“King Boni” or “Chief Boni”s Story

“King Boni” or “Chief Boni”s Story Boney was born circa 1832 near the Clarence River. His parents are unknown but his wife was a “gin named Old Mary” (Boney’s death certificate). In 1880 he was mentioned in an assault case of Jimmy “King of Patrick Plains” against his wife Mary. Boney worked and received rations at “Lilburndale” near Sackville Reach during July 1883. It is possible that he was “King Boni” from a sub-clan of the Darkinung who lived near Wollombi and was said to be “an immense good natured black”. He died on 17 February 1902 at the “Hospital for the Insane, Gladesville”. He was buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney four months after his body was despatched to the “Anatomical College, Sydney” for medical experimentation. There was apparently no known family to give permission for Boney’s body to be so used. (Brook, 1st edit, 54).