| BIOGRAPHY: Thomas and Sarah Henderson |
After this we removed him to the Punt Keepers House, we then got the other two drays over the Punt- and put my father in the last and took him as far as Raleigh's Paddock, we put him to bed, he kept crying out from the pain and was continually asking for drink. My age is 16 years, my brothers are younger than I am. We did not think he was too much injured, we offered two or three times to fetch a doctor but he would not allow us to go, he gradually got worse and died about six o'clock this morning.
My father was rather under the influence of drink when the accident occurred. He has kept a wife and nine children. He resides at Daisy Hill and has lived there about two years.
Thomas Henderson
Taken and sworn before me the second day of June A.D. 1858 at Footscray.
John Wilkins
Coroner.
Thomas Kerr the puntsman for Raleigh's punt gave the following account of the accident. His deposition was taken 2 June 1858 at the Punt Hotel.
Last night about 1/2 past six o'clock, Henderson the deceased man's son came across the punt and asked me if I would assist his father who had been bruised? against the fence by the Bullock Dray. I went across at once and found him leaning against the fence in a kneeling position. I got him carried over to my house, but he would not go inside, he asked for five minutes rest, then he thought he would be all right again.
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The Punt Keeper Thomas Keer's Deposition
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I wanted to send for a Doctor, he would not allow it and said he would be soon able to proceed with his dray, he was afterwards assisted on the last dray to go to the Cauling? place. After this I heard no more of him till the morning when I was informed by ...Gibson that he was dead.
Deceased smelt very strongly of drink. Could not say whether he was drunk or not. it was quite dark at the time. I have seen the deceased cross the punt on several former occasions. If he had properly kept the pole bullocks further from the fence, the accident would not have occured. This fence is put up to guide cattle on to the punt and deceased did not put the bullocks sufficiently off to clear the post.
I do not think deceased was so much impaired.
Thomas Kerr
Punt Keeper.
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Williamston in the Colony of Victoria.
An Inquisition for our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria, taken at the Punt Hotel Footscray in the Colony of Victoria aforesaid, the Second day of June A.D. 1858 in the 21st year of the Reign of our said Lady the Queen, before me John Wikins Gentleman, a Coroner of our Lady the Queen for the District of Williamstown aforesaid, upon the view of the body of Thomas Henderson then and lying dead, upon the oaths of
George Gale
Henry ?
Patrick Clooney
George ?
G.G. Nicholas
Mathew ?
John Farrell
good and lawful men of Footscray in the said Colony who being duly sworn and charged to inquire, upon the part of our Lady the Queen, when, where, how, and by what means the said Thomas Henderson came by his death, do say upon their oath that...
Thomas Henderson's (of Daisy Hill) death was accidental, caused by the injuries which he received by being crushed against a fence by a loaded bullock dray, while crossing Raleigh's Punt at Footscray, June 1st 1858 at 1/2 past six o'clock PM on his way to Daisy Hill from Melbourne.
Thomas was buried at the New General Cemetery Melbourne.
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© Robert Sherwood 2008 |
Last update on 14 February 2008 |
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