A formidable man!

 The subject of today's blog was brought to my attention in early 2019 and has had a lasting effect upon me. A strong, formidable man who let no one intimidate him but with a strong sense of moral fortitude   whose story I believe is one that would suit the small screen; let me introduce...

HENRY EDINBURGH BAYLIS 

Henry was born in Edinburgh (hence the second name honouring his birthplace) Scotland in 1826, the second son of Thomas Henry Baylis, Lieutenant of the 17th Regiment, and his wife Julia Dorothea. In mid 1832 he arrived in Sydney where his father continued his military career. Henry was educated at The King's School, Parramatta, one of their earliest pupils and then trained in the legal office of the Fitzhardinge family of Sydney. He worked briefly on a pastoral property near Bathurst and after gold was discovered in the Mudgee District in 1851, tried his luck there like many others, but to no avail.

Baylis entered the public service as a Clerk of Petty Sessions at Hartley in 1852 and in 1858 he became the first Police Magistrate at Wagga Wagga. As Magistrate he presided from 1862 in the courts at Wagga Wagga and each month, and sometimes more often, at Urana and Narrandera, usually travelling on horseback. 

As the senior local officer, Baylis was well placed to approach the Government in relation to the development of Wagga Wagga. In late 1858 he wrote to the National Board of Education for help in establishing a national school and was chosen by several citizens to call the public meeting in 1869 which petitioned the governor to declare Wagga Wagga a municipal borough under the 1867 Municipalities Act. He was also prominent in many civic enterprises. He did however garnish criticism as the director of the Wagga Wagga Bridge Co. opened in 1862 and whose tolls were greatly resented!

Henry Baylis - Wikipedia 

Whilst riding from his home towards Urana in August 1863, approximately eleven kilometres along the track, two men came running towards him out of the scrub, calling for him "to stand or they would blow his head off!" Baylis ignored them and rode for about five kilometres until he came upon a man camped on the roadside who informed him that two men had passed the site the previous evening and were in possession of two grey horses. At that moment, Baylis heard the gallop of horses coming down the road, and from the corner of his eye, caught sight of a grey horse.

Baylis immediately directed his horse into the bush hoping to dodge the pursuers who took after him. After a while the men overtook the Magistrate and the first rider pointed a revolver directly at him. Baylis came to a stop and was ordered to dismount. The second man then came up and pointed a double-barrelled shotgun at him. The first man ordered Baylis to surrender his money and then demanded his watch. Baylis answered that he had never carried one in his life. The men were Daniel "Mad Dog" Morgan and his associate Clarke.

After searching his valise and finding only a cheque, they let him go and suggested that the meeting be forgotten. This was never going to happen and a few days later, accompanied by Police, Baylis found the bushrangers' camp near Lockhart and the party lay in wait. After dusk footsteps were heard and Baylis went forth and exchanged shots with the bushrangers. He and Clarke were wounded while Morgan was apparently unscathed and fled the scene. Clarke is thought to have died from the wound, for a body like his was found the following year. Baylis was dangerously ill for some time, and later suffered from the effects of the injury.

"Mad Dog" Morgan - Wikipedia

For his efforts in helping to track down the bushranger Daniel "Mad Dog" Morgan, Baylis was awarded a gold medal by the Colony of NSW. The bullet, the only physical reminder of this encounter between two men on opposing sides of the law, was presented to Baylis by his fellow Magistrates upon his retirement from the bench in 1896. The slug was enclosed in a gold casket, which he wore suspended from his watch chain as a good luck charm. This is clearly seen in the first photograph of Baylis.

In 1901 Baylis became a member of the Parramatta Pensions Board and was residing in the suburb of Summer Hill.  About 4pm on 5 July 1905 while walking across the railway tracks at Homebush station in order to avoid climbing up and down the steps of the overbridge he was struck by the 3.30pm train from Sydney. Baylis suffered a fractured arm and leg and internal injuries and when it was realised there was little hope of saving his life was conveyed by ambulance to his home where he died soon afterwards. 

Henry Baylis in later life - Wikipedia

In accordance with a wish expressed by Baylis prior to his death, the funeral proceedings were made as private as possible. Nevertheless, there was a large gathering of relatives and friends at the Necropolis. 

Henry Baylis lies in the Anglican Section Zone B Section 4 under an Art Nouveau inspired tiled slab.

Henry Baylis art nouveau inspired resting place - author's own collection

Three of his sons, Henry George, Robert and Francis also call Rookwood "home" and are buried nearby. The Baylis family suffered further tragedy in 1918 when three of Henry's sons died; Henry George in January as well as Alfred and Harold within a day of one another in June of that year.

Henry's mother died in 1839 when he was thirteen years of age and is buried in St Johns cemetery in Parramatta. His father Captain Thomas Baylis died in 1853 and is also buried in St Johns but in an unmarked and unknown area of the graveyard. 

Henry Baylis was described as a man of fine physique, mental prowess and possessing a strong character. It seems ironic that such a strong man should die in such a random way but perhaps he believed his physical ability was much more agile than it actually was.

The family tree is peppered with a great deal of interesting people with many connections to Ceylon and the Americas. Many references are available via a google or trove search; I have referenced quite a few for this blog today.

If you have any comments, please do so if able on this blog or go to the group facebook page under

rookwoodcemeterydiscoveries

or just email me at

lorainepunch@gmail.com

Until next time...