Massacre at Paddys Land, New England

Date: 1 Aug 1852 – 31 Aug 1852
Place: Paddys Land, New England
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
According to settler Joshua Scholes, after Baanbay warriors killed Mrs Sullivan, the wife of a shepherd, at Aberfoyle Station, Constable Michael Clogher from Kempsey Police Station and a party of armed settlers set off on horseback in pursuit. They followed Baanbay people to Paddys Land where they surrounded them 'and shot down as many as they could' (Uralla Times and District Advocate, 19 April 19, 1923, p 1). Clogher had a cavalry sword and was an excellent shot with pistols (Daily Examiner, October 28, 1942, p 1). There are various spellings of the name of the constable in the sources. Some use 'Clogher' while others use 'Clogger'. The name 'Constable Michael Cloggan' (Uralla Times and District Advocate, 19 April 19, 1923, p 1) appears to be a confusion of 'Clogher' with the name of the 'Coghlan' family in the area, and also the author of some of the anecdotes (Don Dorrigo Gazette and Guy Fawkes Advocate, 27/10/1939).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Baanbay
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 10

People involved

This data has not yet been gathered. Research work is ongoing. To help, please consider donating or contact us to volunteer or about setting up research projects in your area.

Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Paddys Land, New England
    1 Aug 1852 – 31 Aug 1852 — Paddys Land, New England — massacre
    According to settler Joshua Scholes, after Baanbay warriors killed Mrs Sullivan, the wife of a shepherd, at Aberfoyle Station, Constable Michael Clogher from Kempsey Police Station and a party of armed settlers set off on horseback in pursuit. They followed Baanbay people to Paddys Land where they surrounded them 'and shot down as many as they could' (Uralla Times and District Advocate, 19 April 19, 1923, p 1). Clogher had a cavalry sword and was an excellent shot with pistols (Daily Examiner, October 28, 1942, p 1). There are various spellings of the name of the constable in the sources. Some use 'Clogher' while others use 'Clogger'. The name 'Constable Michael Cloggan' (Uralla Times and District Advocate, 19 April 19, 1923, p 1) appears to be a confusion of 'Clogher' with the name of the 'Coghlan' family in the area, and also the author of some of the anecdotes (Don Dorrigo Gazette and Guy Fawkes Advocate, 27/10/1939).
    Source: Uralla Times and District Advocate, April 19, 1923, p 1 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174406980; Don Dorrigo Gazette, October 27, 1939, p 2 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171867043, and August 3, 1945, p 5 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article173132006 and September 25, 1953, p 9 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article173137674; Daily Examiner, October 28, 1942, p 1 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article194065802; Dungog Chronicle, June 7, 1932, p 4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141145816; Clayton-Dixon 2019, p 95.