Nathanial Day Hank

221

D Wong on 27th April 2016

Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette Oxfordshire, England 25 Mar 1837: Nathaniel Day Hanks and William Edgington were committed to the sessions, charged with stealing a quantity lead, the property Mr. J. Pinfold No ship found for William Edgington. Nathaniel was 23 years old on arrival in VDL, he was 5’5” tall, dark complexion, dark brown hair and whiskers, dark grey eyes, single, large scar on right cheek, anchor on right arm, house, 2 dots on left arm. Assigned to Captain Matthews at Launceston on arrival. 1838: Assigned to Thomas Archer at Woolmers. 1839: Absconded from Woolmers and was apprehended. 21/6/1844: TOL 1845: Free Certificate 14/9/1847 Geelong Advertiser: Was a subscriber to the Irish and Scottish Relief Fund. 27/12/1850: Nathaniel died at Geelong, Victoria. 30/12/1850 Geelong Advertiser: Edited - An inquest was held on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock, at the " Young Queen," South Geeong, before- Forster Shaw, Esq., Coroner, and a respectable jury, on the body of one Nathaniel Hanks, who was supposed to have met with his death from drowning on the previous day.- The Jury followed the Coroner to view the body, which was lying in a cottage at a little distance from the inn, after which the following evidence was given: James Hines, of Corio, plasterer, being sworn, deposed-I have known the deceased Nathaniel Hanks by-sight. I heard of his being drowned -it occurred to me this morning about three o'clock to go and look for his body, as the efforts of others had been useless. I searched opposite the melting establishment of Mr Dennys, at which spot it was supposed deceased had sunk into the river. Walter Harris had been fetched from the Breakwater. On being sworn, he said-I am a labourer at present living in the employ of Mr. Dennys at the Breakwater. I have known the deceased Nathaniel Hanks for the last few weeks. I saw him yesterday.- The deceased had been drinking. Whilst in a state of drink, he proproposed to swim across the River Barwon. Several persons persuaded him not to do so, but he persisted. He stripped, and was in the act of plunging into the river, when two or three men, acting under the direction of Mr Lascelles, tried to prevent him by seizing hold of him, but he eluded their grasp, and swam out as far as the small peninsula which juts out into the river opposite the melting establishment, whence he was assisted by two or three men. He was very much excited at this period, and boasted of his swimming exploit.- After an interval of three quarters of an hour, he pulled off his flannel waistcoat, and plunged into the river a second time before any one could reach him to prevent him. He then swam across to the extreme corner of the peninsula before mentioned, and sat on the bank shouting and hallooing for about ten minutes. He then plunged into the river, as if to return,-and when within about 16 feet of the bank, he sank and never rose more. The witness said the man had not been drinking at the melting establishment. The jury found the followring verdict-" Accidentally drowned whilst in a state of intoxicaion." The jury expressed their opinion that every effort had been made to save the man's life by the people at the Breakwater.