Kendagah (“Little Jack”)

The Story of Kendagah (“Little Jack”) (c1811 – 1840?) What is known about “Little Jack” is derived mostly from the “Returns of Aboriginal Natives” taken at Brisbane Water. Little Jack is first listed as living in the district in 1831. His Aboriginal name is not listed, nor whether he is married. Returns for 1835, 1837, 1839 and 1840 reveal that Kendagah was married between 1831 and 1835 and he and his unnamed wife had one son, born around 1841. Kendagah’s name was spelled various ways as Magistrates struggled to render Aboriginal names into English equivalents. Kendagah was involved in robberies during 1834. It is not known if he was apprehended and charged. His name did not appear on lists of men tried before the courts in 1835. (Blair, 2003, 69).