C London, England

Placename

London, England

Type

Other

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Though we have selected St Katharine Docks, we do not know which dock the Success left from.

Date notes

Biographical information

James Stirling was born on 28 January 1791 at Drumpellier, an estate in Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the fifth son of second cousins Andrew and Anne Stirling. [1, p 1] Stirling's maternal side had a strong naval tradition. He entered the navy as a first-class volunteer when he was 12 and went to the West Indies. He first saw action in the Napoleonic Wars when he joined HMS Glory as a Midshipman, aged 14. [1, p 13] While stationed in the Royal Navy at Jamaica, with his Uncle Charles Stirling was Commander-in-Chief, they received prize money for capturing ships, some of which contained slave-produced goods. [Georgie ref] After the end of the wars Stirling moved around Europe and English 'society'. In Woodbridge, Surrey, he became acquainted with the Mangles family, including his wife-to-be, Ellen Mangles. [2] They had 11 children, five daughters and six sons. Ellen's father James Mangles was Director of the East India Company and also owned a ship which transported enslaved people between Africa and the Caribbean. [Georgie refs] Following renewed naval activity and the possibility of colonisation in the Pacific by the French, Stirling was tasked with bringing a supply of currency to New South Wales and moving the location of the British garrison at at Meville Island to a more strategic location. [2] In April 1826 he was given command of the new Success; they sailed on 9 June. [1]

Links to slavery the slave trade

Stirling had multiple connections to the slave trade. His intergenerational family businesses traded in slave-produced goods in the United States and Caribbean. His brother Walter Stirling received compensation for the loss of enslaved people in Guiana and Barbados. Stirling was stationed in the Royal Navy at Jamaica, where his Uncle Charles Stirling was Commander-in-Chief. They received prize money for capturing ships, some of which contained slave-produced goods. Stirling's father-in-law James Mangles owned a ship which transported enslaved people between Africa and the Caribbean. [Georgie refs]

Attitudes around race

In her biography of Stirling, Pamela Statham-Drew states that from his father Andrew's side came 'an enviable Scottish pedigree and enormous family pride.' Statham-Drew explains that Stirling's father Andrew 'often reminded his children they were descendants of one of the oldest untitled families in Europe who could trace their ancestry from Willielmus de Strivelyn, named in the early twelfth century Chartulary of Glasgow as the rightful owner of lands in the county of Lanark.' [1, p 1]

Attitudes around labour

Images

Wikimedia Commons portrait: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jamesstirling.jpg State Library of NSW portrait: https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/9yM6GLV9

Images notes

References

[1] Pamela Statham-Drew, James Stirling: Admiral and Founding Governor of Western Australia, University of Western Australia Press, 2003 [2] Frank Crowley, The Australian Dictionary of Biography, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stirling-sir-james-2702 [3] Chris Owen, "The Pinjarra massacre: it's time to speak the truth of this terrible slaughter", The Guardian, November 18, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/18/the-pinjarra-massacre-its-time-to-speak-the-truth-of-this-terrible-slaughter [4] https://govhouse.wa.gov.au/history-of-government-house/

Sources

C Warrane (Sydney Cove)

Placename

Warrane (Sydney Cove)

Type

Other

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Biographical information

Before reaching Sydney, Success rounded the southern tip of Western Australia. Pamela Statham-Drew estimates it was around this time, above Cape Leeuwin, that Stirling decided to explore the west coast. The Success reached Sydney heads on 28 November 1826. [1, p 57]

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Lithograph by Guerard of Sydney Cove, 1826-1829: https://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10421250

Images notes

References

Sources

C Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River)

Placename

Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River)

Type

Other

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After New South Wales, Stirling returned to the west coast of Australia. Success reached Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (Country), Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), on 5 March 1827. After staying the night outside Thomson Bay, Stirling and crew reached Derbarl Yerrigan (the Swan River), also Country belonging to Wadjuk Noongar, the following day. He spent a fortnight around here and was particularly impressed with the land. [1]

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Christopher Pease, Swan River 50 miles up, 2006: https://nga.gov.au/exhibition/niat07/Detail.cfm?IRN=163868&ViewID=2&MnuID=1 View of the Swan River, taken at the commencement of fresh water, in 1827, painted by Frederick Garling during the exploration by James Stirling: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_Swan_River_in_1827_by_Garling.png

Images notes

Christopher Pease on his artwork: 'This scene is taken from William John Huggins 1827 work Swan River 50 miles up. It depicts Captain Stirling’s exploration party coming ashore along the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River). In the foreground several Wajuk people sit passively as onlookers. On 29 September 1829 the first land grants were made open to the public. In 1839 the Ribbon Grants were initiated. These land grants divided the land into strips along the river. Each strip of land was given to individual families. For the Wajuk people this concept of individual land ownership was a foreign one. If you were to go to the river for water, egg, fish, waterfowl, turtle or worship after 1839 you were trespassing.'

References

Sources

C England

Placename

England

Type

Other

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Biographical information

Stirling went on to South Asia after leaving Western Australia, reaching Java on 11 August 1827. The Success spent the next months in Madras, Penang and Ceylon. In Ceylon Stirling became ill - 'an intestinal inflammation with great derangement in the functions of the liver & bowels'. Certified to be unwell by Royal Navy surgeons, he was sent back to England on a merchant vessel, leaving the Success. He reached England on 7 July 1828. [1] After his initial trip, Stirling strongly advocated for a new colony in Western Australia. In his report to the Admiralty he concluded that 'I do not believe that a more eligible spot could be found in any part of the World.' [1, p 85] The Colonial Office had little interest in a new colony at Swan River, but Stirling was insistent in his campagining. [1, p 101]

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

Back in England, Stirling came to know Major Thomas Moody, an ex-West Indian Plantation owner. Statham-Drew explains that 'Moody had apparently persuaded Stirling that he could get a number of individuals interested in settling the Swan River area under the umbrella of a private company.' Moody also had ideas to 'set up three classes of settlement - one for convicts on what he termed "the Dutch system", a second "for the profits of the association, conducted by the parish paupers & persons of that class in Ireland", and a third "for the encouragement of half castes from India, Chines and others who may be induced to settle in the northern climates of the Colony to raise cotton &c".' [1, p 105]

Attitudes around labour

Images

1827 map of Stirling's journey up Derbarl Yerrigan: https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/chart-of-swan-river-by-captain-j-stirling-b-w-photographic-print-only-411

Images notes

This 1827 map of Stirling's journey up Derbarl Yerrigan marks 'lands intended for settlers and public persons', 'to be granted to Mr. T. Peel' and 'granted to Captn. Stirling R. N.'

References

Sources

C Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River)

Placename

Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River)

Type

Other

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Biographical information

Stirling was successful in his campagining for the new colony. He returned to Western Australia in 1829. Aboard the Parmelia, Stirling and crew sighted Western Australia at noon on 31 May 1829, but they were unsuccessful entering Cockburn Sound so anchored off Rottnest Island for the night of 1 June. They reached the river mouth on 2 June 1829. [1, p 131]

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

Stirling's report to the Admiralty described Aboriginal people under the heading of 'Animal Productions'. He likened Indigenous people around Derbarl Yerrigan to people around New South Wales, with 'large Heads, spare Trunks, long and disproportionate limbs. They are active and hardy in habit, and seem to possess the qualities usually springing from such habits; Bravery, Vivacity, and Quickness, and a Temper alternating between kindness and ferocity.' [1, p 84]

Attitudes around labour

Images

Images notes

References

Sources

C Woodbridge

Placename

Woodbridge

Type

Other

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Biographical information

Stirling was allocated 5,000 acres at Swan River on 29 September 1829. [1, p 149] Pamela Statham-Drew writes that 'James, Ellen and the children spent some of the hot days of January 1831 in the small brick house James had built on their Woodbridge grant at Guildford. Later in the year a visitor from India, Colonel J. Hanson, described their retreat as "a little cottage orné" built on an elevated and beautiful site "at a turn of the river commanding a view along two extensive reaches and the land in front of it being all meadow land, very beautifully studded with forest trees, you my without much imagination conceive yourself placed in the midst of a gentleman's park at home." Hanson added that the Governor did not seem to spend much time there, being caught up with official business at Perth.' [1, p 186]

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Christopher Pease, Land Release 3, 2008 [page 7]: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://rgcopcorpweb920-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/Project/COP/COP/COP/Documents-and-Forms/Council/Documents/Strategies/Reconciliation-Action-Plan---Directors-Only---Final.PDF?rev%3D5281d6c7c24c4cf3ad7383c499acadc0%26modified%3D20181128022141&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1641790611780642&usg=AOvVaw1QZ2QNrHO3harJeczxWLqZ

Images notes

References

Sources

C Meeandip (Garden Island)

Placename

Meeandip (Garden Island)

Type

Other

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Date notes

We do not know the exact date Stirling and family reached Garden Island, but records have indicated they were likely there from June 1829.

Biographical information

On 30 December 1828 Stirling became the first Governor of the Colony of Western Australia. He was in this role until October 1837. Before the first Government House was built in Perth, a tent residence was set up on Meeandup (Garden Island) between June and September of 1829.

Links to slavery the slave trade

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Images notes

References

Sources

C Government House, Perth

Placename

Government House, Perth

Type

Other

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The first Government House was demolished in 1887, the site is now part of the gardens of the current Government House.

Date notes

We do not know the exact date that Stirling moved into Government House but we know it was in 1834.

Biographical information

In August 1829 Stirling and his family moved to canvas tents near Derbarl Yerrigan in an area today known as the Stirling Gardens, until a temporary wooden building was erected in 1832. Finally in 1834 Stirling moved into the first Government House. The building had issues such as leaking roofs, damp, termites, and no visitors' accommodation, however it was not replaced by a new Government House until the 1850s, well after Stirling had left the colony. [4] In 1831 Colonel J. Hanson noted that Stirling spent most of his time in Perth rather than his Woodbridge residence. [1, p 186]

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

The first permanent Government House built in Perth: https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b4164743_1

Images notes

This image shows the first Government House built in 1834. A new Government House was completed in 1864 (well after Stirling left the colony), the same building that stands today. [4]

References

Sources

C Kincinnup (Albany)

Placename

Kincinnup (Albany)

Type

Other

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To avoid the heat of the summer in 1831, Stiring and his family travelled south. They entered King George Sound on 12 November aboard the Sulphur and stayed in Kinjarling (Albany). In these early years Stirling led advances into Noongar land around the Swan, Murray, Collie, Preston, Blackwood and Vasse Rivers - NEED TO PINPOINT THESE LOCATIONS [2]

Links to slavery the slave trade

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Christopher Pease, New Water Dreaming, 2005: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Christopher-Pease-New-Water-Dreaming-2005-Oil-on-canvas-100-x-180cm-Source-Artist_fig24_337561561 Christopher Pease, Panoramic view of Minang Boojar Minang Land, 2013 [see heading 'New Panoramas]: https://theconversation.com/a-view-of-everything-panoramas-of-the-western-australian-coast-25656

Images notes

References

Sources

C Isle of Wight, England

Placename

Isle of Wight, England

Type

Other

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Biographical information

Stirling returned with his family to England for an extended visit in 1832. Aboard the Sulphur they reached the Isle of Wight on 11 December. They returned to the family home at Pirbright Lodge, as well as Ellen's family home in Woodbridge. [1, p 227]

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Images notes

References

Sources

C Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River)

Placename

Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River)

Type

Other

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Date notes

Biographical information

After reaching Kinjarling (Albany) on James Pattison on 19 June 1834 and staying for nearly two months, Stirling arrived back at Derbarl Yerrigan on 19 August.

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Images notes

References

Sources

C Pinjarra

Placename

Pinjarra

Type

Other

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Biographical information

At 8am on 28 October 1834, Stirling led a party of 25 people to attack a Pindjarup Noongar encampment on the Murray River. His party including five mounted police officers, eight soldiers of the 21st Regiment, police superintendent Theophilus Ellis, surveyor general JS Roe, prominent colonist Thomas Peel, and eight civilians. They shot and killed between 15 and 80, or possibly more, Noongar women, men and children. [3] As Chris Owen demonstrates, quotes from the time indicate this was not a 'battle' but a massacre. In Stirling's letters to the colonial secretary in London, Lord Glenelg, he declared a 'check' was needed on Noongar as they had killed colonist Hugh Nesbitt, one of Peel's employees, and that he intended to inflict 'such acts of decisive severity as will appal them as people'. Stirling told surviving Noongar: 'If any person should be killed by them, not one would be allowed to remain alive this side of the mountains.' Owen states that 'Glenelg responded to Stirling’s report with alarm, suggesting that the attack was more a form of warfare than enforcement of British law. He pointed out that Aboriginal people were British subjects and thus protected under the law.' In 1868 a description attributed to Corporal Haggarty of the 63rd Regiment called it 'indiscriminate slaughter of a harmless and unoffending tribe' where '200 to 300 peaceable natives [were] deliberately shot down'. [3]

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

At 8am on 28 October 1834, Stirling led a party of 25 people to attack a Pindjarup Noongar encampment on the Murray River. They shot and killed between 15 and 80, or possibly more, Noongar women, men and children. [3] As Chris Owen demonstrates, quotes from the time indicate this was not a 'battle' but a massacre. In Stirling's letters to the colonial secretary in London, Lord Glenelg, he declared a 'check' was needed on Noongar as they had killed colonist Hugh Nesbitt, one of Peel's employees, and that he intended to inflict 'such acts of decisive severity as will appal them as people'. Stirling told survivors: 'If any person should be killed by them, not one [Noongar] would be allowed to remain alive this side of the mountains.' In 1868 a description attributed to Corporal Haggarty of the 63rd Regiment called it 'indiscriminate slaughter of a harmless and unoffending tribe' where '200 to 300 peaceable natives [were] deliberately shot down'. [3]

Attitudes around labour

Images

Laurel Nannup, Quirriup, 2011: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2679424

Images notes

References

Sources

C Portsmouth, England

Placename

Portsmouth, England

Type

Other

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Date notes

Pamela Statham-Drew writes that Stirling and his family 'arrived at Portsmouth around 23 May [1839].' [1, p 347]

Biographical information

Stirling and his family left Western Australia on 6 January 1839. Pamela Statham-Drew writes that 'The colony had weathered the storm of infancy but it was by no means prosperous, and any dreams he might have had of materially benefting from the position had not been realised.' [1, p 373] Stirling had struggled for colonial support in establishing the colony. The Australian Dictionary of Biography states: 'At various times Stirling was strongly criticized for his inept administration, for his aloofness or domineering attitude towards his civil officers, for his lack of humour, for his occasional acts of nepotism in the public service, and for his erratic and blundering land policies.' [2] After reaching Portsmouth in late May 1839, Stirling and family went to Ellen's family home in Woodbridge, Guildford. Within a week Stirling was back in London. [1] He considered another colonial appointment, but was appointed to command ships Indus and Howe in the Mediterranean. He continued campaigning for more land in Western Australia, but was unsuccessful. [2]

Links to slavery the slave trade

As above

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Images notes

References

Sources