James Davis 'Duramboi'
Encyclopedia
James Davis (1808 – 7 May 1889) was a Scottish
-born convict, notable for escaping custody in Australia
and living with aboriginals. He subsequently rejoined European society and became a shopkeeper.
Davis was born in Broomielaw
, Scotland
and was apprenticed for a period at Old Wynd, Glasgow
. In 1824, he was sentenced to transportation to Australia for seven years for stealing 2 shillings 6 pence from a church box in Surrey
, arriving in New South Wales
in August 1825. In 1828 he was tried for robbery at Patrick's Plains
and was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Brisbane
(Moreton Bay
). Six weeks after his arrival in February 1829, he escaped with a companion and they soon joined a group of Aboriginals
led by Pamby-Pamby. While his companion eventually broke tribal law and was killed, Davis was accepted into the tribe and was known as "Duramboi". He travelled hundreds of miles from Brisbane and learned the languages and customs of many tribes.
In 1842 he met Andrew Petrie
in Wide Bay, who persuaded him to accept that it was safe to return to Brisbane with the cessation of transportation. He relearned English and gradually fitted back into European society. He became a blacksmith at Kangaroo Point
and in 1846 he married Annie Shea. In 1864 he established a crockery shop in George Street, Brisbane. In 1883, soon after his first wife's death, he married one Bridget Hayes. He occasionally worked as an interpreter for Aboriginals in court and gave some descriptions of Aboriginal rites. Under his will, he donated £750 in 1889 and £1100 in 1911 to the Brisbane General Hospital.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born convict, notable for escaping custody in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and living with aboriginals. He subsequently rejoined European society and became a shopkeeper.
Davis was born in Broomielaw
Anderston
Anderston is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is on the north bank of the River Clyde and extends to the western edge of the city centre...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and was apprenticed for a period at Old Wynd, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. In 1824, he was sentenced to transportation to Australia for seven years for stealing 2 shillings 6 pence from a church box in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, arriving in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in August 1825. In 1828 he was tried for robbery at Patrick's Plains
Singleton, New South Wales
-Industry & Commerce:Major industries near Singleton include coal mining, energy generation, light industry, vineyards, horse breeding and cattle production. Dairying was once a mainstay in the area, but has declined....
and was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
(Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
). Six weeks after his arrival in February 1829, he escaped with a companion and they soon joined a group of Aboriginals
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
led by Pamby-Pamby. While his companion eventually broke tribal law and was killed, Davis was accepted into the tribe and was known as "Duramboi". He travelled hundreds of miles from Brisbane and learned the languages and customs of many tribes.
In 1842 he met Andrew Petrie
Andrew Petrie
Andrew Petrie was a builder, architect and Australian pioneer.Petrie was born in Fife, Scotland and trained as a builder in Edinburgh, where he married Mary Cuthbertson in 1821. John Dunmore Lang brought him, his wife and four sons to Sydney in 1831 with other Scottish mechanics to form the...
in Wide Bay, who persuaded him to accept that it was safe to return to Brisbane with the cessation of transportation. He relearned English and gradually fitted back into European society. He became a blacksmith at Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point, Queensland
Kangaroo Point is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia located directly east across the Brisbane River from the Brisbane central business district.- Geography :...
and in 1846 he married Annie Shea. In 1864 he established a crockery shop in George Street, Brisbane. In 1883, soon after his first wife's death, he married one Bridget Hayes. He occasionally worked as an interpreter for Aboriginals in court and gave some descriptions of Aboriginal rites. Under his will, he donated £750 in 1889 and £1100 in 1911 to the Brisbane General Hospital.