Cobbie Ablie - Synopsis

Cobby or Cobbie Abile was incarcerated on Cockatoo Island, though the date of his arrival, trial details, and departure from the island remain undocumented in available archival records. Cobby Abile was punished for two offences while in custody between the December 1866 and December 1867 - for fighting and for keeping cards in bed. 

Cobby’s Time on Cockatoo Island 

Records show that Cobby Abile was punished for two offences while in prison. The first punishment was for fighting. According to the document, seen in Figure 1, Return of Prisoners Tried in a Summary Way Before the Visiting Magistrate at Cockatoo Island (1867, January 2), Cobby was sentenced to 48 hours in the cells for fighting on 18 December 1867. The record also notes that while other prisoners are described as “native,” Cobbie is specifically referred to as an “aborigine”.  

The second offence occurred on 27 December 1867, when Cobbie was punished with four days in the cells for “having cards in his bed” (Figure 2) (Colonial Secretary Correspondence, 1868, January 7). According to secondary sources (Roscoe, 2017, June 21) describing the presence of the Chinese community and diaspora in Cockatoo Island, card playing was influenced by those working in the goldfields, where gambling and bargaining over possessions were common practices. Criminals from the goldfields were often sent to Cockatoo Island from Maitland, which may explain the presence of such activities among prisoners. 

The letter that accompanies the table also provides general information about Cockatoo Island, mentioning that “the conduct of the Prisoners has been generally satisfactory” and that “Four Prisoners  have been discharged during the month having the number on the island 91820 (182) one Hundred and eighty two” (Colonial Secretary Correspondence, 1868, January 7). 

For the full summary, click the attached PDF.

References  

Colonial Secretary Correspondence. (1867, January 2). Return of Prisoners tried in a Summary way before the Visiting Magistrate at Cockatoo Island, pursuant to the Act of the Governor and Council, 3 William IV., No 3, between the 1st day of December and the 31st day of December 1867 [Manuscript]. State Archives and Records NSW (Series 4/588 Letter no 67/144), Sydney, Australia.  

Colonial Secretary Correspondence. (1868, January 7). Return of Prisoners tried in a Summary way before the Visiting Magistrate at Cockatoo Island, pursuant to the Act of the Governor and Council, 3 William IV., No 3, between the 1st day [Table]. (Series 4/616 - Letter no 68/159), Sydney, Australia. 

Roscoe, K. (2017, June 21). Chinese Prisoners on Cockatoo Island, Sydney. https://staffblogs.le.ac.uk/carchipelago/2017/06/21/chinese-prisoners-cockatoo-island/#:~:text=The%20defence%20argued%2C%20based%20on,to%20money%2C%20alcohol%20and%20cards