a fellow traveller, Robert Lowe, a grazier,[17] as saying how he “was so much pleased with the manners and customs of Europeans that he had frequently during the passage avowed a determination to conform to them entirely after his arrival.”[18] Following his return he stayed in Suttor’s home for a few days before selling a shotgun given to him by the botanist Robert Brown[19] to purchase peach cider and then travelling the few miles to his land. The Rev Samuel Marsden met him a few days later at Thompson’s Corner and in response to the question of why he left the home of Suttor he said “Me like the bush best.”[20] When Marsden had met him he was naked.[21] In 1816 a local constable, James Oldgate, who had known him for 12 or 15 years said that Moowattin “had informed him that he would not live in the bush now from his being habituated to the white people’s mode of living.”[22]
Moowattin then gained employment with William Bellamy an emancipist who had a farm around present day Aitken Road, West Pennant Hills. Some 12 months after Moowattin had commenced as a labourer, working as any other labourer,[23] on 6 August 1816 he was alleged to have attacked and then raped the 15 year old Hannah Russell[24] the daughter of Henry Russell a worker for Samuel Marsden at his Thompson’s Corner property. Hannah had been returning from Parramatta where she had obtained some funds for her father. Moowattin admitted to robbing the daughter[25] but denied raping her. She had been found bruised and ill treated by one of John Macarthur’s stockmen, John Shee, who (while not having observed the rape or anyone present) did observe that ther “neck was very black”.[26] He was accompanied at the time of the incident by Biorrah. At his trial there were a number of Aborigines present in the Court including Bidgee Bidgee.
“G Blaxland Esq deposed to his knowledge of the prisoner whom he considered to be an intelligent man and one of the best acquainted with the English language that he had ever met with; that he had a clear conception between a good and evil act he could not possibly doubt; neither could he doubt that from his constant habits he must be aware of any act that would give offence to our laws and usages … he knew that crimes were punished by the law, and could not if committed be ignored that he was doing wrong.”[27]
His socialisation meant that he was found to understand and live within English law. He was convicted, sentenced and hanged on 1 November 1816. Governor Lachlan Macquarie recorded:
“This morning were executed, agreeably to their respective sentences, the three Criminals under Sentence of Death - namely …. And Daniel Mowwatting ( a Black Native of this Colony) - for Rape and Robbery on a young Femal White Woman a Native of this Colony. - The three Malefactors confessed their Crimes and all died Penitent.”[28]
While the Rev Marsden claimed that Moowattin had confessed to the rape post sentence, he denied the charge on the official record.
From Moowattin we know that Saligna Blue Gum was called Calang’ora, the blackbutt the Tarunde’a, the Angophora floribunda the Nandan’gora and more than two dozen trees in similar ilk. Specimens labelled by Caley ‘got by Dan’ are held in the National Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.[29] From this young local man we know the names of more trees of this district than we know of its Aboriginal inhabitants.
https://www.bchg.org.au/index.php/en/people/individuals/l-r/139-moowattin
Daniel appears alongside Bennelong in this newspaper article on
TroveAustralia from 1842, but while revealing some amazing details of his life, both in London and i Sydney, does not mention his demise.
"MOO-WAT-TIN AND BE-NE-LONG.
Two instances have occurred of the
aborigines of New South Wales having
been brought by a gentleman to England -
one, whose name was Be-ne-long, in 1793,
another in 1811, whose name was Moo-
wat-tin. The general conduct of these
men was so similar, that the particulars
relating to the last-mentioned individual
may be sufficient to show the character
and disposition of both, perhaps of all.
Moo-wat-tin was a chief, and, though
acting occasionally as a servant while in
England, never forgot a seeming consci-
ousness of importance. Moo-wat-tin spoke
English so well as to excite surprise at
the power with which he would use the
monosyllables. He became an object of
great curiosity to many, and was closely
observed during several visits he made
with the gentleman who brought him to
England. On some occasions ladies were
of the party, who were pleased with the
decorum, or it may be said, the politeness
with which the savage chief from New
South Wales behaved. At the dinner-
table he was desirous to oblige others, by
passing what might be required ; was
never confused, but acted as though he
had been accustomed to the routine of
mixed society. He ate and drank very
moderately, preferring sherry to any other
wine, of which he never took more than
three glasses. It was supposed he had
received directions for his conduct, or
that he was merely an imitator of others ;
however this might be, his behaviour was
such as to command approbation. He
was particularly pleased at hearing a lady
sing "No, my love, no." He sat with
strongly marked expressions of attention
and delight, and when asked to sing, con-
sented with a smile. His articulation
seemed indistinct, the sounds having great
similarity to each other, as, ra-ra tah,
wha-rah rah, bah-hah tah-rah hah. The
tune was occasionally changed ; the ditty
was divided into three parts or verses ;
the latter was particularly hurried and
exalting. On being requested to put this
song into English, he replied, " Not well
to do ; but first we take, fish, next take
kangaroo, then take wife;" the particulars
he declined translating. He always smiled
at being, waited upon by the servants, yet
instantly resumed the knowledge that he
was one of the company. He slightly
bent when any attention was shown to him ;
and though numberless questions were
put to him, he always replied with an
evident desire to gratify, and, in his en-
deavour, never evinced the least impa-
tience. He expressed great surprise at
the extent of London; thought there
were too many houses ; trees were much
wanted ; could not imagine how all the
people goot food ; thought the weather was
" sower cold" clouds too near the ground ;
horses fine, the men strong, the women
beautiful; and none of his tribe would
believe him when he told of what he had
seen ; that it would be of no use to take
any thing to them unless they could eat
it; declared he would spear a native who
had hurt a woman- this was expressed
with powerfully-marked ferocity - and
while one of the company was endeavour-
ing to dissuade him from such an act, he
sat with his hands grasping each other
between his knees, his eyes bent on the
ground, his teeth visible from an evident
assumed smile; after a pause he started,
saying, "I must spear him, he hurt my
mother." This was found to be a painful
subject, and was discontinued; but it was
some time before his emotion subsided.
He seemed to appreciate the value of
such trifling presents as are called keep-
sakes, and has been often heard to call
them by the names of the donors. When
the time arrived for him to sail, he made
the round of his intimacies, and appeared
to feel mental agony at separation, utter-
ing" Never forget, never forget." Moo-
wat-tin was deemed by some persons a
bright specimen of the natives of New
South Wales. His observation was re-
markably keen : a curved brow would
distress him, a smile would elevate him,
but a grasp of the hand enraptured him ;
by it he seemed to become one of a society
amongst which he was anxious to be ac-
knowledged, and which he strove to
become by every means in his power.
Although Moo-wat-tin might have been
tutored to some extent, and though much
may be attributed to his habit of mimicry,
yet the tenderness and understanding he
has so often displayed must have been
the dictations of his own natural goodness
of heart. These particulars are perhaps
dwelt upon more than may seem neces-
sary, the subject being so insignificant as
a savage from New South Wales; yet he
produced in the minds of many, who ob-
served him while in England, very favour-
able impressions. They could not ima-
gine him incapable of receiving the highest
degree of cultivation.
The gentleman with whom Moo-wat-
tin came to England had been a free
settler under the auspices of the late Sir
Joseph Banks. He remarked to some
friends while here, that, during all inter-
course of twenty years with the natives
of New South Wales, he never saw an
act or circumstance that partook of in-
delicacy. All other observances in well
regulated society were disregarded, or
perhaps unknown to this inferior race of
beings.
As in the case of his predecessor, Be-
ne-long, Moo-wat-in, for some time after
his return to New South Wales, retained
the manners of a European. He treated
those of his tribe with the greatest dis-
dain, and seemed to cultivate a friendly
intercourse with the free settlers; but he
possessed no habits of industry, and nature
could not be subdued. Liberty amongst
his native woods and wilds had charms
that rendered irksome the kindness of
strangers, and dulled every sense of the
superior enjoyments of civilization. He
returned to his original pursuits, to a state
of nakedness and of precarious existence,
and has rarely been seen since by any of
the settlers in the colony. "
The article does not touch on events of 1816 when Daniel was hanged.
Daniel Moowattins story is significant to me not only because we owe him such a debt of gratitude for his gift of the aboriginal names for so much flora, but also because he gained employment of the farm of William Bellamy, one of my ancestors. It was there he was accused of robbery and rape and subsequently, very possibly unjustly hanged.
Caley died in 1829 at the age of 55, after unsuccessfully seeking to establish a second botanic garden: this time in the West Indies. In his will Caley bequeathed freedom to a negro slave in St Vincent and provided for a cockatoo that had been his companion for over 20 years
Moowattin was adopted at about the age of 5 years by Richard Partridge and his wife Mary Greenwood - who had a grant of land near present day James Ruse High School, Carlingford. Richard and Mary had a son (also named Richard) who was born in 1794 and then a daughter (also named Mary) born in 1797. Moowattin would have roughly been the same age as their son. While it is entirely supposition, it might have been possible that they decided to adopt an Aboriginal boy as a playmate because they boy may have been shunned by other playmates because his father was the gaoler and hangman at Parramatta. They called the boy Moowattin, ‘Daniel’. The Rev Samuel Marsden said that Moowattin was of the Parramatta Tribe. By 1802 Moowattin had befriended the botanist George Caley and after a few years went on collecting expeditions with Caley.
Their earliest identified journey was in 1805 when they started from around here and travelled over five days through present day Wahroonga and then down to the coast near Brookvale and back again.
Caley recorded the beginning of this trek thus:
“Monday Feb 18, after leaving Capt Macarthur’s Pennent hill, I went in a path made by cattle, 2 miles, in about a NNE direction. The path here not becoming easy to trace, I unloaded the mare and sent her back. On first leaving the farm, the ground was a little scrubby, and we crossed two small rocky creeks, whose water ran to the right. Afterwards we went up hill and kept upon the range.”[4] And so Caley described crossing through Beecroft.
Moowattin was described by Caley as:
“the most civilised of any native that I know who may still be called a savage and the best interpreter of the more inland native’s languages of any that I have met with….I can place that confidence in him which I cannot in any other - all except him are afraid to go beyond the limits of the space which they inhabit with me (or indeed with any other) and I know this one would stand by me until I fell, if attacked by strangers. This man is Moowattin.”[5]
Later that year he went to Norfolk Island. In 1806 he went to Tasmania and Nattai - near present day Appin. While on the Nattai journey Moowattin was speared striking near the upper thigh. “Yet notwithstanding this severe wound he very soon recovered. It had bled very copiously.”[6]
In 1806 Caley starts to refer to him as Moowattin rather than Daniel - perhaps showing that, having turned 15, he had now been initiated and given his adult name.[7] A further suggestion of an initiation is that he was later identified by several marks in his forearm - perhaps these were initiation marks as can be seen in the portrait of Bidgee Bidgee.[8]
Then in 1810 he travelled to England when Caley returned to give evidence in trials arising from the Rum Rebellion. There he met Caley’s patron, Sir Joseph Banks. Caley hoped that “by shewing him the different Museums we should get a better knowledge of the animals of this part…”[9] After a voyage of 5 months Moowattin was not allowed to disembark for a further 3 months because the authorities would not accept guarantees of his orderly conduct.[10] Banks regarded Caley as “injudicious” for bringing Moowattin to England and further referred to the “unfortunate native.”[11] These comments may have arisen from Moowattin starting to drink so heavily that on 11 February 1811 an angered Caley struck Moowattin so hard that Caley broke his own thumb.[12] William Lawson met Moowattin while in London and:
“I asked him how he liked the fine things in England his answer was ‘I am anxious to return to my own Country, I find more pleasure under a Gum tree sitting with my tribe than I do here.”[13]
Another anonymous source says that Moowattin said of England that he:
“thought there were too many house, trees were much wanted; could not imagine how all the people got food; thought the weather was sower cold. Clouds too near the ground; horses fine, the men strong, the women beautiful…”[14]
Moowattin led Caley to different eucalypts and named new specimens for him. He explored. He parted with his knowledge and his friendship. Caley responded in kind. In January 1811 Caley had Moowattin inoculated against smallpox at the Vaccine Pock Institute in Golden Square, Westminster.[15]
When another of Banks protégés and friend to Caley,[16] George Suttor of Chelsea Farm Baulkham Hills, returned from London in 1811 he brought Moowattin back with him. On the return voyage Moowattin was reported by a fellow traveller, Robert Lowe, a grazier,[17] as saying how he “was so much pleased with the manners and customs of Europeans that he had frequently during the passage avowed a determination to conform to them entirely after his arrival.”[18] Following his return he stayed in Suttor’s home for a few days before selling a shotgun given to him by the botanist Robert Brown[19] to purchase peach cider and then travelling the few miles to his land. The Rev Samuel Marsden met him a few days later at Thompson’s Corner and in response to the question of why he left the home of Suttor he said “Me like the bush best.”[20] When Marsden had met him he was naked.[21] In 1816 a local constable, James Oldgate, who had known him for 12 or 15 years said that Moowattin “had informed him that he would not live in the bush now from his being habituated to the white people’s mode of living.”[22]
Moowattin then gained employment with William Bellamy an emancipist who had a farm around present day Aitken Road, West Pennant Hills. Some 12 months after Moowattin had commenced as a labourer, working as any other labourer,[23] on 6 August 1816 he was alleged to have attacked and then raped the 15 year old Hannah Russell[24] the daughter of Henry Russell a worker for Samuel Marsden at his Thompson’s Corner property. Hannah had been returning from Parramatta where she had obtained some funds for her father. Moowattin admitted to robbing the daughter[25] but denied raping her. She had been found bruised and ill treated by one of John Macarthur’s stockmen, John Shee, who (while not having observed the rape or anyone present) did observe that ther “neck was very black”.[26] He was accompanied at the time of the incident by Biorrah. At his trial there were a number of Aborigines present in the Court including Bidgee Bidgee.
“G Blaxland Esq deposed to his knowledge of the prisoner whom he considered to be an intelligent man and one of the best acquainted with the English language that he had ever met with; that he had a clear conception between a good and evil act he could not possibly doubt; neither could he doubt that from his constant habits he must be aware of any act that would give offence to our laws and usages … he knew that crimes were punished by the law, and could not if committed be ignored that he was doing wrong.”[27]
His socialisation meant that he was found to understand and live within English law. He was convicted, sentenced and hanged on 1 November 1816. Governor Lachlan Macquarie recorded:
“This morning were executed, agreeably to their respective sentences, the three Criminals under Sentence of Death - namely …. And Daniel Mowwatting ( a Black Native of this Colony) - for Rape and Robbery on a young Femal White Woman a Native of this Colony. - The three Malefactors confessed their Crimes and all died Penitent.”[28]
While the Rev Marsden claimed that Moowattin had confessed to the rape post sentence, he denied the charge on the official record.
From Moowattin we know that Saligna Blue Gum was called Calang’ora, the blackbutt the Tarunde’a, the Angophora floribunda the Nandan’gora and more than two dozen trees in similar ilk. Specimens labelled by Caley ‘got by Dan’ are held in the National Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.[29] From this young local man we know the names of more trees of this district than we know of its Aboriginal inhabitants.
https://www.bchg.org.au/index.php/en/people/individuals/l-r/139-moowattin
Daniel appears alongside Bennelong in this newspaper article on
TroveAustralia from 1842, but while revealing some amazing details of his life, both in London and i Sydney, does not mention his demise.
"MOO-WAT-TIN AND BE-NE-LONG.
Two instances have occurred of the
aborigines of New South Wales having
been brought by a gentleman to England -
one, whose name was Be-ne-long, in 1793,
another in 1811, whose name was Moo-
wat-tin. The general conduct of these
men was so similar, that the particulars
relating to the last-mentioned individual
may be sufficient to show the character
and disposition of both, perhaps of all.
Moo-wat-tin was a chief, and, though
acting occasionally as a servant while in
England, never forgot a seeming consci-
ousness of importance. Moo-wat-tin spoke
English so well as to excite surprise at
the power with which he would use the
monosyllables. He became an object of
great curiosity to many, and was closely
observed during several visits he made
with the gentleman who brought him to
England. On some occasions ladies were
of the party, who were pleased with the
decorum, or it may be said, the politeness
with which the savage chief from New
South Wales behaved. At the dinner-
table he was desirous to oblige others, by
passing what might be required ; was
never confused, but acted as though he
had been accustomed to the routine of
mixed society. He ate and drank very
moderately, preferring sherry to any other
wine, of which he never took more than
three glasses. It was supposed he had
received directions for his conduct, or
that he was merely an imitator of others ;
however this might be, his behaviour was
such as to command approbation. He
was particularly pleased at hearing a lady
sing "No, my love, no." He sat with
strongly marked expressions of attention
and delight, and when asked to sing, con-
sented with a smile. His articulation
seemed indistinct, the sounds having great
similarity to each other, as, ra-ra tah,
wha-rah rah, bah-hah tah-rah hah. The
tune was occasionally changed ; the ditty
was divided into three parts or verses ;
the latter was particularly hurried and
exalting. On being requested to put this
song into English, he replied, " Not well
to do ; but first we take, fish, next take
kangaroo, then take wife;" the particulars
he declined translating. He always smiled
at being, waited upon by the servants, yet
instantly resumed the knowledge that he
was one of the company. He slightly
bent when any attention was shown to him ;
and though numberless questions were
put to him, he always replied with an
evident desire to gratify, and, in his en-
deavour, never evinced the least impa-
tience. He expressed great surprise at
the extent of London; thought there
were too many houses ; trees were much
wanted ; could not imagine how all the
people goot food ; thought the weather was
" sower cold" clouds too near the ground ;
horses fine, the men strong, the women
beautiful; and none of his tribe would
believe him when he told of what he had
seen ; that it would be of no use to take
any thing to them unless they could eat
it; declared he would spear a native who
had hurt a woman- this was expressed
with powerfully-marked ferocity - and
while one of the company was endeavour-
ing to dissuade him from such an act, he
sat with his hands grasping each other
between his knees, his eyes bent on the
ground, his teeth visible from an evident
assumed smile; after a pause he started,
saying, "I must spear him, he hurt my
mother." This was found to be a painful
subject, and was discontinued; but it was
some time before his emotion subsided.
He seemed to appreciate the value of
such trifling presents as are called keep-
sakes, and has been often heard to call
them by the names of the donors. When
the time arrived for him to sail, he made
the round of his intimacies, and appeared
to feel mental agony at separation, utter-
ing" Never forget, never forget." Moo-
wat-tin was deemed by some persons a
bright specimen of the natives of New
South Wales. His observation was re-
markably keen : a curved brow would
distress him, a smile would elevate him,
but a grasp of the hand enraptured him ;
by it he seemed to become one of a society
amongst which he was anxious to be ac-
knowledged, and which he strove to
become by every means in his power.
Although Moo-wat-tin might have been
tutored to some extent, and though much
may be attributed to his habit of mimicry,
yet the tenderness and understanding he
has so often displayed must have been
the dictations of his own natural goodness
of heart. These particulars are perhaps
dwelt upon more than may seem neces-
sary, the subject being so insignificant as
a savage from New South Wales; yet he
produced in the minds of many, who ob-
served him while in England, very favour-
able impressions. They could not ima-
gine him incapable of receiving the highest
degree of cultivation.
The gentleman with whom Moo-wat-
tin came to England had been a free
settler under the auspices of the late Sir
Joseph Banks. He remarked to some
friends while here, that, during all inter-
course of twenty years with the natives
of New South Wales, he never saw an
act or circumstance that partook of in-
delicacy. All other observances in well
regulated society were disregarded, or
perhaps unknown to this inferior race of
beings.
As in the case of his predecessor, Be-
ne-long, Moo-wat-in, for some time after
his return to New South Wales, retained
the manners of a European. He treated
those of his tribe with the greatest dis-
dain, and seemed to cultivate a friendly
intercourse with the free settlers; but he
possessed no habits of industry, and nature
could not be subdued. Liberty amongst
his native woods and wilds had charms
that rendered irksome the kindness of
strangers, and dulled every sense of the
superior enjoyments of civilization. He
returned to his original pursuits, to a state
of nakedness and of precarious existence,
and has rarely been seen since by any of
the settlers in the colony. "
The article does not touch on events of 1816 when Daniel was hanged.
Daniel Moowattins story is significant to me not only because we owe him such a debt of gratitude for his gift of the aboriginal names for so much flora, but also because he gained employment of the farm of William Bellamy, one of my ancestors. It was there he was accused of robbery and rape and subsequently, very possibly unjustly hanged.
Caley died in 1829 at the age of 55, after unsuccessfully seeking to establish a second botanic garden: this time in the West Indies. In his will Caley bequeathed freedom to a negro slave in St Vincent and provided for a cockatoo that had been his companion for over 20 years