Dalrymple Mountgarret Briggs

Aka Dolly Dalrymple

The Courage of Dolly Dalrymple

Alone, the brave aboriginal woman fought off the marauding natives and for six hours her fighting spirit never flagged, not even when they tried to burn her out of her shack.

Tasmanian history is colorful, with a rich variety of interest. As a separate colony, its history is unique, particularly during the period to 1853 when the colony was called Van Diemen's Land.

Its history included convicts, sealers and whalers, explorers, bushrangers, mining rushes, boom towns and a social life all its own. If history can be called the process of people taking part in particular events of their time, then Tasmania has had its share of all types and races of people.

To name just a few, there were the Irish bushranger and convict Martin Cash; the colony's first pastor, the Rev. Knopwood; Mr G. Robinson, who rounded up the Tasmanian Aboriginals; the natives themselves, including Black Tom, whose atrocities spread terror over a large part of the State, and Governor Arthur, who set up the infamous Port Arthur.

All these men, good or evil, have added to the colony's history. Some women, too, possessed courage and determination, like Dolly Dalrymple. Dolly, born about 1808, was very beautiful, with light colored skin and large eyes tinged with blue. No doubt many a young man would have fallen in love with her if he had not known she was half-caste.

Her father was a sailor and sealer in Bass Strait. Her mother was a Tasmanian Aboriginal, named Bong, who belonged to the Dalrymple tribe, hence the name. This tribe lived near Port Dalrymple at the entrance of the River Tamar leading to Launceston. It was to Port Dalrymple that Lord Hobart in 1803 ordered Governor King to remove part of the establishment at Norfolk Island.

Dolly's maiden name was Briggs, and when she was about 12 she was taken in charge by Dr. Jacob Mountgarret, the notorious colonial surgeon.

He and his wife became very fond of Dolly, so much so that Mrs. Mountgarret taught her to read, write, sew and attend to domestic duties. Later, Dolly met Thomas Johnson, a drover, and they lived together with their two children, Jane and Caroline.

In 1845 they moved to the Mersey area to the property of a Mr. Stoker. As a convict, Johnson was not allowed to come and go as he would have liked. He and Dolly had a lonely existence, their living quarters being nothing more than a small slab hut with a bark roof, coated with a thick blanket of mud and lime to keep out the weather, yet it proved to be a lifesaver later for Dolly and her children.

Thomas Johnson

Both girls had their mother's beauty; Jane had white hair when she was young, but as she grew older it turned black. Caroline Creek at Sherwood was named after Caroline.

One day, during the infamous Black War campaign by the Government to round up Aboriginals, Dolly and her family rose early as usual. She gave Thomas his breakfast and soon after he rode away to do his chores. Dolly began to do hers and on hearing a noise outside, sent her elder daughter, Jane to see what it was. Dolly heard a scream and picking up a musket, went outside to investigate. She was horrified to see Jane on the ground, with a spear in her thigh.

Dolly tried to carry Jane to the safety of the hut, but had some difficulty because of the spear catching the door post. However she finally got Jane inside and hurriedly barricaded the door and windows.

She fired at the Aboriginals but with little effect, having nothing but duck shot, although she said later that she wounded one. She scanned the surrounding hills desperately hoping to see Thomas although she knew he would not return for several hours.

Then as suddenly as they appeared, the marauding Aboriginals fled — or so she thought. Soon they returned, this time with saplings and faggots which they kept lighting and throwing on to the roof, trying to burn Dolly out.

But again they underestimated the fighting spirit of this remarkable woman. She drove them off time and again and for six hours the battle was fought, and not until Johnson came back did the natives flee.

Sherwood Hall - Thomas and Dolly's house on the banks of the Mersey River

During the melee, word had reached Captain William Moriarty, who immediately sent a detachment of troops, stationed at Dunorlan, to the scene and his later report on the incident did a great deal in bringing fame to Dolly and her family. Incidentally, Moriarty who came from Ireland, became port officer first for Launceston and later for Hobart Town.

James Bonwick in his book, The Lost Tasmanian Race, wrote of her courageous act:

"For six hours she sustained a siege and nobly defended her position. Our heroine fought behind no granite wall, nor was she shielded by a bomb-proof roof. Her castle was a single slab hut, though the bark roof, fortunately for her had been covered with a thick coating of mud and lime to keep out the weather"

"So noble a defence called for the warmest expression of applause and the Governor was not the last to acknowledge her heroic act."

He granted her 10 acres of land at Perth and legitimised her husband, who was given his freedom. Dolly and Thomas became celebrities and lived a happy life together. Now married, they had further children and became so respected that Thomas had a street named after him in Tarleton.

Dolly died in December 1864. Thomas became quite comfortable, owning hotels at Sherwood and Ballahoo, besides blocks of land in the township of Tarleton. Three years later on December 3 1867 he died, aged 61.

As for Jane, the girl who was speared, she married a man named Hearps, who lived south of Latrobe. She died in May 1898, aged 72.

Dolly's adventure played little part in shaping the future of the colony, but the character she possessed, like so many of the pioneers, played some part in building the nation.

Mannalargenna is Dolly's grandfather. He was Chief of the Cape Portland Tribe

Descendant Tree of Mannalargenna

Family History Report for Mannalargenna

Outline Descendant Tree of Mannalargenna