Dignum and Comerford

Dignum and Comerford were Joseph Dignum and George Comerford (died 1837), Australian convicts, bushrangers, and murderers. They were arguably the first bushrangers in the Melbourne region.[1]

Comerford was a convict who escaped in 1837 and teamed up with eight other men in the bush around the Port Phillip region. He and two of the men, Joseph Dignum and a shoemaker, murdered the other six. Dignumn then murdered the shoemaker.[2] The men were later recaptured.[3]

In August 1837 the men were sent from Sydney to Port Philip.[4]

On 30 December 1837 Comerford took members of the police back to where the massacre took place and managed to escape, fatally shooting a policemen escorting him.[5][6]

Comerford was captured again, pled guilty to the murder and was executed in May 1837.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ "Dignum and Comerford". Finding Merriman.
  2. ^ "No Title". The Sydney Monitor. Vol. XII, no. 1063. New South Wales, Australia. 21 July 1837. p. 2 (EVENING). Retrieved 29 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "No title". The Australian. Vol. IV, no. 419. New South Wales, Australia. 18 July 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 29 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "THE PORT PHILLIP MURDERERS". The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XXXV, no. 1382. New South Wales, Australia. 15 August 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 29 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "NEWS OF THE DAY". The Sydney Monitor. Vol. XIII, no. 1145. New South Wales, Australia. 29 January 1838. p. 2 (EVENING). Retrieved 29 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "ACCIDENTS, OFFENCES, &c". The Sydney Herald. Vol. VIII, no. 651. New South Wales, Australia. 22 January 1838. p. 2. Retrieved 29 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "EXECUTION OF COMERFORD THE MURDERER". The Sydney Herald. Vol. VIII, no. 688. New South Wales, Australia. 31 May 1838. p. 2. Retrieved 29 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "LAW". The Australian. Vol. V, no. 509. New South Wales, Australia. 29 May 1838. p. 2. Retrieved 29 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.