Edward Denny Day further papers, 1813-1901

MLMSS 11009/Box 1X

fonds

1813-1901

9659516

0.75 metres of textual records (1 outsize box) - manuscript, typescript, printed

Edward Denny Day (1801-1876) was a Police Magistrate and a central figure of public life in Maitland and the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Denny Day is best known for his role in the first successful prosecution of British subjects for the murder of Aboriginal people, which followed his investigation of the killing of 28 Wirrayaraay people in the 1838 Myall Creek massacre.
Day is also remembered for leading a party of volunteers to capture a gang of bushrangers, led by Edward ‘The Jewboy’ Davis, that had been active across the Hunter Valley in 1840.
Day returned to the role of Police Magistrate at Maitland in 1840. In late 1849 he was appointed as Superintendent of the Sydney Police, and in January 1851 became the Provincial Inspector of Police. Day once again became a Police Magistrate in June 1853, now at Port Macquarie, and five years later transferred back to Maitland where he continued to serve until his retirement in 1869.
References:
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Edward Denny Day, accessed 13 September 2021 via
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/day-edward-denny-1970

Purchased by Ross Edmonds at Sydney Rare Book Auctions on 14 December 2019. Lot numbers, 516, 517, 520, 523, 526-528, 530, 532, 533, 535, 536, 538, 539, 544-546, 549, 550, 552-554, 557, 560, 563, 565, 566, 570, 573, 575, 579, 580, 583, 584.

A collection of documents, letters and other papers chiefly relating to Edward Denny Day’s role as Police Magistrate of Maitland, New South Wales. Includes proclamations appointing Day to positions such as Inspector of Distilleries, letters to and from New South Wales Governors, and case notes related to criminal activities in the Maitland region.

FOLDER 1
Letters to and from Edward Denny Day, 15 July 1834-21 March 1868

01. Letter to Edward Denny Day from Colonial Secretary, Alexander McLeay, 15 July 1834
02. Letter to Edward Denny Day from S. A. Perry and G. B. White of the Surveyor General's Office, Sydney, 14 July 1835
03. Letter to Edward Denny Day from Major General Sir Richard Bourke, 20 March 1836
04. Letter to Edward Denny Day from Major General Sir Richard Bourke, 3 September 1836
05. Letter to Edward Denny Day from Colonial Secretary E. Deas Thomson regarding the appointment of Patrick Grant as Police Magistrate of Maitland, NSW, 28 September 1837
06. Letter to Helenus Scott, Warden of the District of Patrick's Plains, NSW, from Edward Denny Day, 26 November 1844
07. Letter to Edward Denny Day from John Proctor, Chief Constable at Wellington, NSW, regarding bushranger Anderson, 25 August 1852
08. Letter to Edward Denny Day from Augustus Raymond, Kempsey, NSW, regarding government funds, 10 August 1856
09. Letter to Edward Denny Day from the Colonial Secretary's Office regarding Maitland Police Magistrate, Major Plummer, 1 June 1858
10. Letter to Edward Denny Day from John Raymond junior on Union Bank of Australia notepaper regarding the debts of Bolden Peel, 14 January 1862
11. Letter to Edward Denny Day from the Colonial Secretary's Office regarding the addresses of the visiting Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Albert, 21 March 1868

FOLDER 2
Government proclamations relating to Edward Denny Day's official roles and duties, and copies of the New South Wales Government Gazette, 18 September 1849.

01. Hand-written proclamation enabling Edward Denny Day to be Commissioner of the Supreme Court, to take Bail and Security, affidavits, and to examine witnesses. Written and signed by Sir James Dowling, 1 February 1842
02. Hand-written proclamation enabling Edward Denny Day to be a Commissioner of the Supreme Court and verify memorials and take acknowledgement of deeds. Signed by Sir James Dowling, 1 February 1842
03. Hand-written proclamation noting that Edward Denny Day would 'sanction the discharge of seamen in New South Wales', signed by Governor Charles August FitzRoy, and Colonial Secretary E. Deas Thomson, 28 September 1842
04. Hand-written proclamation on vellum appointing Edward Denny Day as Commissioner of the Court of Requests in Singleton for the Police District of Patrick's Plains, NSW, signed by Governor George Gipps and Colonial Secretary and Registrar, E. Deas Thomson, 9 December 1842
05. Hand-written proclamation noting that Edward Denny Day will be the Returning Officer in the Electoral District of Northumberland Boroughs, NSW, signed by Colonial Secretary E. Deas Thomson, 4 May 1843
06. Hand-written proclamation from the Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, appointing Edward Denny Day as a Commissioner of Insolvent Estates, signed by Second Chief Justice of NSW, Dowling, 26 February 1844
07. Hand-written proclamation on vellum appointing Edward Denny Day Inspector of Distilleries, signed by Alfred Stephens, Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court, 1 January 1845
08. Hand-written proclamation noting that Edward Denny Day will be the Inspector of Distilleries for Maitland, Paterson, Patrick's Plains, Raymond Terrace, and Newcastle, NSW, signed by Governor George Gipps, and Colonial Secretary E. Deas Thomson, 24 January 1845
09. Hand-written proclamation noting that Edward Denny Day will be the Inspector of Distilleries, signed by Governor Charles August FitzRoy, and Colonial Secretary E. Deas Thomson, 9 June 1847
10. Part-printed form from the Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney to Edward Denny Day regarding his commission as Justice of the Peace for the City of Sydney, signed by W. Ellyard, 18 September 1849
11. NSW Government Gazette, 18 September 1849
12. Part-printed proclamation noting that Edward Denny Day will be the Inspector of Distilleries, signed by Governor Charles August FitzRoy, and Colonial Secretary E. Deas Thomson, 20 December 1849
13. Hand-written proclamation from Government House, Sydney, appointing Edward Denny Day as the Provincial Inspector of Police for the Colony. Signed by Governor Sir Charles FitzRoy and Colonial Secretary E. Deas Thomson, 1 January 1851
14. Printed proclamation from Government House, Sydney, appointing Edward Denny Day as Inspector of Distilleries for the Colony. Signed and sealed by Governor Sir Charles FitzRoy and signed by Colonial Secretary E. Deas Thomson, 20 January 1851
15. Writ of assistance on vellum asking all police officers to aid Edward Denny Day in his office as Inspector of Distilleries for the Colony. Composed by Civil Crown Solicitor, W. Hillyard and signed by Alfred Stephens, 4 March 1851
16. Printed proclamation to Edward Denny Day, committing him as a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of NSW, signed and dated by Chief Justice Alfred Stephens, 10 September 1858
17. Declaration to continue the duties of a Police Magistrate in Maitland, NSW, written and signed by J. Dickinson, signed by Edward Denny Day, 20 September 1858

FOLDER 3
A selection of Edward Denny Day work notes, personal papers, and family documents from his wife, Mary Raymond Day's family.

01. Description of a land grant near Kurri Kurri, NSW, split into thirds, signed by William C. Wentworth, F. M. Radford, and Edward Denny Day, circa 1839
02. Edward Denny Day's working notes on the case involving William John Wickes and suspect, Dunphy. Two pages with multiple dates including 17 September 1855
03. Edward Denny Day notebook detailing police cases and journeys to Sydney and Richmond, NSW, 1857
04. Draft of Edward Denny Day's address to the Gentlemen of Port Macquarie, NSW, 5 August 1858
05. Original birth certificate of Sydney Bolden Day, son of Edward Denny Day and Margaret Raymond, 14 January 1857
06. Typed document titled 'The Pedigree of the Raymond Family of Ballylaughran' noting James Raymond, father-in-law of Edward Denny Day, and Margaret Raymond, wife of Edward Denny Day. Accompanied by original envelope addressed to Miss Sydney Raymond, 1901
07. Raymond family documents including an indenture from 1891 between Thomas Fogarty and George Thomas Chambers of East Maitland, NSW

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