Robert S. DAVIS

We Remember…

Constable Robert DAVIS
Drowned
Wingham
21 January, 1867

This recently unearthed police death on duty is now the subject of research. The following newspaper articles tell part of the constable’s story.

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser 31 January, 1867:

“Robert Davis, police constable and lock-up keeper at Wingham, while out collecting the electoral roll, was drowned in the Manning, near Wingham, on the 21st January. He was seen riding near the river on that day, and was not seen afterwards alive; but no one appears to have seen him crossing the river. Not returning home in the evening, his wife sent out messengers in search of him. Next day his horse was found near the river, and it was then surmised that he had been drowned. The police and others dragged the river, and found the body a short distance above the crossing place. ‘The deceased has left a wife and several children unprovided for; the inhabitants of the locality are raising subscriptions for them.”

The Empire – 31 January 1867:

“A sad affair, which cost the life of a very decent man, occurred at Wingham on Monday last. It seems that Robert Davis, who was one of the police-constables, and lockup-keeper at Wingham, was recently appointed to assist in collecting the electoral roll of the Manning, and that in the discharge of his duty he crossed over to the Bight on Monday last. He was absent but a very short time when he was seen returning home but he failed to arrive. His wife, alarmed as the evening wore on at his non-appearance, sent out messengers in search of her missing husband, but it was only on the following morning that certain tidings were heard of him. Then the horse on which he had been mounted was found riderless in a paddock on the opposite side of the river; the saddle – covered with mud, and one of the stirrups missing. It was then conjectured that he must have been drowned, and the river was dragged for the body. It was found on Wednesday; and after a magisterial inquiry, all that remained of poor Davis was buried on the same day. How he became unhorsed will probably never be known; and the matter is all the more mysterious from the fact that he knew the ford well, had crossed it before on the same day, and was riding an animal to which he had been accustomed. The man thus lost in the discharge of his duty has left a wife and a number of small children. He had resided in the district several years, and was universally regarded as a sober, unassuming, kind hearted, and efficient public servant. Great sympathy is felt for his wife, who is said to be near her confinement. – Manning River News.”

The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser 9 February, 1867:

“The ‘Manning River News’ of 26th says:—Robert Davis, who was one of the police constables and the lock-up keeper at Wingham, was recently appointed to assist collecting the electoral roll of the Manning, and in the discharge of his duty he crossed over to the Bight on Monday last. Subsequently his horse was found, on the opposite side of the river, the saddle being covered with mud and one of the stirrups missing. A search resulted in the discovery of Davis’s body in the river. He had been drowned by some mischance in crossing the ford. He leaves a wife and number of small children.”
At the time of his death the constable was aged 32 years and was stationed at Wingham, where he was the lockup keeper.

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