Edward Denny Day
Edward Denny Day (1801 - 6 May 1876) was an Irish-Australian police magistrate famous for arresting the perpetrators of the Myall Creek Massacre and capturing the bushranger Edward Davis.
Early life[edit]
Denny Day, as he was known, was born in Tralee,[1] Country Kerry, Ireland in 1801.[2] In 1820 he joined the 46th Regiment.[3] In 1833 he became a lieutenant in the 62nd Regiment.[3] He served some time in India until 1834 when he resigned due to ill health.[3]
Duties of police magistrate[edit]
In 1835 he arrived in Sydney to work as clerk to the Executive Council.[3] He worked in the office of the Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay.[4] In January 1836 he became the magistrate for the Vale of Clywdd.[3] In January 1837 he served as magistrate in Maitland.[3] In June 1838 he organised mounted police to arrest the 11 of 12 men responsible for the Myall Creek Massacre[4] In 1840 he organised the capture of bushranger Edward Davis.[3] He arranged the capture of two other bushrangers Davidson and Smith.[2] Between 1841 and 1842 he became the commissioner for the Court of Requests in Maitland mainly working on insolvent estates.[3] In September he announced to the community that he was replacing Captain Inness as superintendent of Sydney Police.[2] On 1 January 1851 he was appointed the provincial inspector of police for the northern district of Sydney.[3] In 1853 he was stipendiary magistrate in Port Macquarie.[3] Between 1858 until illness and attacks of paralysis in 1869 forced his retirement as magistrate in Maitland.[5][3]
Personal life[edit]
In 1836 he married Margaret the daughter of postmaster-general James Raymond.[3] The couple had eleven children together.[2] After the capture of Davis the residents of Scone presented him with a plate for his services.[3] He was a foundation member of the Australian Immigration Association and was elected chairman of the Maitland branch[3] On 16 February 1844 he laid the foundation stone for the new goal at East Maitland.[3] In January 1846 he laid the foundation of a new hospital at Maitland.[3] He was unsuccessful as a businessman and his estate was sequestrated in 1848.[3] He died on 6 May 1876.[3] He is buried at St Peter's Burial Ground, East Maitland.[2] At St Peters Church, Maitland there is a stained glass window dating back to 1887 with the inscription: "To the Glory of God and in memory of Edward Denny Day of the 62nd Regiment who fell asleep 6 May 1876."[4]
References[edit]
- ^ Denny Day - The life & Time of Australia's Greatest Lawman p12 by Terry Smyth published 2016 Penguin Random House, Australia
- ^ a b c d e "Edward Denny Day". www.freesettlerorfelon.com. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Champion, Ben W. "Day, Edward Denny (1801–1876)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "Edward Denny Day". Maitland City Library. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ The Maitland Mercury 9 May 1876 p4
External links[edit]
- Colonial Secretary's papers 1822-1877, State Library of Queensland- includes digitised letters written by Day to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales
