Annabel and Maegan7I CGHS

Musquito

Musquito (1780 – 25 February 1825) was an Indigenous Australian outlaw and bushranger, based in Van Diemen's Land.

He was born in Sydney Cove and later on transported to Van Diemen's Land for murdering his wife.

He was an Eora man(Gai-Mariagal) Musquito was an Aboriginal

resistance leader and tracker, also known as Mosquito, Musquetta, Bush Muschetta or Muskito

Identity

Old map of Van Diemen's land

Importance In The Aboriginal Cause

• Musquito had a very significant role in the Aboriginal cause because he put together a gang of Aborigines.

• These Aboriginals robbed and murdered white settlers and their farmhands.

• This helped slow down the British colonisation.

Hand draw picture of what Musquito would have looked like

TimelineMusquito was born on the north shore of Port Jackson, New South Wales.

1780

1805

He participated in raids on settlers' properties in the Hawkesbury and Georges River districts.

1813

Musquito was evacuated aboard the Minstrel for Port Dalrymple (Launceston), Van Diemen's Land.

Lieutenant-Governor Sorell praised his service as a tracker of bushrangers and approved his return to 'his Native Place', but this never eventuated.

1817

1818

He was a servant of Edward Lord. In October he helped to track and kill the bushranger Michael Howe.

1818

Henry Melville later recounted Musquito's statement that Sorell's broken promise, and ostracism by convicts, drove him into the bush, where he formed the 'tame gang', which Rev.

TimelineWith 'Black Jack', the band killed several stockkeepers in raids on the east coast in November

1823In August Musquito was wounded and captured by an Aboriginal boy named Teague.

1824

After his recovery, Musquito and Jack were charged with aiding and abetting the murder of a stockkeeper, and tried without oaths in the Supreme Court, Hobart Town, in December.

1824

Musquito was convicted on dubious evidence, Jack on a second charge; both were hanged on 25 February

1825

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/musquito-13124

http://epress.anu.edu.au/aborig_history/transgressions/mobile_devices/ch07.html

http://www.hurstville.nsw.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/Aboriginal%20History.pdf

http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/B/Bushranging.htm

Bibliography

Written and designed by Annabel and Maegan