William
Broughton, for whom Broughton Pass at Appin is named, came to New South Wales
on the First Fleet, as a servant to Surgeon John White. In 1789 he was
appointed as storekeeper at Parramatta, and then in 1800 he was appointed
storekeeper and acting Deputy Commissary at Norfolk Island. Between the years
of 1792 and 1805 he fathered five children with Ann Glossop, who had been
transported for 7 years. This story is about the youngest of these children,
Elizabeth Isabella Broughton, who was born on Norfolk Island on December 14th,
1807. The Broughton family returned to Sydney from Norfolk Island, and in
November 1809, Ann and Elizabeth, known as Betsy, sailed from Port Jackson on
board the General Boyd for England, possibly to visit Ann's eldest daughter Mary
Ann, who was at school in England.
The first port
of call for the General Boyd was in Whangaroa, New Zealand, where they were to
load Kauri Pine timbers. It was there that the ship was attacked by the natives, and
all the crew and most of the passengers were murdered, and eaten.
Apparently the
captain of the General Boyd had insulted the Maoris, flogging the son of a
Whangaroan chief on flimsy charges, and as a result, horrific retribution was
taken. All on board except a woman named Mrs Morley and her infant child, a
young man named Davison, and the young Elizabeth Broughton were
slaughtered.
Meanwhile, a
friend of the Broughton family, Alexander Berry, was aboard his cargo ship
“City of Edinburgh” which was anchored in the Bay of Islands. He began to hear
the rumours of a ship being taken by the Maoris, so he decided to investigate
and see if there were any survivors.
Alexander Berry
made his way to Whangaroa with three armed boats and a Maori Chief who had
agreed to help. When they arrived, they saw the wreck of the burnt out General
Boyd lying in shallow water. With the help of the Chief, and under threat of
reprisals, the Maoris produced three of the survivors. Berry learned from them
that another survivor was still being held. He bravely demanded her return.
To be continued...
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| The "General Boyd" burns |
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