This project is to pull together the sealers and First Nations women of Bass Strait

The commercial harvest of seals in Australia for the fur trade began in 1798. The industry had collapsed by the 1830s

With some sealers being escaped convicts and deserters, lawlessness was rife. The Aboriginal community was exploited, particularly on the Furneaux Group, with women seized to become 'wives' and capture seals, while the men 'made good sealers'.

Please note that this list is NOT complete - many of the names of the First Nations people (and their kin) is lost to history. The majority of the children's births were not registered.

George Augustus Robinson (GAR) detailed the sealers and First Nations people in correspondence and papers during his travels between 1829 and 1833 - particularly in his expedition in May and June 1831. GAR wrote the aboriginal names as they were pronounced, breaking it into syllables.

Sealer

• James ALLEN
• James ANDERSON
• John "Black John" BAKER
• George Piebald "Fireball" BATES / YATES
• John BATMAN
• Thomas BEEDON
• Little BOB
• Samuel BLYTHE
• George BRIGGS
• John BROWN
• Little CHARLEY
• William COOPER
• John / William DODSON
• Robert GAMBLE
• John HARRINGTON
• John HEPTHERNET / EVERETT
• John HERRIN - John Herrin, {Sealer}
• William JOHNSON
• David James KELLY - David James Kelly, {Sealer}
• James KIRBY
• Edward MANSELL
• Thomas MASON
• Richard "Henry Todd" MAYNARD - Henry Richard "John Todd" Maynard, Crew "Adamant" 1816, Sealer
  • was lent Pollerwotteltelterrunner - 2 children
  • abducted Tencotemanener
  • married Nandergoroke - 11 children
• Alexander McKAY
• Michael McKENZIE - Michael McKenzie, {Sealer}
  • abducted Pollerwotteltelterrunner
• Duncan McMILLAN
• George MEREDITH
  • abducted Nandergoroke
• John MIRA / MIREY "Owyhee Black Man" - John Mira / Mirey, {Sealer}
  • bought Tekartee
  • abducted Toogernuppertootenner
  • married Elizabeth MITI
• James MUNRO / MUNROE - James Munro, {Sealer}
• John MYETIE / MYETYE - John "Prince" Matarra / Myetye / Miti, {Sealer}
  • lived with Mirnermannerme
  • lived with Pierrapplener
  • lived with Portipellaner
  • took Nickerumpowwerrerter
  • took Wapperty
• James PARISH - James Parish, {Sealer}
  • took Pollerwotteltelterrunner to Aboriginal Settlement
• Charles PETERSON
• Robert DREW / REW - Robert Rew, {Sealer}
• John "Long Jack" RIDDLE - Captain John "Long Jack" Riddle, Sealer
  • given Tencotemanener
• William PROCTOR
• Young SCOTT
• William SLACK
• John SMITH
• John STARKER / STOCKER
• John "Long Alan Tom" "Long Tom" THOMAS - John "Long Alan Tom" “Long Tom” Thomas, Free Settler “Sydney” 1806, Sealer
• James THOMPSON - James Thompson, [Sealer}
  • bought Pollerwotteltelterrunner
• Edward TOMLINS
• Thomas TUCKER
• Little WEST
• Henry WHALLEY
• Black Jack WILLIAMS
• John "Norfolk Island Jack" WILLIAMS
• James WILLIAMS - James Williams, {Australian Immigrant} {sealer}

First Nations people

Note: most of the first nations people had multiple names including an aboriginal name and a "white" name and the spelling can be fluid.
Where possible their aboriginal name will be put into the first name field and all other names into the middle name field)
Care needs to be taken to ensure that the correct person is selected
Note: along with Australian First Nations people, the sealers also abducted islander and Maori people

• Deborahkanni - Deborahkanni Victoria Lanna Leonard Williams, {Australian Aboriginal}
• Dromedeenner
• Drummernerlooner
• Elizabeth MITI - Elizabeth "Betsy" Mira - Everett, {Maori}
  • married John MIRA
• Emue
• Ghoneyannenner
• Gudegui
• Judy
• Kalloongoo
• Karnteeltenner
• Larpeennopuric
• Lateteyerwabbeltenner
• Looerryminner
• Lowhenunhe
• Makekerledede
• Maria
• Mary
• Maytepueminner
• Meemelunneener
• Meeterlatteenner
• Meethecaratheeanna
• Meetoneyernanner
• Mirnermannerme - Mir-nee-man-ner-me Mirnermannerme Marm-kote-her-hi-ki-yer Marie Monamie, {Australian Aboriginal}
  • lived with John MYETIE
• Mitteyer
• Moondapder
• Moretermorererluneher
• Murrerninghe
• Nandergoroke - Nandergoroke / Nan.der.gor.oke / Nan Der Gor Oke / Bunurong "Betty" "Elizabeth" "Granny", {Australian Aboriginal}
  • married Derremart
  • abducted by George Meredith
  • had children with Richard "Henry Todd" MAYNARD - children William 1840, Sarah 1842, Henry 1844, Lydia 1845, David 1850, Joseph 1852, Mary 1853, Benjamin 1855, James 1859, Alexander 1861, Richard 1862
• Nickerumpowwerrerter
  • taken by John MYETIE
• Niepeekar
• Noendapper
• Nollahallaker
• Pairrerteemme
• Pelloneneminner
• Pierrapplener
  • lived with John MYETIE
• Pleenperrenner
• Plorenernoopperner
• Poll
• Pollerwotteltelterrunner - Pollerwotteltelterrunner / Wyyerlooberer / Pecocally "Margaret", {Tasmanian Aboriginal - Ben Lomond Tribe}
  • sister of Woretenattelargenne
  • abducted as a child by Michael McKENZIE
  • sold to James THOMPSON
  • lent to Richard "Henry Todd" MAYNARD - children Jane 1830, John 1831
  • taken by James PARISH to Aboriginal Settlement
• Poolrerrener
• Portripellaner
  • lived with John MYETIE
• Pungerneetterlattenner
• Purnernattelattenner
• Rarnapperlitterner
• Reetarnithbar
• Tanleboneyer - Tan-le-bone-yer Tanleboneyer, {Australian Aboriginal}
• Tarenootairrer
• Tarerernorerer
• Teekoolterme
• Tekartee - Mey-Ber-Mue-Win-Ner Weybermueninner Tekartee, {Australian Aboriginal}
  • bought by John MIRA
• Tencotemanener - Tencotemaner / Tencotehermanener "Smoker", {Australian Aboriginal}
  • abducted by Richard "Henry Todd" MAYNARD
  • given to John Riddle
  • had an Aboriginal husband - with children
  • removed from sealers by George Robertson
• Tinnermuck
• Toogernuppertootenner - Toogernuppertootenner Too-ger-nup-per-too-ten-ner Maria, {Australian Aboriginal}
  • abducted by John MIRA
• Trildoborrer
• Troepowerhear
• Wapperty
  • taken by John MYETIE
• Warkernenner
• Warrermarrerluner
• Werlangennertuerrarerer
• Woorrartteyer
• Woreterleeployenninner
• Woreterleepoodyenniner
• Woreterlokekoteyer
• Woretermoeteyenner
• Woreterneemmerunnertatteyanne
• Worethmaleyerpodeyer
• Wottecowwidyer

Others

• George Augustus ROBINSON

LINKS

• https://bassstraitto1850.wordpress.com/biographies-of-people-living...
• https://www.cifhs.com/tasrecords/growthofapeople.html
• https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/S/Se...
• https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/523369
• https://www.ayton.id.au/gary/History/H_Aust_Vic_Whalers.htm
• https://www.jstor.org/stable/24045530
• https://www.cifhs.com/tasrecords/growthofapeople.html
• https://archival-classic.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2017/D00007/a114...
• https://docplayer.net/118054061-Grease-and-ochre-the-blending-of-tw...
• https://anglicantas.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Gods-Own-Coun...