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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: LoneyBones on Saturday 14 April 12 08:06 BST (UK)
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Hi all,
I have a knife with the name B.E.CORBETT, possibly branded but could be engraved, on the handle. It was found (120 years later) within about half a mile of the grave of John CORBETT who was killed by natives in 1871.
The headstone at the grave site was erected by his brother Patrick, their father was also Patrick. So the knife didn't belong to any of these three.
However, I can't find any other family members who might have given John the knife, or even in fact if the knife did belong to John when he was murdered. Anyone living in the area could have been named CORBETT, but it's a bit of a coincidence and a lot of a mystery.
I'm still working on the origins of the knife, the hallmarks are quite clear and that shouldn't be a problem.
But I'd really like to know the story of this knife.
Leonie.
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Hi LB,
Please, Is there a particular state ;D where this knife was found....
Cheers, JM
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Erm... sorry, :-[ I thought since I knew what I was talking about, everyone else did as well. ::)
Queensland. Far north, outback. You can google "John CORBETT" or "Corbett's Grave" for the story.
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Umm.... I think it is my fault LB, I should have read the thread title carefully, you have put Qld there in full ! .... Very sorry :-[
I will get onto my e reader and go through some FNQ exploring/opening up journals... perhaps I can make amends and find the elusive Corbett mentioned...
Cheers, JM
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You might have more luck than I'm having with the knife.
I think it must be a stainless steel blade made for another cultery maker. The maker's name doesn't seem to be steel manufacturers
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LB, I have a lot of offline QLD resources I can check for names :)
Do you know how old the knife would be?
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No idea at present, Merlin. I can't find anything on the makers. Well, I can find some stuff but nothing that helps dating it.
We have other bits and pieces from old town dumps & middens across the NQ Gulf Country, some in worse condition, but this one has the handle still intact so maybe not out in the weather as long as some others. Also no idea how long it may have been kept in a family before it was lost or thrown out.
Just seems a coincedent that we found it so near to Corbett's Grave.
I have no idea if either John or Patrick CORBETT had family. John was killed while out carting stuff to sell across the Gulf, Patrick had the stone cut in Townsville (I think, could heve been Cooktown) and carried it all the way out to where John was burried. So even if they had family it's likely they lived on the coast as well.
added;I supose I should put that here, might help, might not. ::)
The blade has "Firth Brearley Stainless" stamped cross-wise on the blade, then "Maleham & Yeomans Sheffield England" along the blade, with the markings, V- a crown - R , above and what looks like a Maltese cross, > (sideways V) and a sideways M below the writing. I think somewhere in the those marks above and below the names have a clue to the date.
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Sadly, we did not find any mention of CORBETT when using the search option through the books on the e reader ....
Cheers, JM
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Thanks anyway JM, :D
Guess I'll just have to write up the story as it stands.
No known family connection, but a strange coincidence.
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Hi,
An 1871 Queensland Gazette has John Corbett, a storekeeper late of Normanton having died on or about 31st May 1871.
Gerry
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Hi Leonie, I haven't forgotten... just been run off my feet all day :P
I have some info I will type it up as soon as this house goes quiet ::)
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Thanks Merlin. :D
That's him Gerry. :D
It has the 31st on the headstone.
I didn't know where they had the store, I only know that the two brothers had a store and John would take a few donkeys out across the Gulf Country with goods to sell to the miners and homesteaders. Apparently he was killed for the goods. Where he was killed was way south of Georgetown, so a good deal south west of Normanton
I'm sure I have the whole story here somewhere, it would have been part of the Savannah Guide's spiel, we still have lots of stuff from when Oh Henry was a guide, but I have no idea where it is.
Leonie.
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The blade has "Firth Brearley Stainless" stamped cross-wise on the blade, then "Maleham & Yeomans Sheffield England" along the blade, with the markings, V- a crown - R , above and what looks like a Maltese cross, > (sideways V) and a sideways M below the writing. I think somewhere in the those marks above and below the names have a clue to the date.
The FIRTH-BREARLY Stainless Steel Syndicate was established in 1917 by Harry Brearley and Thomas Firth & Sons Limited.
It was created to licence the rights to export stainless steel to the United States, Canada, Italy, France and Japan.
The Assay Offices in the UK have the Makers' Marks on British & Irish Silver:
http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Sheffield.html
There are a lot of experts on the British Blades forums who know a lot about the hallmarks. Many of them own books that identify them:
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/forum.php
Also spotted another hallmark book here:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0l6k/
Back later with info on the CORBETT's I have found 8)
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Queensland Police Gazettes:
John CORBETT
On 30 May ultimo, John Corbett, a resident of Normantown, was murdered at George Creek, Robinson River; suspicion rests on a tribe of the Robinson River aborigines, supposed to be lurking at present among the Basalt Ranges, Robinson River.
2 Aug 1871
John CORBETT
Death reported to the police, inquest held
6 Sep 1871
John CORBETT
Wholesale Wine and Spirit Merchant, Norman
1 Feb 1871
Patrick M CORBETT
Wholesale Wine and Spirit Merchant, Gilberton
1 Feb 1871
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Queensland Electoral Rolls 1860-1869:
CORBETT John, Kennedy, 1869-70, Householder, Cape River, Gahan's Flat
CORBETT Patrick, Kennedy, 1869-70, Householder, Townsville
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Queensland Electoral Rolls 1870-1879:
CORBETT John, Kennedy, 1870-71, Householder, Gilberton
CORBETT Patrick M., Palmer - Cook, 1879, 6 Mths. Residence, Palmerville
CORBETT Patrick McNamara, Cook, 1878, 6 Mths. Residence, Furneaux Street, Cooktown
CORBETT Patrick McNarama, Cook, 1879, Freehold, Furneaux St. Cooktown
CORBETT Patrick, Kennedy, 1870-71, Householder, Gilberton
CORBETT Henry, Cairns - Cook, 1879, 6 Mths. Residence, Smithfield
CORBETT Henry, Palmer - Cook, 1878, 6 Mths. Residence, McGann's
CORBETT James, Hodgkinson - Cook, 1879, 6 Mths. Residence, McLeod's Creek
CORBETT Thomas, Hodgkinson - Cook, 1879, 6 Mths. Residence, Thornborough
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FOUND B.E at RChat
Wales ... Brinley Ewert Corbett thread from 2006 ... v sad
On ereader ATM so no can do link
JM
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This one JM :)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,123282.0.html
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,123282.msg546729.html#msg546729
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There is a George Buchanan CORBETT:
CORBETT George Buchanan - Insolvency
Charleville, Queensland, Australia
Boarding-house keeper
1 Dec 1894
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I posted on the Wales one but I cant tell from ereader what the thread link is ... Probably I need to read my instruction book to learnhow to make links live to check that Merlin.. I cannot even figure if my own light is ON ... shhhhhh
Cheers J
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Here 'tis ;D
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,123282.msg4430848.html#msg4430848
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Thanks Merlin..
A favour ... Can you please link LBs thread to that one ... I feel the B E Corbett knife could have found its original owner and some descendants
Cheers JM .... FNQ mystery sorting itself thanks to RChat LB will be pleased.
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Queensland Intestacies & Wills:
CORBETT John
Normanton, Queensland
Storekeeper
Intestacy
8 Jul 1871
CORBETT John
Normanton, Queensland
Storekeeper
Intestacy
29 Jul 1871
CORBETT John
Normanton, Queensland
Storekeeper
Intestacy
4 Jul 1874
CORBETT Patrick McNamara
Cooktown
Mail contractor
Intestacy
23 Sep 1899
CORBETT Alexander
Cairns-Herberton Railway Line
Intestacy
14 Jan 1888
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A favour ... Can you please link LBs thread to that one ... I feel the B E Corbett knife could have found its original owner and some descendants
Cheers JM .... FNQ mystery sorting itself thanks to RChat LB will be pleased.
Done :)
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There is an Alexander Corbett buried at the Cairns Pioneer Cemetery.
Death date: 15th November 1887.
Born: 1862.
Gerry
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Intestacy returns 1st July-31st December 1871
John Corbett
Amount received £2623 .11s. 9d
Amount paid £2102. 4s. 5d
Balance in hand £521. 7s. 4d
Might be your John Corbett, a fair bit of money for 1871.
Gerry
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Might be your John Corbett, a fair bit of money for 1871.
Well, they were selling grog amongst other things ;D
They match with the info I have posted above :)
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Merlin.
Nice info you posted re the early electoral roll information. The Corbetts were early pioneers in the far north, Cairns was really established until about 1876 and there was a bit of competition with Smithfield just near Cairns on the Barron River which location was to be the port for the goldfields, likewise with Port Douglas. Floods wiped out Smithfield and Cairns won out to be the starting point for those heading to the Hodgkinson GoldFields up through the Barron Gorge although Port Douglas did steal some of Cairns' thunder but the discovery of gold at nearby Goldsborough helped Cairns.
Gerry
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Photograph:
Elizabeth CORBETT (nee Derham) born in Athboy Co. Meath, Ireland 1848, wife of Patrick McNamara CORBETT (John's brother).
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0l6o/
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Thanks Gerry, there are a lot of CORBETT's on the early erolls, gvt & police gaz's. I just posted the ones in FNQ around the time that John & Patrick were alive.
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Pleased you have that information, nice job, also good to see the Charters Tower's Northern Miner is making its way onto Trove finally. Two branches of my lot have a strong connection to Charters Towers so hopefully new stuff will emerge.
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Good grief Nelly.... I might be related through the JONES line. ::) ;D
Wow, so much new information, thanks everyone.
I think I need a bit of time to sort it all out.
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Hi there,
Ummm.... Jones v Corbett .... sometimes they clashed ! eg “The referee awarded the match to Jones on points. Both contestants appeared fit to last out another 20 rounds” ....
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/80201407 The Daily News (WA) 22 June 1911....
But more seriously, trying to get the knife’s owner to Australia after say 1917 as per Merlin’s info at #12 re the makers....
Try these links for UK departures to various countries...
http://www.ancestorsonboard.com/#search_now
And this link for two female passengers on the Orcades arriving Jan 1949 via Fremantle
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Scripts/PassengerSearch.asp (if that times out, then try this: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/using/search/index.aspx search as a guest and top right menu ‘passenger arrivals index)
Cheers, JM
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Well, this might help :)
There’s a death index for 1st Quarter of 1983 for a Brinley Ewart CORBETT born 18 Oct 1905, registered Merthyr Tydfil, GRO Vol 27, pg 0104 as per online index. On same online index there’s birth registered Bedwellty, Mounmouthshire, 4th Quarter of 1905, Brinley Ewart Corbett, GRO 11a pg 83
Cheers, JM
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Hi I have a bit of information regarding Corbett and have written a small piece below. My gr gr grandfather was Thomas Martel. Was Corbett related to you
June 1871 Gilberton was thrown into a state of excitement after hearing the news of the brutal murder of John Corbett. The excitement was, as one could say, more of an intense yearning to hunt down and kill the murders responsible for Corbett’s death.
Up to the time of his death, John Corbett, was a well known store keeper at Gilberton and well known in the Norman and Cloncurry districts were he also carried out businesses.
Thomas Martel was the last known white man to have seen John Corbett alive on the 31st May 1871 at Gorge Creek.
At the Magisterial inquiry, held at Gilberton Court House, Thomas was called to give evidence:-
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Hi Jackiea, welcome to RC. :D
No, I'm not related to John CORBETT.
We used to live across in the Gulf Country and we found a knife when we were out gem fossicking. We knew Corbett's Grave was nearby so thought the knife may have been his.
Turns out not to be his knife, only manufactured about 1920-ish. But still a very great coincedence to be so near his grave and with the name B.E.CORBETT stamped into the handle.
Leonie.
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wow that is an unreal find! Coincidently very strange to find it where you did.
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....I just found a second image of John Corbett's grave. We were told that his body was discovered beside the track, about fifty metres from where he was buried. Supposedly the money (gold?) he was carrying was never found.
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Trying again to post the image of John Corbett's headstone .... on the first attempt the image was unacceptably too large.
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Thanks Mickj, :D
Strangely I never took a photo of the grave.
I have photos of other lonely graves from across the Gulf but not CORBETT's.
Lots of very young children, very sad, around Ortona and other gold, copper, tin & silver mining places.
Leonie.
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....I just found a second image of John Corbett's grave. We were told that his body was discovered beside the track, about fifty metres from where he was buried. Supposedly the money (gold?) he was carrying was never found.
Hi Mickj
There was a majesterial inquiry into the death of Corbett and the enquiry was also reported in The Port Denison Times, Saturday June24,1871 and it states clearly how Thomas Martel took Corbetts pack horse to Western Creek however the police at that time were not at the camp, so on advice from to numerous town folk, Martel handed all the gold over to the Publican, Bindon. It was then at 1am Martel saw Dr. Borok and Constable Kincaid and they set out to find the body. Further more to the enquiry, Bindon reported Martel gave him 2 bags of gold,a parcel of letters, a blanket and some wearing apparel. After locating Corbetts body Dr Borok searched Corbetts body and found 2 keys, a penknife, some papers and he removed 3 rings from Corbetts fingers and produced them all in court. It is interesting reading. And so seemingly everything Corbett was carrying was located and handed to the court. Patrick Corbett (Johns brother) was given all John Corbetts possessions. So as you can see some storys told are not always true and it is good to research the reports from the courts in the newspapers to find the truth.
Kind Regards
Jackiea
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Thank you for that info. Found via Trove Hugh Borland's "A Journey Through the Years" published in the Cairns Post in 1953. It gives much the same information about the death of Corbett and the events which followed. Three hundred and fifty two ounces of gold would have been worth a great deal. There seem to be many stories and obviously many campfire tales have been told over the years.
Regards,
Mick
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Hi there
I know this thread is old but I have only just come across it. My mother Margaret Simson née Cornett is descended from Patrick Corbett brother of John Corbett who is buried near Gilberton FNQ. I can probably add a little more to this story if anyone is still interested tho not sure I can shed any more light on the mysterious knife??
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jackiea - Thomas Martel is also my gg grandfather. Which of his children are you descended from? Im through Thomas Ernest, then his eldest son.
Corbett murder was an interesting case. Also showed Martel as an honest man.