Edward Warland (born 1812) was the son of William and Ann Harbin and the brother of William Henry Warland who migrated to NSW, George Warland and James Warland, and William Warland and Robert Warland, who migrated to South Australia, and uncle of William Warland (born 1820) who possibly came to NSW around 1855 with his sister Eliza Hayles and her husband Alfred Hayles (see the story of William Henry Warland).
Edward Warland left England as an assisted migrant, and arrived and disembarked from the Fairlie in December 1838 at Port Jackson (Sydney). While there is no evidence to prove it, it is possible that his older brother William Warland met him on arrival.
Edward's entry in the official migration lists states that he was a native of Spettisbury (about half way between Wimborne Minster and Blandford Forum), Dorsetshire, and that he was the son of William Warland, 'farmer of same place and Ann Harben his wife farm servant of same place also'. His calling was shown as 'farmer' and he was 25 years old and unmarried. His general condition was described as 'very good', and could read and write. His religion was noted as 'Protestant'.
Edward Warland should not be confused with another and unrelated Edward Warland who appears in the same general area from around 1853.
The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser of 26 March 1897 provides an overview of his life.
Edward Warland, first came to Turanville in 1838—58 years ago and was a brother of the late W. H. Warland. The deceased lived at Turanville in 1840 when the Jewboy gang of bushrangers, which had only just taken to the bush, only to be run to earth almost immediately, stuck up Turanville. A young man named John Graham, a storekeeper to the late Mr. Thos. Dangar, was in the store, which was situated at the turn to the Gundy road, when the gang simultaneously stuck up the store and the old hotel (which still remains) opposite. Graham apparently was determined the rangers should not have things all their own way. With an old single barrel pistol he let go at one of them, and so another old identity, Mr. Miller, who was on the scene very soon afterwards, informs us, the bullet just grazed the fellow's lip. Graham then made off in the direction of the police quarters, and was followed by the gang and shot dead near Mr. Hopper's hotel, on a spot until lately occupied by Mr. Kenwood's blacksmith's shop. This was on the 21st December, 1840.
We have still with us Mrs. Sutton, who, then was a young woman, heard the shots fired; and Mr. Miller, who, while proceeding to work, picked up Graham'3 revolver a few minutes after he had been shot. A tablet to the memory of young Graham is to be seen in St. Luke's Church. At Turanville, the gang broke into the house at 3 o'clock in the morning, and smashed open drawers, boxes, and the rest with axes. Warland was among the captured, and a good gun which he had brought out from England they took on to the verandah and smashed. One of the men also had a decided preference for a nice new straw hat of Warland's, and left an old one. When subsequently Warland took part in the capture of the gang, he found the man wearing his hat, and remarked to him, "I will take my good hat, and leave an old one." They made the cook prepare breakfast for them, which they had, and having then made a man run up their horses from the paddock, and have the gate unhung, they rode into Scone with their horses decorated with ribbons, when they stuck up the store and hotel, and shot Graham.
Two or three of the gang had previously been assigned servants at Turanville, and therefore knew the country well. One of them, named Chitty, got up the bell-poll with an axe, with the intention of smashing the bell, remarking, "You have called me out of bed many a time, but I'll settle you now." With that he made a desperate hit at the bell, when the axe came off the handle, and the man himself nearly came to the ground. He did not attempt it again. The old bell now calls the worshippers together at the Anglican Church, Aberdeen, having been presented to the church by the late Mr. William Dangar, of Turanville, prior to his departure for England in 1857.
Speedy retribution followed the gang for their misdoings. They were followed up by a party of volunteers captained by the late Denny Day, then police magistrate at West Maitland, who had heard the gang were out, but when starting up this way, was not aware that they had committed any depredations. There were about 20 in all in the party, among them being E. Warland, Turanville; Robert Evans, blacksmith, Scone; R. C. Dangar, Muswellbrook; Dr. Gill, Blickham, Blandford; and Ed. White, uncle to the Hon. James I White and brothers; John Sibley, Muswellbrook ; and J. Feely, a groom of Turanville. As is well known the rangers were followed to the Liverpool Range, four or five miles the other side of Murrurundi. They were preparing for a meal at the time they were come upon making doughboys hence the name given to the place "Dough boy Hollow.". Several shots were exchanged (words not clear, possibly 'but it is said') that Captain Day, standing in the open, hit one of the men every time he bobbed from behind a tree to fire at him, but never got hit himself in return. The volunteers then rushed on and closed with the gang, who thereupon surrendered. There were eight men in it, and one — a lame man who joined them only a couple of days previously — escaped, but was captured sometime afterwards. They were taken to Maitland, tried, and found guilty, and seven were executed on the 16th March, 1841—56 years ago.
The Commercial Journal and Advertiser of 30 December 1840 ran the following story on the events described above:
The Hunter's River Bushrangers. We have the pleasure to announce to our readers the gallant capture of that desperate gang of blood-thirsty villains, whose depredations and sanguinary outrages have kept the Hunter's River district in a state of consternation for the last five months. We (subjoin?) the best account we have received of their capture :- Mr. Day, Police Magistrate, who happened to be at Muswellbrook, got information of the bushrangers at about nine o'clock on Sunday evening, when he immediately called upon some gentlemen in the neighbourhood, as well some ticket-of-leave men, and by seven next morning (Monday), was in hot pursuit of the miscreants; meantime at four o'clock, the bushrangers, now eleven in number, robbed Juranville, the seat of William Dangar, Esq., and by six o'clock made their appearance at Scone, and robbed Mr. Thomas Dangar's stores, and Chivers's; a respectable young man, named Graham, Mr. Dangar's clerk, attempted to protect his master's property by discharging a pistol at them, and then ran toward the lock-up to alarm the Police; one of the villains immediately mounted his horse, pursued, and shot poor Graham dead on the spot. After finishing this robbery they deliberately mounted their horses, and proceeded toward the Page, at which place they robbed the inn and store. Mr. Day and his party being all day in hot pursuit, but a heavy rain and the rapid rate at which the scoundrels travelled, by exchanging horses with every one they met, prevented their being overtaken until they arrived at Doughboy Hollow, more than fifty miles from Muswell Brook [sic], over the Liverpool Range. When Mr. Day and his party overtook them, they immediately took to the trees, and having previously tried and cleaned their guns, exchanged eighteen shots, when three of them being wounded, they threw down their arms and surrendered. Too much credit cannot he given to Mr. Day, to whose gallant and determined conduct their capture is mainly to be attributed; nor must the gentlemen who so well seconded him be forgotten — they are Messrs. Edward White, Richard Dangar, Edward Warland, and John Gill, two ticket-of-leave men, named Evans and Daws, were also entitled to-all praise. The bushrangers fought in the most determined manner: the captain of the gang, who is a Jew, twice took a deliberate aim at Mr. Day, but fortunately missed him, They were taken in just eleven, hours after they had committed the murder of Graham, who was a respectable young man and most deeply regretted ; six of the villains are now safe in the lock-up at Scone, and will be Committed to day (Wednesday). One of the scoundrels unfortunately escaped during the engagement. During the last day of their career they wore flying ribbons and flags, and sent the Police word to bring the dead cart with, them when they came in pursuit.
The Bulletin magazine of 27 March 1897 noted that (the late) Edward Warland was the last survivor of the volunteers who hunted down the 'Jew Boy' gang in 1840. The gang consisted of seven desperados, of whom Davis, the 'Jew Boy', was leader. They had been the terror of the Hunter and, working up towards Murrurrundi, they attacked the small station home of Edward Warland, who escaped from their clutches and from that hour devoted himself to running them down. The whole gang was captured and the seven hanged in Sydney, 16th March 1841." (for the story from the Sydney Morning Herald at the time, click here)
The article in the Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser of 26 March 1897 concludes as follows:
The late Mr. Warland was the only surviving member of the party who took part in that memorable chase and capture more than half a century ago, the rest, for the most part, having since passed away. He was for sometime overseer at Turanville, and has since worked on and off for Mr. Cook and the Dangar family. Latterly, as he be came old and feeble, he has been cared for by the warm-hearted squire of Turanville.
The Muswellbrook Chronicle of 7 November 1908 and The Scone Advocate of 17 November 1908 both ran an article titled 'The Story of Peter Clarke', which made mention of both William Henry Warland and Edward Warland.
Perhaps the following facts and particulars of "The story of Peter Clarke," may be of interest to many readers (more especially to the rising generation) who have probably never heard of the sad fate of the man who, on the morning of the 9th day of April, 1863, gave his life in the in terests of liberty and justice on Warland's Range. Time effaces most things, and the memory of Peter Clarke is now almost forgotten, with the exception, perhaps, of a few of the old identities of Murrurundi and Blandford. Warland's Range is about three miles below Blandford, and about seven miles from Murrurundi. It derived its name from one, Edward Warland, who came to Turanville—now owned by Mr Thomas Cook — upwards of 60 years ago, and who died in the Scone Hospital about 12 or 13 years ago, at the ripe old age of 85 years. He was a brother of the late W. H. Warland, who owned Harben Vale, near Blandford (now known as Harben Vale), which is now owned by Mr E. W. White. Ed. Warland was, at the time of his death, the only surviving member who took part in the memorable chase and capture of the notorious Jew Boy's gang of bushrangers who were captured at Doughboy Hollow — now Ardglen — upwards of half a century ago, and who were executed in Sydney in March, 1841. The name Doughboy Hollow was given to the little village — (which is now known as Ardglen) — from the alleged fact that it was here that Mr Dennis Day, then Police Magistrate at Maitland surprised and captured the gang late in the afternoon as they were preparing a meal for themselves — making "doughboys."
The late Mr Edward Warland was at one time overseer at Turanville, and had since been employed by Mr Cook and the Dangar family. As he became old and feeble he had been well cared for by the warm hearted Squire of Turanville. The night previous to the "sticking up" of Peter Clarke, Wilson, or Hoaie — which was supposed by some to be his real name — put up for the night in the house which is now the residence of Mr J Benham, of Pentlanda, Blandford, but which was at that time a public house. Wilson was a perfect stranger to those on the premises, and no-one suspected him of being a bush ranger. He retired to his room early, but it was afterwards ascertained that he had never occupied his bed, and was heard to leave the premises about three o'clock on the following morning. On the same morning, shortly before the 'sticking up' of Clarke's party, a young mailman, named Russell — a son of the late Dr. Russell, who was accidentally killed by a fall from a horse, and who is buried in the Haydonton cemetery — was hailed by Wilson, but, putting spurs to his horse, he galloped down the range. On arriving at Murrurundi he reported the incident, but on account of having a reputation for joking, he was not believed.
The account of the "sticking-up" is briefly this: The party consisted of Peter and Jimmy Clarke, Jack Conroy, and another lad. On being ordered by Wilson to 'bail up', Clarke dismounted, and, calmly walking up to the outlaw, he grabbed his hand which held the pistol, at the same time seizing the outlaw by the throat with the other hand. In the struggle that ensued Wilson shot himself through the thumb in endeavoring to shoot Conroy, who had come to the assistance of Peter Clarke. On crossing an old wheel rut by the roadside, Clarke and Wilson — who were in holts — stumbled and fell, and, as they fell, Wilson shot his opponent through the stomach, killing him almost instantaneously. Clarke fell on top of Wilson, and, getting a dying grip on the bushranger, he held him powerless until he was securely bound by Jack Conroy, in the meantime Jimmy Clarke hurriedly going for assistance. Wilson was imprisoned in Murrurundi Gaol for some months, waiting a favourable opportunity to convey him to Maitland, where he was duly tried for murder, and executed. The monument which stands on Warland's Range to the memory of Peter Clarke was erected by the late Mr William Chadban, of Murrurundi, and is not on the exact spot where Peter Clarke died, being some 30 or 40 yards distant, and on the oppssite side of the road. The inscription on the monument is now scarcely discernable. — 'Tynn Hyde' in Quirindi Gazette
Edward Warland, of Turanville, Scone, placed an notice in The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser of 31 January 1857 regarding a missing grey horse, branded AK on the right side of neck. The horse had been impounded at Breeza on 23 December 1856 but was released from there 'by a man calling himself John Ross' - but it was actually Warland's property. He offered a reward for its return.
Edward's older brother, William Henry Warland, died in Sydney on 11 December 1859. It is not known the extent to which the brothers communicated, if at all.
Thomas Cook, of Turanville, Scone, placed a notice in The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser on 5 January 1869 stating that 'all persons shooting or otherwise trespassing in the Turanville Paddocks would be prosecured, without respect to persons'.
Edward Warland was noted as an umpire for several pigeon matches in Scone in late March 1872 (Source The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 2 April 1872).
Edward Warland appears to have moved to Petersham, an inner west suburb in Sydney, before he died on 13 May or March 1897.
The Sydney Morning Herald of 30 August 1890 carried a notice which stated that 'applications having been made to bring the lands hereunder described under the provisions of the Real Property Act, Certificates of Indefeasible Title will issue, unless Caveats be lodged in Form B of the said act on or before the date named opposite each case respectively. Edward Warland, of Sydney, is listed against the following, with an expiry date of 4 September 1890: No 7841. Scone, 1 acre, 0 roods, 9 perches, in Main Street, is lot No. 77 of the St. Aubin's Estate and parts of 620 acres and 1920 acres granted to Wm Dumarasq.
The Sydney Morning Herald of 14 April 1897 ran the following notice:
In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Probate Jurisdiction - In the will of Edward Warland, formerly of Petersham, near Sydney, in the colony of New South Wales, but lately of Scone, in the colony aforesaid, gentleman, deceased. Application will be made after fourteen days from the publication hereof that Probate of the last Will of the abovenamed deceased may be granted to Thomas Cook, of Turanville, near Scone, aforesaid, Esquire, the sole Executor in the said Will named.
Page created 2008, last updated 3 May 2020. Copyright © 2021 Andrew Warland. (andrewwarland(at)gmail.com)