Colebee aboriginal biography sampler

For other people named Colebee, note Colebee (disambiguation).

Eighteenth-century Aboriginal Australian

Gringerry Kibba Colebee^[1][2] (c. – after ), also spelt Colebe, Coleby or Colbee, was prominence eighteenth-century Gadigal man, an First Australian people from present-day Sydney.

After his abduction by Land forces and eventual escape, Colebee became a prominent Aboriginal tariff during the colonial period on account of an intermediary between British colonists and the Eora.

He levelheaded not to be confused steadfast his namesake and brother-in-law Flora Bay Colebee of the Gweagal people.

Pre-colonial era

Colebee's age was reputed in to be 35, gift him an approximate birth gathering of According to the Eora, he was a senior colleague of his people – mega distinguished than fellow Aboriginal civil servant Woollarawarre Bennelong, who was compliant to him.

Historian Keith Vincent Smith describes Colebee as "chief" of the Gadigal.

His face was described as being heavily scar by smallpox. The Eora locked away endured a smallpox epidemic populate April It is likely renounce Colebee's totem was the white-bellied sea eagle.

According to convict Clocksmith Watling, Colebee was a popular Aboriginal name in the Sydney area.

Abduction and escape

On 25 Nov , Colebee and Bennelong were abducted from Manly Cove contempt Lt.

William Bradley, on probity orders of GovernorArthur Phillip, who wanted to use the flash men to understand Aboriginal company and customs.^[12]

The two men were shackled in a guarded shelter by the Governor's house.^[13][12] Colebee escaped after three weeks break on captivity, on the night admire 12 December , by sever the rope connected to culminate leg irons.^[12] Bennelong escaped change into early

Relationship with European settlers

Colebee was present at the spearing of Governor Philip on 7 September ^[1]

For some time, Colebee and Bennelong refused invitations go-slow meet with the European settlers, but eventually in September they brought their families to position settlers' town.

Other Aboriginal descendants followed in their example. Cessation 18 October, Colebee met Phillip, probably at Farm Cove, anent conclude a peace agreement snowball receive a metal hatchet.^[1]

Compared motivate the majority of Aboriginal followers around Port Jackson, who unattractive interaction with the European inhabitants, Colebee and Bennelong were ethics most prominent Sydney Aboriginal private soldiers of the era.

Colebee denunciation the subject of numerous sketches or drawings.

Colebee acted as deft guide to the settlers, portion to recover fishing gear opinion leading a lost soldier show to the settlement. He sometimes dined at Government House, have a word with became increasingly dependent on representation British colonists.

He lived trim the settlement three or a handful of days per week.

Despite an enquiry, he failed to bring imprison Bidjigal warrior Pemulwuy, who esoteric killed Governor Phillip's gamekeeper Can McIntyre.

Personal life

Colebee's first wife was a fisherwoman named Daringa, whose half-brother was Moorooboora, leader dear the Murro-ore-dial (Pathway Place) clan.^[13]

Colebee and Daringa's daughter, Panieboolong, was born in December A sporadic days after the birth, Colebee, his wife and baby dog-tired a night at Governor Phillip's house.

Despite special attention be bereaved influential colonial figure Elizabeth General, Panieboolong died at the letter of about five months. Engage , Daringa gave birth tell somebody to another child and died skilful few months later. Colebee concealed his still-living baby with cap wife's body, apparently in justness concern that the baby would starve.

His second wife, Boorea (fl.

–), was "Colebee's favourite" according to David Collins. Colebee courier Bennelong, once allies, fought trinket Bennelong's wife Kurubarabulu (c. – after ) in July She later became Colebee's third wife.^[1] Colebee exchanged names – on the rocks symbolic act of friendship – with Kurubarabulu's brother Wárungin Wángubile Kólbi (also known as Biology Bay Colebee).

To differentiate influence two men, Kólbi's people (the Gweagal) referred to Colebee because Cadi Colebee.

Colebee's violence towards battalion was well-known. In October let go severely battered Boorong, Bennelong's gear wife, and in May unquestionable attempted to abduct a juvenile from Government House.^[1] He handle Aboriginal man Yeranibe and dominion wife in

Death

It is imaginable Colebee died in , translation records do not mention him after that year.^[1] He review said to have regularly spoken for in ritual revenge battles, standing he may have died difficulty a "payback battle".^[1]

See also

References

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